Wait to see what others say, but I'd be tempted to post them a cheque for £11 "in full and final settlement". It'll get rejected, but I think you'd be in a pretty strong position at adjudication given that the actual amount is the least readable part of the PCN.
I half agree. After all, it is purportedly the first legal document in the chain. Give them £5.50.
mrmustard sent me this yesterday:
Case Details
Case
reference
2240242447
Appellant Yocheved Goldmeier
Authority London Borough of Barnet
VRM LN12CGG
PCN Details
PCN AG44813617
Contravention
date
06 Feb 2024
Contravention
time
09:17:00
Contravention
location
Penshurst Gardens
Penalty
amount
GBP 80.00
Contravention Parked without payment of the parking charge
Referral date
Decision Date 02 Aug 2024
Adjudicator Martin Hoare
Appeal
decision
Appeal allowed
Direction cancel the Penalty Charge Notice.
Reasons The Appellant accurately submitted ‘The EA on
page 2 paragraph 5 of their NoR state that;” As a
goodwill gesture, we are willing to reoffer you the
opportunity to pay at a discount price of £65, if paid
within 14 days from the date of this letter”. However
further down the same page of the same NoR
namely on page 2 paragraph 9, the EA state the
discount amount to be £40, ie; “Pay within 14 days
of the date of service of this letter at the amount of
£40 and the case will be closed”.’
The Council apologised ‘ for the typographical error
made by the officer in the NOR. The PCN was
issued at the statutory rate of £80, reduced to £40 if
paid within 14 days of the date of the PCN. The
Council then re-offered the discounted rate when
NOR was issued for a further 14 days of the date of
the NOR. It should be noted that this was done as a
gesture of goodwill. The Council was not required
under the regulations to re-offer a discount. The
PCN was set at £40 during the discount period and
this would have appeared as the charge payable for
the appellant had they chosen to pay the PCN.’
However the statutory scheme requires practical
certainty about the level of penalty to be paid and
when a penalty is to be paid. In this instance the
typographical mistake caused a real scope for
material confusion on an important aspect of the
enforcement process.