Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: ps117 on August 19, 2026, 06:07:36 pm

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: tincombe on August 20, 2026, 05:06:53 pm
+1.

OP, for the sake of this exercise let's accept and welcome that PCN ***1276A was served.

My thoughts.

Grounds
Penalty exceeded the amount applicable ....

The council's records show that:
A PCN was served on my car at 09.08 on 19 Aug. for the alleged contravention of Code 40 ******(PCN no. ********);
At 10.10 another PCN was served on my car (*****1276A)for the same contravention;
In the interim my car did not move.

The council removed my car at *****;
I recovered my car at *** and was required to pay £*** comprising £** for the removal and £*** for the discounted penalty in respect of PCN ****1276A.

It must be immediately apparent to the council that as I was required to pay the relevant charges in accordance with s101A(3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and as removal is only lawful, inter alia, in respect of:

101A(3)(a)any penalty charge payable in respect of the parking of the vehicle in the place from which it was removed,'

 then it follows that if no such penalty was payable then the removal was unlawful and 'relevant charges' could not be demanded.

As the PCN relied upon was *****1276A, that is to say a PCN issued on the same day and within 1 hour of a previous PCN, then removal predicated upon PCN 1276A was unlawful and no penalty or other charges could be demanded.



Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 02:41:06 pm
You are rushing this before we have gone through things properly.



Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 02:31:34 pm
So you have appealed both PCNs at this stage?

I appealed the first PCN at 9:08am on the grounds of the fact that they removed the signage and also tried to remove the street lines. This was submitted before the tow and before the 2nd PCN at 10:10am was issued.

The PCN at 10:10 and the tow itself I appealed by email to parking@lbbd.gov.uk and also forwarded the pictures of the missing sign, roadmarks and mentioned that I was given 2 PCN's in the space of an hour for the same offence.

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 02:12:47 pm
So you have appealed both PCNs at this stage?
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 02:08:25 pm
Yes it is a continuous contravention. That's one ground to make reps on the second PCN, which if successful would also refund the tow.

How can I challenge this if I already paid it to retrieve the car?

So far I just sent an email to the parking@lbbd.gov.uk and explained the disabled bay signage issue and notified them that they gave me 2 tickets back to back for the same offence.

Before you can appeal a tow PCN, you have to pay to retrieve your car, and in doing so are forced to pay the PCN. You can appeal within 28 days after doing so, for no extra cost, including having access to London Tribunals. You can send your appeal to parking@Ibbd.gob.uk as the website does not let you appeal, and after doing so ask for them if they reject your appeal to provide a verification code for adjudication.

Sounds good, looks like I have done all the steps so far. I provided them with the information raised here and will just wait for a response.

Thank you all for your help.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 02:07:01 pm
Yes it is a continuous contravention. That's one ground to make reps on the second PCN, which if successful would also refund the tow.

How can I challenge this if I already paid it to retrieve the car?

So far I just sent an email to the parking@lbbd.gov.uk and explained the disabled bay signage issue and notified them that they gave me 2 tickets back to back for the same offence.

Before you can appeal a tow PCN, you have to pay to retrieve your car, and in doing so are forced to pay the PCN. You can appeal within 28 days after doing so, for no extra cost, including having access to London Tribunals. You can send your appeal to parking@Ibbd.gob.uk as the website does not let you appeal, and after doing so ask for them if they reject your appeal to provide a verification code for adjudication.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 02:03:54 pm
Yes it is a continuous contravention. That's one ground to make reps on the second PCN, which if successful would also refund the tow.

How can I challenge this if I already paid it to retrieve the car?

So far I just sent an email to the parking@lbbd.gov.uk and explained the disabled bay signage issue and notified them that they gave me 2 tickets back to back for the same offence.

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:59:55 pm
I presume you took the first PCN off the car so they had to serve a second one to tow, that one being at 10:10.

(https://i.ibb.co/xqLBTXp8/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-18.png)

(https://i.ibb.co/20FSQHy7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-53.png)

Yeah that’s how it went. I never saw the 2nd PCN in person, it seems that’s the one I had to pay at the car pound to retrieve the car.

The council officer told me that the warden who issued the ticket at 9:08 reported the car to be towed, so they must have came back issued a 2nd ticket and towed it.

