Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I would be very grateful for advice on how to proceed with this PCN. I intend to take this all the way if necessary, as I believe the permit was valid and the PCN was issued incorrectly.


PCN Details

• Council: Haringey
  
• PCN number: ...............
  
• Date of contravention: 28 January 2026
  
• Time of contravention: 11:30
  
• Location:  Haringey N15 STH TOT (ST) CPZ
  
• Contravention: Parked in a permit bay without displaying a valid permit
  
• Vehicle registration: AK17AYB
  

Background

On 28 January 2026, I displayed a Haringey visitor permit in my vehicle.

I personally completed and scratched off the permit correctly before leaving the vehicle. The permit was valid from 10:40 to 11:40.

However, the Civil Enforcement Officer issued the PCN at 11:30, which was clearly within the validity period of the permit.

This is why I challenged the PCN informally.

Council’s Rejection on 17th Feb 2026

Haringey rejected my challenge and stated:

“The day and date scratched on the visitor permit does not correspond with the day your vehicle was parked. The permit was marked for a Monday  (5th), while your vehicle was observed on a Wednesday. The date (28th) was also not marked.”

This statement is factually incorrect.

Evidence Issues

There are approximately 25 photos on the council’s evidence portal.

From reviewing them carefully:

The photos clearly show that Wednesday was scratched off

The photos clearly show that the 28th was scratched off

28 January 2026 was in fact a Wednesday, so the scratched day and date match perfectly

Some other areas of the permit show minor marks ie the 5th is also a bit scratched out, which may be from handling, but the correct day and date were clearly scratched

Crucially, the CEO’s photos of the valid permit are taken at weird angles and are not clear in showing the permit properly, despite taking 25 photos overall and the other pictures do appear to be clear and the right way up, so it feels as if they specially did that.

The permit was clearly displayed and visible in the windscreen 

Key Points

The permit was:


Paid for

Properly displayed

Valid for the date (Wednesday 28th January)

Valid for the time period (10:40–11:40)

The PCN was issued at 11:30, during the validity period

Therefore, the permit was valid at the time of the alleged contravention.

My Position

I believe:

The CEO either misread the permit or failed to properly assess it and was also very rude !!

The council has incorrectly stated that the 28th was not scratched, when the photos show it was

The rejection appears to rely on an incorrect interpretation of the evidence

Current Status

My informal challenge has been rejected on 17th Feb 2026.


I understand the next stage is to wait for the Notice to Owner and then submit formal representations.


Questions


Based on the above, do I have strong grounds to continue to formal representations and adjudication if necessary? What do you all advise I do next?
 

Does the CEO’s unclear photographic evidence weaken the council’s case?


Is the fact that the correct day and date were scratched sufficient to establish validity, even if there are incidental marks elsewhere ie on the 5th - even though the 28th and Wednesday do match up and the 5th was on a monday?


Is there anything specific I should include in my formal representations?


What do you suggest - any advise is greatly appreciated, it seems like we are arguing over whether the bit scratched out on the 5th is invalidating the permit or if that can still be counted as a valid permit? I did spend the time, money and effort to put the permit in and scratch out the correct information.


I honestly didn't notice that it was a bit scratched out on the 5th and was very surprised to receive a ticket and couldn't understand for the life of me, why I had received the ticket. It is not my fault the scratching out system is such rubbish and any handling of the scratch off peel and it comes off so easily. 



Evidence




I will upload:




Council rejection letter - [img width=103.99305725097656 height=178.99305725097656]https://i.postimg.cc/N21kMtkX/Screenshot-2026-02-17-155100.png[/img]



CEO images - weird angles annoyingly and unclear. 



[img width=180.00001525878906 height=105.98958587646484]https://i.postimg.cc/F76CBrny/CEO-Image-1.png[/img]



[img width=180.00001525878906 height=85.00000762939453]https://i.postimg.cc/cgTXM0nq/CEO-image-2.png[/img]



[img width=180.00001525878906 height=85.00000762939453]https://i.postimg.cc/sB4cssKg/CEO-Image-3.png[/img]


https://postimg.cc/gallery/VsJ3rdw - Full gallery


The other images are all of the car and the PCN / Permit sign
 

Copy of the permit itself (if required) - I have kept that in my car for now.


Thank you in advance for any advice. All advice is greatly appreciated. Let me know if you need anything else

Please post a photo of the actual permit, as without it we cannot assess the council comments about the Monday scratch-off.

Thank you for your response, I will post the picture of the actual permit tomorrow,but I would think it is more important, what can actually be seen on the images, which I have attached already, as that is what the council will be working with, only.

There's no requirement for pictures, it goes off the CEO's information.  However, if you have the original ticket and can demonstrate that it was read wrong you would appear to have a strong case.  Are the pics you posted the originals off the council's web site?  If so, their assertion that they clearly demonstrate the contravention is questionable!

Thank you for your response - I do have the original ticket. The pictures that I posted are the originals from the council's website.


I do agree that the 5th was scratched out abit, but I honestly don't know when that happened and would not have used that permit, if I would have realized, that it is going to be an issue - I did spend time and effort scratching out and putting that permit there, I wouldn't have done that, if I would have known I will get a ticket anyway - I just feel the council is being very pedantic, just because they can and they should not be allowed to!


How do you think I have a strong case, because they will turn around and say one of the other days is scratched out as well?

Please all see the actual permit here - https://i.postimg.cc/Wb9NCrWB/Whats-App-Image-2026-02-18-at-11-06-42.jpg


It is rubbed out abit on the 5th, but that is from handling their rubbish peel off.


The main scratch off is on the 28th - according to me.


2024 is also rubbed out abit - the 5th is the same as that. ALso the 28th matches up with Wednesday and the 5th is a Monday and Monday was never scratched out, So they cant even say I tried to reuse the permit, if the 5th would be a Wednesday, I would say it would be a bit more complicated


I don't really know the rules and regulations, to back me up, which is why I came on here for assistance, so any assistance is greatly appreciated.     

Having now looked at the actual permit, I think that if Haringey are obdurate, you will need to take them to London Tribunals and risk the extra money; there is no discount option at the adjudicators. However, before you get there, you have to respond to the Notice to Owner, assuming you're not going to cough-up for now.

For me, the CEO and the council are being needlessly pedantic on this, but it's always a money game in London, and they know that >95% of people just cough-up to make it go away.

It looks like they are being obdurate,as they have already rejected my appeal - looks like it will be the Tribunal then, unless I can re-appeal, but I don't know if that is an option now !

What is the Notice to Owner - what will they ask there?


I agree 100% both the council and the rude CEO are being very pedantic and they are just trying their luck and hoping that I pay up or get scared to the Tribunal, which is very unfair - the whole thing is unfair at the moment. I am also very annoyed, the CEO took 25 pictures in total, 21 pictures were very clear and the right way around - 4 of them,which just happen to be of the VALID permit, are unclear and funny angles, making it harder for everyone. 

Quote from: Simon12ko on Today at 01:34:55 pm

What is the Notice to Owner - what will they ask there?

If you don't pay the PCN, after 28 days they will issue a postal notice to owner to the registered keeper.  This will give you a chance to make formal representations, which might yield a cancellation here.  If rejected, they will probably re-offer the discount, then you can appeal to the tribunal (where the full charge (but no more) will be at risk).  Are you the registered keeper (i.e. not on lease?) and is the address on the V5C correct?

Ok thank you. Yes I am the registered keeper and the address is correct, as far as I know.