3. PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
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PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
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Hi all,


Yesterday I received a PCN in London, Wimbledon (Merton council), for Contravention Code 14: "Parked in an electric vehicles' charging place during restricted hours without charging", with a penalty of £160.00. Time of issue: 08:50.


Place: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GZVjZ8ivNMRS9fV2A

I parked my plug-in hybrid vehicle on a public road in Wimbledon, with the intention of charging it while I visited a nearby shop. The bay was designated and clearly marked for electric vehicles.


I exited the car and started the charging session as instructed on the screen via my mobile phone, as I don’t have a Total account. I entered my payment details, and a £49.00 deposit was authorised on my card (I have a photo of my bank app showing this). I also received an email from Total confirming that the “session has been started”. The car also indicated that it was charging. This was at 08:47.


I immediately left the car because I was in a rush. While walking to the shop, I passed a civil enforcement officer. When I returned about 20 minutes later, I found a PCN on the windscreen, and the charging point was flashing red, indicating that charging was no longer active. The car did not charge. The PCN was issued just 3 minutes after I had started the session.

What should I do in this situation? Is it possible to successfully appeal this? Is this, however, a matter between me and the charging point operator?

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« Last Edit: June 22, 2025, 06:21:55 pm by kaspersky »
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #1 on: »
You did all that was required of you. The charging error was an unforeseen event, that you could not have anticipated. Does Merton expect every motorist charging his vehicle to stand by it for an hour or two checking the charging progress ? Surely not !
I suggest you submit reps on the basis that the vehicle was charging OK when you left it and the error is an unforeseen event that should not result in a penalty. This council really takes the biscuit for their malice, vindictiveness and rapacity. Clearly their CEOs are on some kind of bonus scheme based on daily issue of PCNs.
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #2 on: »
Hi all.

I appealed the PCN on 23rd of June. I received an email confirming that my appeal had been submitted and that I should expect a response. However, I never received any reply, nor did I receive any letter regarding the matter.

Is this normal, or should I contact Merton Council about this?

Thank you.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2025, 01:33:24 pm by kaspersky »
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #3 on: »
Did you include your postal address?

We cannot check its status on the council website because you've blanked the PCN number and your VRM. Have you checked?

Have you contacted Total and tried to get them to explain why your session would have stopped abruptly after 3 minutes despite you having paid.

I don't own an EV of any sort, so what would your payment buy you, how did you know for how long you would be charging and what happens if your car won't accept further charge? 
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #4 on: »
Thanks for replying.

Yes, I gave them my full address.

It works like this: you park the car, then start the session, a £50 deposit is taken from your account and it charges until the battery is full. I wasn't planning to charge it to full - I just wanted to charge while I was in the shop for a few minutes. That's what I always do, and it has always worked.

I haven't contacted Total yet, but I'll send them an email about this shortly.

I checked on the Merton website, and the PCN status is "On hold"...
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #5 on: »
Post the VRM and PCN number here pl.

Also, are you the registered keeper with current DVLA details or is the vehicle leased/hired?

and it charges until the battery is full.

Was the car fully charged?
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #6 on: »
PCN: MT01213872
Plates: NV16DVX

The car is registered on me.

There's nothing on the road sign stating how long you can charge the car for, so I believe it's allowed until the vehicle is fully charged.

In my case, the battery was empty or low and I intended to charge it for the duration of my time in the shop, no more than 20 minutes - which understand does not in itself break any local rules? Normally it takes few hours to fully charge the car. The car wasn't charged when I came back.

The car displayed a message confirming that charging had started (I followed the instructions showed on the screen), £50 was taken from my bank account as a deposit, and I received an email from the operator confirming that the charging session had begun.

I genuinely can't see anything here that would suggest I did anything wrong.

I attached the photo of the sign (from the Google map)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2025, 06:24:44 pm by kaspersky »
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #7 on: »
I genuinely can't see anything here that would suggest I did anything wrong.

That you were parked and not charging is the objective reality.

The question is, why?

IMO, you should still contact Total. The facts are that charging did stop and if there's some quirk which relates to this provider you need to know.
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Re: PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error
« Reply #8 on: »
The council can't enrich themselves by partnering with a charger manufacturer that makes unreliable chargers, and this design of charger is notoriously unreliable.

What do they expect a diligent motorist to do, wait by their car the whole time just in case there is a power cut? Is there a grace period in the event of a power cut or other fault? If so how is the motorist informed of this?

I suppose one approach would be to pay the PCN the bill Total Energy for the financial loss?



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  3. PCN, London Merton, for parked in "electric vehicles' charging place" while charging error