So far you have quite a strong appeal for the tow PCN. The actual ticket was not present inside the tow PCN so it could not have been served, so is a procedural impropriety, making the PCN invalid (1st ground). You can also use the fact it is a continuous contravention as you did not move the car so the PCN should also be cancelled for that reason. (2nd ground)

It seems hopeless for them so rejecting the reps would be unlikely at this point if you did appeal. However you never know.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 01:51:28 pm
Yes it is a continuous contravention. That's one ground to make reps on the second PCN, which if successful would also refund the tow.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 01:41:43 pm
I presume you took the first PCN off the car so they had to serve a second one to tow, that one being at 10:10.

(https://i.ibb.co/xqLBTXp8/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-18.png)

(https://i.ibb.co/20FSQHy7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-53.png)

Yeah that’s how it went. I never saw the 2nd PCN in person, it seems that’s the one I had to pay at the car pound to retrieve the car.

The council officer told me that the warden who issued the ticket at 9:08 reported the car to be towed, so they must have came back issued a 2nd ticket and towed it.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:41:14 pm
I presume you took the first PCN off the car so they had to serve a second one to tow, that one being at 10:10.

(https://i.ibb.co/xqLBTXp8/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-18.png)

(https://i.ibb.co/20FSQHy7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-53.png)


Would this be a continuous contravention as the OP did not move the car.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 01:37:49 pm
I presume you took the first PCN off the car so they had to serve a second one to tow, that one being at 10:10.

(https://i.ibb.co/xqLBTXp8/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-18.png)

(https://i.ibb.co/20FSQHy7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-13-34-53.png)
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 01:23:48 pm
At the car pound I was not served any other documents besides a form giving info on how to appeal.

Below is the only PCN I got along with the 2 envelopes, one being empty.

(https://i.postimg.cc/yWymZ0hw/IMG-6353.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yWymZ0hw)

(https://i.postimg.cc/5jSBC8qd/IMG-6363.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5jSBC8qd)

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:20:06 pm
Also, which PCN did you appeal? I assume the first one as you said.

The PCN I appealed is the one served at 9:08AM and it's this one: BZ71532542

So they must have snuck a 2nd PCN in prior to the tow, removed it from the envelope as I did not see it or was served it at all.

Either they did not print it, or place it in the envelope. That means you did not recieve the letter inside the yellow PCN when you got the doucuments at the pound, so it was not served to you. Can you send a picture of the yellow PCN you recieved from the pound as evidence, and if there are any more doucuments send those too.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 01:16:03 pm
Also, which PCN did you appeal? I assume the first one as you said.

The PCN I appealed is the one served at 9:08AM and it's this one: BZ71532542

So they must have snuck a 2nd PCN in prior to the tow, removed it from the envelope as I did not see it or was served it at all.

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:14:27 pm
Also, which PCN did you appeal? I assume the first one as you said.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:11:32 pm
This PCN is still payable so if it was the one used for the tow it must surely be wrong.

Can you list all the docs you were given at the pound.

(https://i.ibb.co/Q3bBmqRK/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-28.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/1t55LVLF/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-08.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/dJMpCwf3/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-52-01.png)

Ok, this is perfect thanks for catching this!!!!

So this is the original PCN that was given. I just had a look and the car pound made me pay the PCN number: BZ6801276A.
So the PCN I paid was not even this one! This must mean I was given 2 tickets!!!


This is what I had to pay to take my car out.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bN8BVgDv/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-40-06.png) (https://postimg.cc/4nLPmz1C)

It looks liken they gave 2 PCN's back to back:

BZ71532542
BZ6801276A

You've hit the jackpot for sure, as if they did not put the letter inside the PCN and left the yellow paper on just for show, while issuing a 2nd PCN and using it for the tow, then the PCN could not have been served.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 01:08:39 pm
This PCN is still payable so if it was the one used for the tow it must surely be wrong.

Can you list all the docs you were given at the pound.

(https://i.ibb.co/Q3bBmqRK/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-28.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/1t55LVLF/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-08.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/dJMpCwf3/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-52-01.png)

Ok, this is perfect thanks for catching this!!!!

So this is the original PCN that was given. I just had a look and the car pound made me pay the PCN number: BZ6801276A.
So the PCN I paid was not even this one! This must mean I was given 2 tickets!!!


