Free Traffic Legal Advice

Pl post the PCN, both sides, including the wrong VRM.

Wrong VRM is normally fatal to the authority's power to pursue the matter.

Your VRM is clear, unaltered and complies with regulations therefore IMO Ealing could not successfully pursue the matter.

My own view is to take the matter head-on and make simple reps:

PCN AO08815953; VRM AT17OWF; Date 3 March 2026

I refer to the above PCN issued to my car VRM AY17OWF, see attached photos taken at the time by your CEO.(just a couple showing the clear VRM).

Because of this fundamental error by the CEO, I should be obliged to receive notification from you that the PCN has been cancelled.

Yours,


Would be my take.

I agree with tincombe's approach.

You could alternatively do nothing.  Under that scenario the real owner of the vehicle with the incorrect registration (if it exists) will be pursued which, while not your problem, isn't really fair.  If they've not kept their V5C up to date the first they'll know is when bailiffs come knocking and it will be too late for them to even appeal.

The way I see it, other than accepting your representations, there's not much else the council can do.  If they reject your representations, they can't change the vehicle registration on the PCN and they have no grounds to 're-serve' it.

The wrong VRM is not in use so no need to do anything - it is courteous to tell the authority to stop another owner from dealing with it if they don't spot the mistake.

You can still inform the authority and we usually recommend just an email to parking saying I found PCN number xxxxx on my car but it issued for the wrong VRM.

That's it and you don't need to give your full name.

Keep the PCN safe as it is proof they can't enforce it.

As others have said, wrong Reg.Mark on PCN is normally fatal to enforcement of PCN.

Our usual advice is to make a copy of the PCN, then send the copy to the council  with an accompanying anonymous note along the lines of
To whom it may concern
On returning to my vehicle recently I found a PCN (copy enclosed) affixed. As it does not relate to my vehicle I thought you should know.

Keep the original very safe: it is your 'Get out of jail free' card should some green muppet at the Council decide to play Sherlock Holmes.

(I can't recall an example of a Council doing this in the past, either here or at Pepipoo.)

The Council cannot re-issue.

Or you could just ignore it - the Reg.Mark on the PCN does not appear to be in use - but still hang on to the PCN.

EDIT:

Ealing council does not seem to have an email dealing with PCNs.
I could send it to general parking enquiries.

It's only through a challenge. The form is asking me if I am registered keeper of the vehicle which I don't think I am as it's asking about the wrong one.

The postal address is on the back of the PCN. Post 1st or 2nd class at any post office counter and get proof of posting. Do not use the form.

... I am wondering if I have grounds to ask to cancel? ...

Strictly speaking the answer is no, only the non-existent registered keeper of AT17OWF has the legal right to appeal that PCN. In the highly unlikely event that you ever hear anything about this PCN other than perhaps a half-apology and confirmation of cancellation, this is the line you can take: I didn't appeal because I had no right to appeal.

I'm with Stamfordman and others on this - you have no obligation to do anything as the council will eventually look up the reg in order to send a Notice to Owner and spot their error, but a polite anonymous 'you put this on the wrong car' will hurry the process along. Hang on to the physical PCN itself just in case, and if you want a real 'belt and braces' approach, delay your message to the Council until the 29th day after you parked, as there's a 28 day window beyond which Councils can't issue PCNs.