Unfortunately for me, I failed to update my V5C until February 2022. Because of this fact alone, have I no grounds for dispute?
Oh dear, we see rather too many cases like yours of failure to update the V5 promptly when moving address. You are now well past the period when you could have submitted representations against the PCN itself. Only if you can get the matter reverted via TEC and a declaration will you be able to submit reps or just pay the original PCN penalty
Three months delay in updating your V5 is
probably fatal to an Out-of-Time declaration, but not necessarily. You haven't told us what the original contravention was for, but if you found no PCN on the vehicle, it looks like a postal PCN served under the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003. If so, then to try to get the matter reverted to the original PCN, you have to submit an Out-of-Time Statutory Declaration to the Traffic Enforcement Centre. Unfortunately, being OOT means the council can object to it being granted, and will do so. The TEC court officer will then refuse your declaration. You can get this reviewed, but this costs money. WIth the amount now at £279, your best option is now to pay this, because any bailiff visit will add to it, which you don't want. Paying the bailiff does not affect the court process for the OOT SD in any way, so you should now download the forms, fill them in, and send them off.
The forms you need are here: -
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/traffic-enforcement-centre-formsYou need forms PE2 and PE3, unless the contravention was for a parking contravention when it would be TE7 and TE9
You might also contact: -
www.bailiffadviceonline.co.ukwho can advise whether an OOT SD is likely to be accepted or not based on your circumstances.
Any reason for the late update to your V5 ?
