This information relates to parking fines issued by Bracknell Forest Council. These are called penalty charge notices (PCNs). PCNs issued by Bracknell Forest Council begin with the letters "BV".
If you have been given a parking fine by a private parking company, you must contact them directly using the details on the notice. These are called a parking charge notices.
Charges
PCN charges are set by the Department of Transport.
Off-street PCN
Off-street PCNs are issued for parking breaches in car parks, such as not paying or staying too long.
Off-street PCN charges are:
- discounted rate: £25
- full charge: £50
- charge certificate: £75
- debt registration: £85
If the case is transferred to an enforcement agent, additional fees are added.
On-street PCN
On-street PCNs are issued for parking breaches on public roads, such as parking on double yellow lines.
On-street PCN charges are:
- discounted rate: £35
- full charge: £70
- charge certificate: £105
- debt registration: £115
If the case is transferred to an enforcement agent, additional fees are added.
If your PCN came by post, start at 3. Notice to Owner.
You get a PCN either handed to you or on your windscreen.
You can:
- pay the PCN
- make an informal challenge
If you do nothing, a Notice to Owner will be sent to the registered keeper.
Pay the PCN
If you choose to pay the PCN, you can:
- make the payment at a 50% discount within 14 days
- make the full payment within 28 days
Once you have paid, the case is closed. You cannot challenge after paying.
If you think the PCN is wrong you can make an informal challenge within 28 days of the PCN being issued.
You must clearly set out the reasons you think the PCN is wrong and support this with relevant evidence, such as photographs, receipts or witness statements.
You can make an informal challenge online or by sending us a letter.
Find out how to make an informal challenge on our challenge a parking fine page.
If you do not challenge the PCN or pay the charge within 28 days (from date of issue), you will receive an Notice to Owner explaining the next stage.
If you have a general enquiry or need further advice, phone 03330 068347.
If your challenge is accepted, the PCN will be cancelled and you don’t have to do anything else.
If your challenge is rejected
If your challenge is rejected you can:
- pay the PCN (if your informal challenge was received within 14 days of the PCN being issued, you will usually be re-offered the discounted rate)
- wait until you get a Notice to Owner to make a formal representation
If you get a NTO you can:
- pay the full charge (there is no discount)
- make a formal representation
If you do nothing, you will get a charge certificate which means the PCN will increase by 50% of the original fine.
Pay the PCN
If you choose to pay the PCN, you must pay the full charge within 28 days.
There is no discount at this stage.
Once you have paid the case is closed and you cannot challenge after paying.
If you choose to make a formal representation, you must do this within 28 days of the NTO being served. If you received your PCN through the post, your letter will include details of any discount periods.
Find out how to make a formal representation on our challenge a parking fine page.
If your appeal is accepted, the PCN will be cancelled and you don’t have to do anything else.
If your appeal is refused, you have 28 days to pay.
If your formal representation is rejected, you will get a notice of rejection.
You can then choose to:
- pay the PCN
- appeal through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (an independent decision maker) within 28 days of receiving the notice
If you do nothing, you will get a charge certificate which means the PCN will increase by 50% of the original fine.
Pay the PCN
If you choose to pay the PCN, you must pay the full charge within 28 days.
There is no discount at this stage.
Once you have paid, the case is closed and you cannot challenge after paying.
If your formal representation is rejected, you will get a notice of rejection.
You can then choose to:
- pay the PCN
- appeal through the TPT within 28 days of receiving the notice
Find out how to appeal through the TPT on our challenge a parking fine page.
If the appeal is successful, the PCN is cancelled and you don’t have to do anything else.
If the appeal is refused, the PCN must be paid within 28 days of the TPT’s decision. If you do not pay at this stage, you will get a charge certificate which means the PCN will increase by 50% of the original fine.
If you don’t pay at earlier stages, you will get a charge certificate.
A charge certificate increases the original fine by 50%.
If you do not pay the charge certificate within 28 days, the case moves to debt registration.
At this stage your case is registered with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC).
If you get a debt registration letter, the fine is an increase of 50% of the original fine, plus a £10 fee.
You have 28 days to pay in full.
You can no longer appeal to the TPT.
If you ignore this:
- a warrant (court order) is issued known as a TE3 - Order for Recovery of unpaid penalty charge
- an enforcement agent (bailiff) will contact you.
If you are notified by an enforcement agent (also called bailiffs) there will be additional charges on top of the PCN charge.
At this stage you need to deal directly with the enforcement agent.
Your options are to:
- pay the charges directly with the enforcement agent
- make an out of time challenge to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC)
You can only make an out-of-time challenge this if something went wrong in the process. For example, if you didn’t receive key letters.
Find out how to make an out-of-time challenge on GOV.UK.
The TEC will decide to either:
- send the case back to the council: you can then pay or challenge the PCN
- leave the case with the bailiff: you must then pay them