Hi all,
I’d really appreciate some guidance on whether this is worth taking further or paying at the discounted rate.
PCN details:
• Council: Wandsworth
• PCN number: WA9391050A
• Vehicle: EA58WLN
• Contravention: Parked in shared use bay without valid permit or payment
• Location: Fairlight Road, SW17
• Date: 27/03/2026
• Observation: 09:42–09:54
• PCN issued: 09:54
⸻
My initial informal appeal (verbatim)
"
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to make representations against the above Penalty Charge Notice on the ground that the alleged contravention did not occur.
I arrived on Fairlight Road at approximately 09:39 and immediately attempted to pay for parking using the RingGo app, in accordance with the parking requirements. However, I was unable to complete payment due to repeated technical issues with the app. I have attached screenshots showing failed login attempts and error messages at approximately 09:40, 09:59 and 10:10, which demonstrate that I was actively trying to make payment from the moment I parked. The RingGo account shown in the attached screenshots is my account associated with my vehicle.
This was not a case of failing to pay, but rather being temporarily prevented from doing so due to circumstances beyond my control. I continued attempting to access the system and successfully made payment at 10:31, as evidenced by the attached RingGo receipt. This clearly shows that I intended to comply with the parking regulations and paid as soon as it became possible.
I would also like to draw attention to a discrepancy in the timing of the alleged observation period. The PCN states that the vehicle was observed between 09:42 and 09:54, however the photographic evidence appears to be timestamped at 09:55. This raises concerns as to the accuracy and reliability of the observation period.
At all times I acted in good faith and made continuous efforts to comply with the payment requirements. I was attending a compulsory university session at St George’s and made every reasonable effort to ensure payment was made promptly despite the technical difficulties encountered.
I have also attached RingGo receipts demonstrating my consistent history of paying for parking, including at this same location shortly before the date in question, which further supports that this was an isolated issue caused by a technical failure.
I would also respectfully ask the Council to take into account my personal circumstances. I am a medical student with limited financial means, and a penalty of this nature would have a significant financial impact on me. I made genuine and repeated efforts to comply with the parking requirements and did not seek to avoid payment at any stage.
In light of the clear evidence that I attempted to pay immediately, was prevented from doing so by a system error, and completed payment at the earliest opportunity, I respectfully request that the Penalty Charge Notice be cancelled.
Yours faithfully, '
⸻
Council rejection (verbatim)
'
Penalty Charge Notice Number: WA9391050A
Vehicle Registration: EA58WLN
Date of Contravention: 27/03/2026 at 09:54
Location of Contravention: FAIRLIGHT ROAD, SW17
I refer to your enquiry received on 27/03/2026 regarding the above Penalty Charge Notice
(PCN).
The PCN was issued because the vehicle was parked in a shared use bay without displaying a
valid permit (resident, visitor, business or trade), or without a valid pay & display ticket or without
activating a valid cashless parking session for that bay. The hours of restriction are 9:30am to
5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. You can view the photographs online at
.
I acknowledge your comments that the RingGo app was not working on your phone when
attempting to activate a cashless parking session. You have provided a cashless parking receipt
showing parking rights were purchased from 10:31am to 11:38am.
It is Wandsworth policy to grant 5 minutes of observation prior to issue of a penalty when a
vehicle is parked in a bay. In this instance, the vehicle was first observed at 9:42am by which
time no driver was seen with the vehicle, and the PCN was issued at 9:54am. Your confirmed
cashless parking session started 37 minutes after the PCN was issued and 49 minutes after the
vehicle was first seen. I am therefore satisfied that the PCN was issued correctly.
Having investigated, there were no widespread issues reported with the RingGo service on the
date of the contravention. There are records of connections from your account at 9:34am that
morning but no successful cashless parking session was activated until 10:31am. It is not
unlikely that this issue was caused by a connection or account-specific issue and regrettably,
these are not grounds for exemption.
You also mention that there are no photographs showing your vehicle when it was first observed
at the location. Under the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General
Regulations 2007, there is no legal requirement to include photographs of the full observation
time with a PCN. The mandatory information is the date/time of the alleged contravention, the
location of the vehicle, the nature of the contravention, the amount of the PCN and instructions
on how to pay or appeal. CEOs are not able to alter the timings recorded on their handheld
computer in order to falsify their observation time.
By your own admission you were unable to activate cashless parking; however, the sign also
directs drivers to pay for their parking at a pay & display machine or to call RingGo's automated
payment line. Therefore, it’s not unreasonable for drivers to use the pay & display machine in the
event that cashless parking was not possible, considering its location is relatively close by, or to
use RingGo's pay by phone service instead of the app.
Ultimately, it remains the driver’s responsibility to ensure that their vehicle is parked in
accordance with the regulations.
Given the above, I am satisfied that the PCN was correctly issued and regrettably, you have not
established sufficient grounds for cancellation of this penalty charge. As your enquiry was
received within the discount period the amount of £70.00, will be accepted if payment is received
within 14 days of the date of this letter.
To make a credit or debit card payment please call our 24 hour automated payment line on 0800
021 7763 or pay online by visiting www.wandsworth.gov.uk/pcnonline.
Alternatively, your cheque or postal order should be made payable to “Wandsworth Borough
Council”, clearly identified with the Notice number written on the reverse side and sent to:
Wandsworth Borough Council (Parking), PO Box 521, Twickenham, TW1 9PJ.
If payment is not received as detailed, I shall assume that you wish to pursue the matter and
shall arrange for a Notice to Owner to be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle so that
formal representations may be made. Should these be rejected, the registered keeper of the
vehicle will then be afforded the opportunity to appeal to the Parking Adjudicator.
I should point out that, should you decide to take this course of action, on the expiry of the
discount period you will forfeit the right to pay the Penalty Charge at the lower rate and the full
charge of £140.00 will be due.
If you are not the registered keeper of the vehicle e.g. the vehicle is a company or lease/hire
vehicle, or being used with the owner’s consent, I suggest you advise the keeper that a Notice to
Owner (NTO) will be issued.
The options are therefore to pay the PCN or follow the statutory process to submit a formal
representation as explained above. Any further information or evidence for the Council's
consideration should only be included as part of the formal representation made by the
registered keeper. Any additional communication received prior to the issue of the NTO will be
filed for information purposes only without a response, although it may be considered if formal
representations are received.
This concludes the Council’s dealings in this matter at this stage.'⸻
My situation / evidence
• Arrived ~09:39
• Attempted RingGo immediately
• Screenshots showing failed login attempts at:
• 09:40
• 09:59
• 10:06
• Successfully paid at 10:31 (session 10:31–11:38)
• Have additional RingGo receipts (including same location on 19/03/2026) showing I normally comply
⸻
My questions
1. Does this fall within “contravention did not occur” given I was actively trying to pay throughout?
2. Is the council’s position that I should have used another payment method (machine/phone) reasonable in these circumstances?
3. Is there anything in the timing (09:42–09:54 vs photo at 09:55) worth pursuing?
4. Is this worth taking to formal representations / tribunal, or better to pay £70 now?
I’m a medical student so £140 would be a significant amount, but it feels harsh given I was genuinely trying to pay and did infact pay atleast partially the parking fee.
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
