Hello all,
Just wondering if anyone has any advice info that may be useful.
For some background - I received a PCN code 34j for the bus lane on Clapham Park Road (trying to turn left), on 20 October 2025. This letter was likely sent and delivered promptly, but for context, my next door neighbour has seemingly registered his car to my address so that all his PCNs (Id saay he receives 3 or 4 a week) are delivered to my house. My partner and i both work long hours and usually dont get home form work until late evening so we leave these letters to give to him when we see him at the weekend. Prior to the PCN issuance, we'd been away and a number of letters had built up: see the image below. We are so use to these being his PCNs that we dont usually check through them thoroughly. We also live in a flat so our downstairs neighbours also add to the pile when they see any of his letters.
Around 22nd November, as we prepared to give our neighbour this pile, we noticed the above PCN - which was within the 28 day challenge period, but the half price 14 day period had of course expired.
We don't know much about challenging bus lane contraventions as we quite clearly are in the bus lane, I've added the PCN images and videos below.
so we assumed there'd be no point attempting to argue. howevr, we did request discretion be used to allow us to pay the 14 day rate as we did not receive the letter within this time. Here is a copy of what we wrote:
"I fully accept the contravention and am willing to pay the charge.
I am kindly requesting that you exercise discretion to reinstate the 14-day discounted rate. The reason for the
delay is that the notice was accidentally lost within a very large stack of letters regularly delivered to our address
for our neighbour’s vehicle.
As the attached photographs show, we frequently receive dozens of their parking-related letters at our address.
These envelopes arrive intermingled with our own mail, and despite our best efforts to keep things organised, the
sheer volume makes confusion almost inevitable. Unfortunately, the PCN addressed to us became buried within
this pile and was only discovered when we sorted through it recently.
As soon as the PCN was identified, we took immediate steps to resolve the matter. I hope the evidence
demonstrates that the delay was a genuine mishap caused by an unusual volume of misdirected correspondence,
rather than any attempt to avoid payment.
Given these circumstances, I would be extremely grateful if you could permit us to settle the charge at the
discounted rate."
Probably not wise to admit culpability but we were panicking before christmas about this massive cost and didn't think it through. We got email confirmation which said we could expect a reply within 28 days.
Anyway, as of todays date (17 Jan 2026) - we have not received any response, either by post or by email. When i log onto the lambeth website to view the PCN it says "We received your challenge on Sat, 22 Nov 2025 and we will reply by . You do not need to challenge it again." and also "The amount outstanding on the Charge Notice will increase to £240.00 very soon. Please pay £160.00 now.", but no update.
Due to the lengthy time period, is it likely that its been forgotten about, and is there any grounds to have it cancelled on this basis?
thanks!