This is what I had to pay to take my car out.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bN8BVgDv/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-40-06.png) (https://postimg.cc/4nLPmz1C)

It looks liken they gave 2 PCN's back to back:

BZ71532542
BZ6801276A
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 01:07:46 pm
This PCN is still payable so if it was the one used for the tow it could be wrong or perhaps as only yesterday the system hasn't updated with payment.

Can you list all the docs you were given at the pound.

(https://i.ibb.co/Q3bBmqRK/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-28.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/1t55LVLF/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-08.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/dJMpCwf3/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-52-01.png)

Showing that on the website, if there was only one PCN, is misleading and appeals have been won on that fact before. If there are two PCNs, and the second one in the tow did not contain the leaflet yet was issued, and the tow occurred on the basis of the tow PCN (the 2nd), then it would have been deemed to not be served and could get the tow PCN certainly cancelled.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 01:01:53 pm
A copy of your challenge, please.


Below is what I emailed parking@lbbd.gov.uk after my car was towed and I got it recovered.

I don't have a copy of the original appeal on the councils website for the PCN. Unfortunately I was forced to pay this PCN regardless of appealing as they were not allowing me to take the car.

Quote
Dear Sir/Madam,

My car was parked outside of 25 Kennedy Road this morning which contains a disabled bay. This bay had it's sign removed over a year ago and since then roadworks were carried out to attempt to remove the "Disabled" sign on the road.

Residents have been parking and utilising this bay for months including myself without any issues.

Today at 9:08am I received a fine. As I was appealing it and was on the phone to the council my car was towed and taken to Creek Lane.

I have had to pay £360 to take the car out which includes the ticket I literally just appealed.

I sent an email last year on 11/09/2025 to parking@lbbd.gov.uk to inquire about parking in this space. You responded on 17/09/2025 confirming that you were aware of this removal request for the bay.

You have removed the "Disabled" Sign outside of number 25 and also attempted to remove the signage on the bay. You have not made it clear at all whether this bay can be used or not and you have also not given out tickets or had anyone else's car towed besides mine.

I want an explanation as to what happened and what the status is of this bay. I also want a full refund of my £360 as this is a complete scam that you carried out.

I have attached pictures of the location, you can see there on the wall where the sign used to be, if you zoom in you can see the holes are still there. You can also see the poor attempt of removing the "Disabled" lane marking.

Thanks
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 01:00:42 pm
This PCN is still payable so if it was the one used for the tow it could be wrong or perhaps as only yesterday the system hasn't updated with payment.

Can you list all the docs you were given at the pound.

(https://i.ibb.co/Q3bBmqRK/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-28.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/1t55LVLF/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-53-08.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/dJMpCwf3/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-52-01.png)
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: John U.K. on August 20, 2026, 12:47:50 pm
A copy of your challenge, please.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 12:45:31 pm
The traffic order map has a live disabled bay outside no 25. What usually happens is when no longer needed disabled bays are put on a revocation order but this may not have happened yet while the sign which was on the wall has gone and they have effectively decommissioned the bay bar the order.

I'll see if I can if it was revoked but the case it was not intended for enforcement looks good.

(https://i.ibb.co/fzk0KLBJ/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-37-52.png)
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 12:42:10 pm
OP, sorry but you are making this difficult.

We'll explain procedure then you can fill in the gaps.

1. A vehicle may only be removed if a PCN has been served;
2. The OBCEO would INSPECT the PCN to ensure that it's correct before looking at other circumstances and council policy and authorising removal. In 99....% of cases a PCN is still on the vehicle when the OBCEO attends;
3. But not in your case, you'd removed it!
4. I still think that what you saw could have been an empty envelope but NOT because another PCN had been served but because perhaps this is a signal to the pound that a PCN had been served and that proper checks had been made. IMO, leave this line of thought, I don't think it's going anywhere and is a distraction;
5. This deals with what happened at the roadside, now for the pound which is a separate process under different regulations;
6. Post the receipt you were given when you paid to recover your vehicle and all other notices related to payment and how to make representations which by law had to be given to you at the pound. Only delete your personal info.


I posted all 3 documents I received further up. It was 1 PCN issued before the towing, document with how to recover the car, document on how to appeal.

You are right, it was an empty envelope. I only mentioned it because it seemed strange as I had already recovered the ticket. The main point is that my car was towed from a disabled bay which seems to be questionably enforced and lacks signage + attempt of removal of the lines.

