Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,

I was sent 2 PCNs from Ealing Council whilst abroad and the 14 day reduced period expired before we returned. I actually tried to pay the day after returning when going through mail but discovered they wanted the full amount at that point which is how I realised the 14 day reduction expired.

This feels completely unfair as there was no way to pay it within that time as the house was empty due to being abroad the whole time! It was completely impossible - I didn't have 14 days to pay the reduced rate as I didn't receive the PCN.

I've been trying to find a way to contact Ealing Parking Services but there's no email, the 'customer service' phone number is completely automated (I've been calling many, many times, different days, going through each and every option and no way to actually speak to someone).

I didn't do the appeal/representation as I wasn't trying to get it cancelled; they'd just reject as being irrelevant. So now because I've wasted lots of time trying to figure out how to contact them, it's tripled from £80 to £240 - and there's 2 of them! 

Surely they should 'reset' the period so I can pay the reduced amount?
If I let this go to county court won't the judge understand the stupidity of the situation and make them reduce?

Sounds like you have a charge certificate and as you acknowledge the PCN was delivered then there is no way to get it revoked so in reality you are stuck with appealing to the councils better nature in getting them to withdraw the CC and let you pay the PCN or you pat the £240

One was for stopping to let someone out on a double yellow - turns out they'd recently upgraded them with stripes on the kerbs also so even that's no longer allowed there 

Other one was for entering a restricted area/LTN when trying to get my daughter to a doctor's appointment in an unknown area - you can come one way down the road, went too far and did a 3 point turn not noticing the sign saying you can't go back the same way 

Too late to submit representations - I assumed they'd just reject as all the blurb indicates that's for proving that the PCN shouldn't apply. Instead I wasted time trying the pointless 'customer support' phone line and trying to find out how else to contact them.

Got charge certificates now. Have realised I've got an email address from previous PCN when they email you receipt of payment/representation/etc. Looks like I'll have to try emailing that and grovel.


Is there no precedent/standard as to how to handle this situation where the reduced period expires? It's SO frustrating that there's no way of contacting these people to make any enquiries.