Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I’m hoping someone can advise me on a stressful situation that’s just come up.

I travelled from outside London and parked outside my sister’s place. On the morning of 08/05/2025, she called to say my car had been clamped with a notice on the window (see image link below). I called the number on the notice and was told the car had already been towed and that there’s an outstanding PCN from Haringey Council going back to August 2024.

The bailiff guy (Cedar Group) said they’ve “been to court,” are now holding the car, and may be planning to sell it. They claim they’ve sent multiple letters and even tried to contact me in person.

I checked the Haringey Council website and found the following details:
   •   Contravention Code: 32(D)
   •   Contravention: Failing to proceed in the direction shown by a blue arrow (wrong direction)
   •   Location: Haringey
   •   Date of PCN: 17/08/2024

The issue is I never received any PCN, charge certificate, or enforcement notice. Since August, I’ve moved between three addresses due to my job (often short-term hospital accommodation). I only managed to update my V5C with my current address on 04/03/2025, so anything sent before that likely went to the wrong place. If I had received anything earlier, I would’ve sorted this straight away.

To make things worse, I have an on-call shift this Sunday and need my car to get between site (return to UK saturday night). The compound is closed and I can’t access it. Is there any right to request the return of my vehicle under Regulation 4(1)(a) (essential work equipment)?
I’ve already emailed Cedar Group and asked for a breakdown of the charges, copy of the warrant, and a hold on further fees. No response yet.

Any help or advice on how to proceed, especially on getting the car back as soon as possible [/font][/font]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Thanks, sister confirms car is no longer at the roadside.

Any help or advice on how to proceed, especially on getting the car back as soon as possible

IMO, pay. Sorry to say it, but to achieve your objective payment is the only practical option.

Talking of options, there are 2, there's no third way:

1. Pay now. Submit a Subject Access Request to the council and once the docs are received compile- with our help - and submit an Out of Time statutory declaration to the Traffic Enforcement Centre. If this is successful then ALL payments would be refunded and the council required to start again by issuing a fresh PCN. If your application is refused then you've at least had your car;

2. You don't pay. They dispose of the vehicle at auction and remit the balance of the sale proceeds to you or, if insufficient money is raised at auction, they pursue you for the balance AND add extra fees.*

Of course there might be other options e.g. (if it's possible) take legal action against them to stay their enforcement and force them to release your car. But IMO you'd need to engage a solicitor AND you would still owe the money which they could recover by seizing property at your home, taking possession and auctioning. Then the issue of sufficient proceeds returns.

*- https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/bailiff-regulations/taking-control-of-goods-fees-regulations-2014

Thanks, that really helps clarify things.  I will pay now to recover the car, do I need to inform the council or the bailiff that I intend to submit an Out of Time Statutory Declaration?