PCN accidentally paid and council immediately notified of error

Here's a new one!

I appealed a PCN on ground that I knew would succeed. Later the same day tried to pay a different PCN but accidentally entered the PCN number that I had earlier appealed!

I immediately (within 10m) sent a follow-on message via their online system explaining the error.

14 days later, they rejected the appeal (though letter isn't headed Rejection of Rejection and at the end of the letter, say:
"As you have paid this PCN, you have addmitted liability, You are now not able to challenge this PCN and we will not be entering into any further correspondence for this case, which is now closed."



What's the law in my case?

thanks,
Ash

Obviously a load of muppets ! Their obvious move would have been to accept your email, and transfer the amount you paid to the PCN you wished to pay, thus allowing your reps you submittd previously to be considered.

I think the next move must be a complaint to the council with copies of your email and their response. Councils, as public bodies established by Parliament, have a duty to act fairly and in the public interest.

Have you tried asking the council to reallocate the payment to the correct PCN?

In theory you can try reclaiming the amount paid in error, but in practice it wouldn't be worth the hassle.

yes my initial message after this mistake asked for exactly that, but they ignored the request

The only thing I can suggest is that you attempt a card chargeback via the bank. And next time don't pay the PCN in the first place, it's rare that we don't find something to make representations on.