I have added a screenshot of the payment request from the car pound via email and also the receipt of payment below.


(https://i.postimg.cc/sByqwjWz/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-14-26.png) (https://postimg.cc/sByqwjWz)

(https://i.postimg.cc/fVsd8yzh/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-12-39-26.png) (https://postimg.cc/fVsd8yzh)



Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 12:37:32 pm
What is the PCN number and car VRM. You've blanked them.

PCN: BZ71532542
Reg: KP70 YZC
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: tincombe on August 20, 2026, 12:30:27 pm
OP, sorry but you are making this difficult.

We'll explain procedure then you can fill in the gaps.

1. A vehicle may only be removed if a PCN has been served;
2. The OBCEO would INSPECT the PCN to ensure that it's correct before looking at other circumstances and council policy and authorising removal. In 99....% of cases a PCN is still on the vehicle when the OBCEO attends;
3. But not in your case, you'd removed it!
4. I still think that what you saw could have been an empty envelope but NOT because another PCN had been served but because perhaps this is a signal to the pound that a PCN had been served and that proper checks had been made. IMO, leave this line of thought, I don't think it's going anywhere and is a distraction;
5. This deals with what happened at the roadside, now for the pound which is a separate process under different regulations;
6. Post the receipt you were given when you paid to recover your vehicle and all other notices related to payment and how to make representations which by law had to be given to you at the pound. Only delete your personal info.


Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 20, 2026, 12:15:48 pm
What is the PCN number and car VRM. You've blanked them.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 11:54:18 am
Quote
The original ticket at that point was already appealed (i have email confirmation of this) and within my possession.
If the PCN you have posted be that given to you at the pound, where is the PCN you took to challenge and is now in your possession?

Quote
I went outside to get it from my windscreen which I immediately challenged online by raising the same points.


When you retrieved the original; PCN from the windscreen did you also retrieve the yellow packet?

Please show us a copy of your online challenge.

The PCN I posted is the ONLY PCN which I received from them. I did not receive any other whilst I was at the pound. I removed the only PCN from the windscreen along with the yellow packet which was issued at 9:08. My car was then towed at 10:10am. This is the point where they placed a 2nd empty packet whilst they were towing it.

I have both yellow packets in my possession. One had a PCN one did not.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: John U.K. on August 20, 2026, 11:35:50 am
Quote
The original ticket at that point was already appealed (i have email confirmation of this) and within my possession.
If the PCN you have posted be that given to you at the pound, where is the PCN you took to challenge and is now in your possession?

Quote
I went outside to get it from my windscreen which I immediately challenged online by raising the same points.


When you retrieved the original; PCN from the windscreen did you also retrieve the yellow packet?

Please show us a copy of your online challenge.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 11:35:28 am
Hi everyone, thanks for the responses.

I have attached pictures of the only documentation I received.
The original PCN issued just before my car was towed, which I appealed a few minutes prior to my vehicle being towed. I also received a document on how to obtain my car from the car pound and another document explaining how I can appeal.

The PCN sticker you see on the picture of my car being towed is the PCN which had nothing inside, by that point I already had the original and appealed it. There was NO TICKET inside the yellow PCN sticker at this point, so not sure why another one was added to the windscreen.

When I went outside and identified myself as the driver/keeper the car was already loaded on the flatbed and they were ready to drive off.

This occurred at Kennedy Road, Barking, IG11 7XJ.

In total I only received the PCN I added in the pictures and that was it. There was no other documentation and I was sent a link via email to pay the Tow fee + PCN prior to getting my vehicle back.


(https://i.postimg.cc/G8JK4df6/IMG-6363.avif) (https://postimg.cc/G8JK4df6)

(https://i.postimg.cc/34C1kY67/IMG-6364.avif) (https://postimg.cc/34C1kY67)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW/IMG-6365.avif) (https://postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/F72SXwW3/Get-Image-(1).jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F72SXwW3)

Can you also provide the emails you sent to the council asking them about the bay? So you've already filed an appeal for the PCN then as well?

I filed an appeal as soon as I got the ticket. So ticket was given at 9:08am. I retrieved the ticket at around 9:40am, I also phoned the council parking team who advised me to appeal it and say that there was no disabled sign and markings were poor.

