If you believe that the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN ticket) has been issued to you in error or incorrectly, you should challenge it.

Parking representations

If you fail to pay the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN/ticket) or you decide to make a challenge (formal representation) you will not be entitled to the discounted rate and the registered keeper (person registered with DVLA) of the vehicle will be sent a ‘Notice to Owner’ (NTO). This notice will advise that there is a further 28 days from the date of the Notice to either:

1. pay the full penalty charge (no reduced rate), or
2. make a formal written representation to the Council

You can only make representations on the following grounds:

  • The Contravention did not occur – The contravention (offence) described in the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN/ticket) did not happen – for instance the PCN is for parking on a yellow line when you were in fact legally loading.  When returning this form you should enclose any relevant details (e.g. delivery note).
  • The penalty exceeded the relevant amount – The PCN asked you to pay more than you are legally liable to.
  • The traffic order was invalid – You believe the parking restriction in question was invalid or illegal.  This applied, for instance, if the Council has not followed the correct procedure for passing the traffic order.  When returning this form you should enclose any relevant details.
  • The Parking Attendant was not prevented from issuing the PCN – You disagree that the Parking Attendant was prevented from issusing the PCN.
  • I was not the owner/keeper of the vehicle at the time of the contravention – You did not own the vehicle when the PCN was issued.  When returning the form please enclose details – such as a receipt of sale/purchase or a copy of the DVLA registration form.  You must give the name and address of the peron who bough/sold the vehicle and the date of sale/purchase.
  • The vehicle was taken without my consent – The vehicle had been stolen when the PCN was issued.  When returning the form you should enclose evidence such as a police crime report number or insurance claim.
  • We are a hire firm and have supplied the name of the hirer – You are a hire company and the hirer has signed a formal agreement accepting liability for the PCN.  You must enclose the name and address of the hirer and a copy of the statement they signed.
  • The Notice to Owner was served out of time – You feel that there has been an unreasonable delay (or at least 6 months) in issuing the Notice to Owner.

Mitigating Circumstances - Although there are specific legal grounds for making representations, we will consider exercising our discretion and may cancel the penalty charge notice if there are suitable mitigating circumstances (i.e. if we believe that there is a good enough reason).  Please include any available supporting evidence.

Unacceptable excuses include:

I could not find anywhere else to park.
I went to get change for the meter.
I only stopped for a minute or two.
I thought I was legally parked but I made a mistake.
I lent the vehicle to a friend and he will not pay the ticket.
This is too much money to ask for a parking offence.
There was no need for a yellow line any way.
I am not the owner/keeper because I has hired.leased the vehicle.

On receipt of the formal representation, the Council's Parking Section will carefully consider all the relevant facts. Information relating to the contravention held on the computer records and in the Parking Attendant's log book may also be taken into account.

If your representation is accepted you will be notified that the Penalty Charge Notice has been cancelled. Otherwise, you will be sent a formal Notice of Rejection together with an appeal form.

Parking appeals

If your formal representation is rejected by the Council, you can appeal to an independent Parking Adjudicator at the Traffic and Parking Appeals Service.

The Adjudicator is restricted by law to considering appeals only on the eight grounds listed above, it is not possible to appeal to a Parking Adjudicator unless the owner of the vehicle first makes a formal representation to the Council. The decision of the Adjudicator is binding on both the Council and the person making the appeal.

Appeals can be decided either in person or by post, depending on your preference. Appeals in person are arranged by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service.

Please complete one of the forms below should you wish to submit a challenge against a parking ticket issued to you by the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF).  Fields marked with * are mandatory.

The ‘Pre Notice to Owner Challenge’ form should be used within 14 days of the date of your ticket.

If you have received a Notice to Owner from the London Borough of Waltham Forest, please follow the instructions provided on Challenging a Parking Ticket before completing the ‘Post Notice to Owner Represenation’ form.

Currently we have a backlog in dealing with challenges/representations to Penalty Charge Notices that were issued prior to the 31 of March 2008, if you have sent or are sending in a pre Notice to Owner challenge within the discounted period and your challenge is unsuccessful you will be given a further 14 days to pay the discount charge. We are working hard to clear this backlog and expect to resume normal service by the 1 December 2008.

Please note that our response will be sent by Royal Mail.

Information on parking penalties

Contact us

Waltham Forest Parking Group
PO Box 54410
Parking Section
LONDON  E10 7YS

Tel 020 8496 3000
Email parking.services@walthamforest.gov.uk