Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

Don’t Ignore a Penalty Charge Notice!

Taking no action after receiving a PCN will result in increased charges as per the legislated PCN Process. 

If you accept that the PCN has been fairly issued, then you should pay it as soon as possible. Your PCN will have a unique reference number beginning with ‘MH02’ ‘MH03’ or ‘MH04’.  You can make a payment online through the appropriate PCN portals above, or by calling us on 01803 861234 between the hours of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Remember if you pay within 14 days of the PCN being issued you will only pay 50% of the fine.

Challenge a PCN

How do I challenge a PCN?

Do not make payment for a PCN if you wish to challenge it! 

Once you have paid the PCN you have accepted liability and closed the case. This means challenges received after payment may not be considered.

If you think your PCN has been issued incorrectly you can submit a written challenge or representations to tell us why.  You should supply as much information as possible within your challenge, including any supporting evidence, such as photos or receipts. 

If we receive your challenge within 14 days of the PCN being issued, and your challenge is unsuccessful, you will be given another 14 days from our reply date to pay at the lower amount.

If the PCN is not challenged or paid, after 28 days the Council will use DVLA keeper details to send a Notice to Owner (NTO) letter to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

What happens next?

The Notice to Owner (NTO) letter will contain the details of the PCN and instructions on how to make payment or submit formal representations against the PCN. 

If no action is taken within 28 days following a Notice to Owner letter, the fine will increase by a further 50% and we will send out a Charge Certificate. At this stage you forfeit the right to any further representations.

If your representations are accepted the PCN will be cancelled. 

If your representations are unsuccessful you will be sent a Notice of Rejection letter. This letter will contain our final decision, and the amount payable.  It will also contain a unique code to allow you to appeal the decision to the independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. 

You cannot appeal to the independent adjudicator until after you have submitted formal representations to a Notice to Owner.

If no action is taken

If no action is taken within 28 days after a Notice To Owner Letter has been sent, or if your appeal is unsuccessful and the balance remains unpaid, the charge will increase by a further 50% and a Charge Certificate will be sent to the Registered Keeper. 

Once a Charge Certificate has been sent the ability to submit representations has been forfeited.

From the date the charge certificate is sent, you will have 14 days to settle the outstanding PCN.

Registering the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC)

The only options following a Charge Certificate is to make payment or do nothing, in which case the debt will be registered at the County Court.

You will then receive notice of Debt Registration letters sent via post containing a TE3, TE7 and TE9 form. 

A further £10 fee will be added to the final charge, equating to £115 or £85. 

You will have 21 days to respond to the Notice of Debt Registration. After this enforcement proceedings may begin