As soon as I finished writing the appeal and submitting I heard my car alarm going off and saw they were loading it on the truck. This happened at around 10:10am.

The issue is that in order to retrieve my car from the Car Pound they forced me to also pay the ticket which I just appealed, so it was £280 + £80 ticket, £360 in total.

Screenshot of emails below from last year.

(https://i.postimg.cc/3y7Vn8G7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-14-10.png) (https://postimg.cc/3y7Vn8G7)

(https://i.postimg.cc/hfT26FcX/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-13-53.png) (https://postimg.cc/hfT26FcX)

Around Jan/Feb of 2026 a roadwork team came and tried to remove the "Disabled" paint lines on the road, they done a poor job. Ever since that day I noticed that people started stopping in the bay and I have NEVER seen anyone get a ticket whilst parking there, let alone being towed.

There is even someone parked in the spot right now!

Currently you'll have to wait to see the outcome of the appeal. If the council staff instructed you to appeal then there is a good chance they'll exercise discretion. I'd advise no one parks in the spot for now as the council may do the same. Looking at the email they said they'd forward it to the Mobility Team, did that particular team reply to you again at all?
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 11:21:58 am
Hi everyone, thanks for the responses.

I have attached pictures of the only documentation I received.
The original PCN issued just before my car was towed, which I appealed a few minutes prior to my vehicle being towed. I also received a document on how to obtain my car from the car pound and another document explaining how I can appeal.

The PCN sticker you see on the picture of my car being towed is the PCN which had nothing inside, by that point I already had the original and appealed it. There was NO TICKET inside the yellow PCN sticker at this point, so not sure why another one was added to the windscreen.

When I went outside and identified myself as the driver/keeper the car was already loaded on the flatbed and they were ready to drive off.

This occurred at Kennedy Road, Barking, IG11 7XJ.

In total I only received the PCN I added in the pictures and that was it. There was no other documentation and I was sent a link via email to pay the Tow fee + PCN prior to getting my vehicle back.


(https://i.postimg.cc/G8JK4df6/IMG-6363.avif) (https://postimg.cc/G8JK4df6)

(https://i.postimg.cc/34C1kY67/IMG-6364.avif) (https://postimg.cc/34C1kY67)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW/IMG-6365.avif) (https://postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/F72SXwW3/Get-Image-(1).jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F72SXwW3)

Can you also provide the emails you sent to the council asking them about the bay? So you've already filed an appeal for the PCN then as well?

I filed an appeal as soon as I got the ticket. So ticket was given at 9:08am. I retrieved the ticket at around 9:40am, I also phoned the council parking team who advised me to appeal it and say that there was no disabled sign and markings were poor.

As soon as I finished writing the appeal and submitting I heard my car alarm going off and saw they were loading it on the truck. This happened at around 10:10am.

The issue is that in order to retrieve my car from the Car Pound they forced me to also pay the ticket which I just appealed, so it was £280 + £80 ticket, £360 in total.

Screenshot of emails below from last year.

(https://i.postimg.cc/3y7Vn8G7/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-14-10.png) (https://postimg.cc/3y7Vn8G7)

(https://i.postimg.cc/hfT26FcX/Screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-13-53.png) (https://postimg.cc/hfT26FcX)

Around Jan/Feb of 2026 a roadwork team came and tried to remove the "Disabled" paint lines on the road, they done a poor job. Ever since that day I noticed that people started stopping in the bay and I have NEVER seen anyone get a ticket whilst parking there, let alone being towed.

There is even someone parked in the spot right now!
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 20, 2026, 11:04:48 am
Hi everyone, thanks for the responses.

I have attached pictures of the only documentation I received.
The original PCN issued just before my car was towed, which I appealed a few minutes prior to my vehicle being towed. I also received a document on how to obtain my car from the car pound and another document explaining how I can appeal.

The PCN sticker you see on the picture of my car being towed is the PCN which had nothing inside, by that point I already had the original and appealed it. There was NO TICKET inside the yellow PCN sticker at this point, so not sure why another one was added to the windscreen.

When I went outside and identified myself as the driver/keeper the car was already loaded on the flatbed and they were ready to drive off.

This occurred at Kennedy Road, Barking, IG11 7XJ.

