Free Traffic Legal Advice

Background:
I received a parking ticket on 17th April 2025 for parking on a yellow line, which I accept was my fault. I paid this ticket promptly. My car was parked at this location for 2 days during my holiday.

The Problem:
On 21st May 2025, I received a letter stating I had received a second parking ticket on 16th April 2025 (the day before the ticket I paid). This second ticket was never physically present on my car when I returned from holiday - only the 17th April ticket was visible.

Evidence:
The traffic warden's own photographs for the 17th April ticket (which I paid - attached to this) show that only one ticket was present on my vehicle (the one issued on the 17th), supporting my claim that the 16th April ticket was not there when I collected my car.

Current Situation:
I'm now being asked to pay an increased fine of £160 for the 16th April ticket, as the payment deadline has passed. However, this is the first I'm hearing of this ticket - I cannot pay a fine for a ticket I never received.

My Position:
I believe the traffic warden either removed the 16th April ticket or it was never properly attached to my vehicle. I have a clean record of paying parking fines promptly and have never contested legitimate tickets. I refuse to pay this increased fine as it's the result of the warden's failure to properly serve the original notice.

Any advice on how to formally dispute this fine I will be greatful for, as I'm being penalised for a ticket I never received due to the system's failure, not my own.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

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I presume you have a notice to owner. You can make representations saying the PCN was absent from the car and you have evidence from their own pics - but if you post the details of both PCNs we can check properly.

They are likely to reoffer the discounted penalty.

You could try asking for cancellation based on two consecutive PCNs with one paid but as this is not a continuous contravention presumably being a single yellow they are likely to stick to it.

Westminster's FAQ includes:

I’ve received a Notice to Owner (NtO) in the post, but I didn't get a PCN on my vehicle, what should I do?
You can find details and photos relating to the PCN online. The PCN would have been fixed to the vehicle or handed to the driver or person appearing to be in charge of the vehicle.

However, we are aware that PCNs are occasionally removed from vehicles by third parties. If you believe that may have happened, you can make a request to pay the 50% discounted amount by phone, please call 020 7823 4567.

Strangely Westminster doesn't impound vehicles so it's relatively safe to risk a minor contravention.

It's not unreasonable to issue two PCNs for a yellow line contravention on consecutive days in Westminster. If this were Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest or Newham you'd probably have been picking up the car from a pound.

Let's see their pics for the first PCN.