Medway Code 19 Meadowbank - Resident Parking Permit Partially Displayed
Hi Everyone,
Please, I need some advice about a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) I received, and I'm not sure whether I should challenge it further or just pay the discounted amount before the 18th of February deadline.
Here's what happened: I was issued a PCN for not displaying my resident permit. The permit was on my dashboard but was partially covered by another permit. This happened due to some mitigating circumstances. I had just parked in front of my house after a two-hour journey from London and urgently needed to use the bathroom. I also have mobility issues, which makes it difficult for me to move quickly, especially when climbing stairs. I rushed inside, used the bathroom upstairs, and returned to my car in less than 10 minutes to swap my permit and collect my belongings—only to find a PCN on my windshield.
I called Medway Council's parking team and explained the situation. The lady I spoke to assured me that they would cancel the PCN if I appealed and provided proof of my resident permit. I followed her advice, sent in my appeal, and attached a copy of my permit. However, my appeal was rejected, which surprised me because, in the past, Medway Council has been known to cancel one PCN per year if a resident forgets to display their permit. I’ve experienced this myself before, and they asked for proof of the permit before cancelling the PCN.
I called several times trying to speak to the officer who gave me the initial advice, I knew her name. I eventually spoke with the same officer. This time, she seemed to backtrack on her earlier assurance. She said it depends on the discretion of the officer handling the appeal and that it's a personal decision. When I mentioned the previous policy of cancellation on submitting a valid resident permit; she said she’s only been in the job for six months and downplayed her earlier advice. I asked to speak to a manager to understand the change in policy, she said she would request a call back as no one was available. I haven’t received any call back yet (this was on Tuesday, 11th February 25).
Another issue is that the rejection letter I received, signed by Mr. Stokes, quoted the wrong penalty and discounted amounts. He listed £70 and £35, but the actual amounts on the PCN are £50 and £25. Could this error make any difference to my case?
I’m now unsure whether to continue challenging this—possibly all the way to a tribunal—or if I should just pay the discounted rate before the deadline to avoid it increasing to the full amount.
Any advice or suggestions on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Link to all relevant documents and pictures
https://ibb.co/album/QvcRMD