In total I only received the PCN I added in the pictures and that was it. There was no other documentation and I was sent a link via email to pay the Tow fee + PCN prior to getting my vehicle back.


(https://i.postimg.cc/G8JK4df6/IMG-6363.avif) (https://postimg.cc/G8JK4df6)

(https://i.postimg.cc/34C1kY67/IMG-6364.avif) (https://postimg.cc/34C1kY67)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW/IMG-6365.avif) (https://postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/F72SXwW3/Get-Image-(1).jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F72SXwW3)

Can you also provide the emails you sent to the council asking them about the bay? So you've already filed an appeal for the PCN then as well?
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 20, 2026, 10:39:21 am
Hi everyone, thanks for the responses.

I have attached pictures of the only documentation I received.
The original PCN issued just before my car was towed, which I appealed a few minutes prior to my vehicle being towed. I also received a document on how to obtain my car from the car pound and another document explaining how I can appeal.

The PCN sticker you see on the picture of my car being towed is the PCN which had nothing inside, by that point I already had the original and appealed it. There was NO TICKET inside the yellow PCN sticker at this point, so not sure why another one was added to the windscreen.

When I went outside and identified myself as the driver/keeper the car was already loaded on the flatbed and they were ready to drive off.

This occurred at Kennedy Road, Barking, IG11 7XJ.

In total I only received the PCN I added in the pictures and that was it. There was no other documentation and I was sent a link via email to pay the Tow fee + PCN prior to getting my vehicle back.


(https://i.postimg.cc/G8JK4df6/IMG-6363.avif) (https://postimg.cc/G8JK4df6)

(https://i.postimg.cc/34C1kY67/IMG-6364.avif) (https://postimg.cc/34C1kY67)

(https://i.postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW/IMG-6365.avif) (https://postimg.cc/cK3XNQBW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/F72SXwW3/Get-Image-(1).jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F72SXwW3)

Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: tincombe on August 20, 2026, 10:25:42 am
+1 we need docs.

My guess is that what you think was an empty packet was the Onboard CEO's confirmation that the vehicle met the council's criteria for removal(which is why it was removed soon thereafter), NOT another PCN.:

Pl elaborate on:

By the time I came out it was too late. I have evidence of this as the pictures they have are time-stamped .....

Were the 4 wheels of the car on the removal vehicle when you appeared and, presumably, identified yourself as the person in charge of the vehicle?

 
The decision on whether to immobilise or to remove a vehicle requires an exercise of judgement and must [footnote 21] only be taken following specific authorisation by an appropriately trained CEO. (known as the Onboard CEO)

The immobilisation and removal operatives should not take the decision.

If a driver returns to the vehicle whilst immobilisation or removal is taking place, then it is recommended that the operation is halted, unless the clamp is secured or the vehicle has all its wheels aboard the tow truck.


Although only a 'should' (as opposed to 'must') this must be addressed in the council's removal and immobilisation policy.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: stamfordman on August 19, 2026, 11:02:23 pm
Post the materials redacting only name and address.

Presumably you got your car from the pound

We need to see:
- the PCN given to you at the pound
- all other documents given to you at the pound
- Google Maps link of the location. 
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 19, 2026, 10:20:53 pm
Inform your neighbours to not park there from now, as they may continue enforcement. What we require now is the doucuments you were given at the car pound, once you had it released. Send any evidence you currently have as well. Since you have already paid all there is to pay for the tow PCN this can be taken to London Tribunals for no extra cost, a no brainer. Issuing a 2nd PCN within an hour of each other is unproportional too, or is the one you recieved first the one you paid while retrieving the car? Do you have the number of the 2nd PCN? If you don't phone the council and ask. Once you do so drafting of representations can occur.

We cannot help you if you do not provide the location of the offence or publish the actual PCN as we need to see what exactly the council has done. (you can redact personal details for your privacy)
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 19, 2026, 10:16:43 pm
To clarify, there was a PCN served initially. I went outside to get it from my windscreen which I immediately challenged online by raising the same points. Whilst I was appealing the ticket they came under an hour of it being issued, added another "Penalty Charge Notice" on the windscreen but it was just the empty packet, no actual ticket inside. They then took new pictures of the car with the empty PCN on the window and started towing it. By the time I came out it was too late. I have evidence of this as the pictures they have are time-stamped and show that the PCN sticker was on the window after I appealed it online. Which makes no sense.

