Parking Fines and Challenges
- Online at our 24 hour secure Internet payments service
- By telephone: call 01344 352000 using a credit card or debit card - Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm
- By post: send a cheque or postal order to the address on the right-hand side of this page using the payment slip on the PCN. Allow two working days for 1st class post and five days for 2nd class post. Please remember to write the PCN number on the back of the cheque.
- In person: visit the Cash Office, Easthampstead House, Town Square, Bracknell - Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm.
- A parking attendant serves a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) by fixing it to the vehicle, handing it to the driver or posting it to the vehicle owner if the vehicle is driven away before the PCN can be served.
- The charge is £50 or £70, payable within 28 days, or discounted to £25 or £35 if paid within 14 days. You can pay the PCN by sending a cheque, by coming into the Council offices or by telephone. The PCN gives more details of how to pay or contest it.
- The PCN can be challenged during the 14-day discount period.
- If an outstanding discounted charge is not paid within the allowed period, a form called a Notice to Owner will be sent to the person or company believed to be the owner of the vehicle and the full penalty charge (either £50 or £70) will be payable. The owner of the vehicle is liable for payment of the PCN.
- Once the owner has received a Notice to Owner, the owner has 28 days to make a representation.
- The Notice to Owner form itself details the legal grounds on which this formal representation may be made.
- Formal representations are responded to in writing, either cancelling the PCN, or identifying that there were not proper grounds for cancellation, in which case, a ‘Notice of Appeal’, enabling an appeal to the Independent Parking Adjudicator, will be included.
Blue badge holders are reminded to park in accordance with the guidance issued with the badge. Please ensure that your badge and clock are displayed correctly when required.
To challenge your fine select the option below that applies to you:
I have received a Notice to Owner (NTO) form
- If after 28 days the PCN remains unpaid, or if a balance is outstanding, a Notice to Owner form will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
- When you receive a Notice to Owner, payment or representation is required.
- Representation can only be made on certain grounds (these are on the form),
- Payment will result in the PCN being closed.
- Formal representations will be carefully considered and if the Council agrees with you, you will receive a Notice of Acceptance but if not, you will receive a Notice of Rejection.
- If you receive a Notice of Rejection you must either pay the penalty charge or appeal to an Independent Parking Adjudicator within 28 days. In order to lodge an appeal, complete the appeal form enclosed with the Notice of Rejection. Details are on the form.
- You may only appeal after your formal representations to the Council have been rejected. The adjudicators act as a tribunal and their decision is final and binding on you and the Council.
- There is no opportunity to challenge your liability to pay the PCN in court. The representation or appeal process is the only way you can challenge the Council's decision.
- Adjudicators are independent and their decision is based on the evidence submitted by the Council and by you. They cannot find in your favour because of exceptional circumstances alone.
- After a Notice to Owner has been served (or after an appeal or notice of rejection has been served) the Council can serve a Charge Certificate increasing the penalty by a further 50% if the penalty isn't paid in time.
- After a Charge Certificate has been served the penalty will be registered as a debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre (at Northampton County Court) unless paid promptly.
- Once the debt is registered by the Council, you will be sent a Notice of Registration and a Statutory Declaration form. £5.00 court costs are added to the debt at this stage.
On receiving a Notice to Owner, there are two options:
- Pay the PCN or
- Make a formal representation using the NTO form you have been sent or by completing the online formal challenge form.
I have not received a Notice to Owner (NTO) form
- The PCN can be informally challenged during the 14-day discount period by completing a PCN Challenge form.
- If you wish to submit documentation (eg, pay & display tickets purchased) on which you will rely when making your challenge please complete the PCN Challenge Form – Print Version. The form will take about 5 minutes to complete online and you can monitor your progress using the progress bar at the bottom of the screen.
- If you do not wish to rely on additional documentation when making your challenge please complete the PCN Challenge Form – Online Version. Please note: your case details will not be recognised by the system until the day after the PCN has been served. You will not be able to complete this form the same day you received the PCN.
- Verbal or telephone challenges will not be accepted.
- The Council will either accept or reject a challenge and inform you in writing.
- If you do not challenge PCN in 14 days or pay the charge within 28 days (from date of service). You will receive a Notice to Owner explaining the next stage.
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