Besides that, the main issue is the fact that this was a disabled bay which had it's signage removed, had the "Disabled" writing removed and all enforcement stopped for months. There is even someone parked in it currently as everyone living here has noticed that enforcement stopped. We have seen traffic wardens walk by and whilst cars are parked in the disabled bay without a badge but they would only check for a resident permit and that's it, no one has ever received a ticket parking here since the signage and road marks were removed.

Suddenly today they decided they had to act in such a drastic manner.

If there was no ticket in the PCN sticker for the towing incident then there is a procedural impropriety. You said you do have proof of it so sending it would be great to see what can be done.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 19, 2026, 09:48:40 pm
To clarify, there was a PCN served initially. I went outside to get it from my windscreen which I immediately challenged online by raising the same points. Whilst I was appealing the ticket they came under an hour of it being issued, added another "Penalty Charge Notice" on the windscreen but it was just the empty packet, no actual ticket inside. They then took new pictures of the car with the empty PCN on the window and started towing it. By the time I came out it was too late. I have evidence of this as the pictures they have are time-stamped and show that the PCN sticker was on the window after I appealed it online. Which makes no sense.

Besides that, the main issue is the fact that this was a disabled bay which had it's signage removed, had the "Disabled" writing removed and all enforcement stopped for months. There is even someone parked in it currently as everyone living here has noticed that enforcement stopped. We have seen traffic wardens walk by and whilst cars are parked in the disabled bay without a badge but they would only check for a resident permit and that's it, no one has ever received a ticket parking here since the signage and road marks were removed.

Suddenly today they decided they had to act in such a drastic manner.
Title: Re: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: Bulop on August 19, 2026, 07:15:27 pm
Alright, firstly what you'll need to do is show the actual PCN which was given to you at the pound. If you could also provide the emails you sent as proof, to see what can be done, along with the GSV/location, and which council.

If there was no letter inside of the PCN which was put on your car then it was not served, and is a procedural impropriety. Keep the yellow PCN as you may need it for later. If there was no letter/PCN served then do you even know the PCN number? If you don't, call the council and ask.
Title: PCN: Parking in Disabled Bay, Car Towed less than an hour later
Post by: ps117 on August 19, 2026, 06:07:36 pm
Hi,

I am seeking some advise as I believe I have been scammed by the council or they must be committing some type of fraud.


Summary of the incident:


There is a disabled bay on my road which had it's signage removed and the council attempted to burn off the "Disabled" writing on the pavement but it's still visible and a poor job was done. The resident who owned it has not lived there in years. I have an email from last year where I asked about the space and the council said they have raised a request to review this. A few months after that email we saw a crew outside with a big van and a flamethrower trying to burn the "Disabled" marking off the road. By this point the metal sign on the house which said "Disabled Bay" was removed for almost a year.


My neighbours including myself have been parking on the bay for months without any issues ever, we have seen parking wardens walk past investigate but keep walking as there is no longer a sign.


This morning I got a fine for stopping in a disabled bay, as I went to appeal it I return and my car was being towed and taken to the car pound. This happened in under an hour from when I first got the ticket at 9:12am, by 10:10am they were towing my car. They made me pay for the PCN £80 and also £280 to retrieve the car.


I made an effort to explain to the police and to the council but they are adamant that on the system it's still a "Disabled Bay".


I believe the council are committing fraud here as they removed the signage and attempted to remove the sign, I have pictures of how the bay looks. They seem to pick and choose when to enforce this bay.


On top of this, I have evidence that they put a fake ticket on the windscreen whilst they towed the car and took new pictures. The original ticket at that point was already appealed (i have email confirmation of this) and within my possession. When I went outside to see my car being towed I saw they added a blank "Penalty Charge Notice" which contained no ticket. I asked about this but was dismissed.


Also, during this process they scratched my brand new alloys due to how they attached the tow hooks onto the rims. There are now deep scratches on all 4 where previously they were flawless,


I can attach pictures of the road markings + the missing sign in-front of the house. I have all emails from where I asked about the bay and requested it's removal last year.


What legal rights do I have to dispute this?

(https://i.postimg.cc/kR3nKp9V/IMG-6343.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kR3nKp9V)

(https://i.postimg.cc/QKGX1ysV/IMG-6344.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QKGX1ysV)