Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: user34981 on February 09, 2026, 08:27:07 pm
-
Make sure she fixes the VRM in the next live session.
If they reject and you are minded to take it to the tribunal on fairness the adjudicator could recommend cancellation but can't allow on mitigation.
We can also look at the traffic order.
-
Yes, it looks good for reps based on mitigation, which would seem is all there is, and I see no obvious statutory ground for cancellation.
I also have and use PayByPhone, and one has to enter the vehicle details which are then retained for use for subsequent sessions. So it appears the Reg Number has been wrong since your mother started buying the parking sessions, and lucky not to get one in the first week.
-
Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice on a PCN my mum was issued today.
Background: My grandmother recently suffered a stroke and spent around a month in hospital. She was discharged roughly two weeks ago and since then, my mum has been acting as her full-time carer and has been parking nearby. Only mentioning this as I believe it's relevant and grounds to ask for discretion, especially given that an honest attempt to pay for parking was made.
For the last two weeks, she has been purchasing a weekly parking session via PayByPhone, but today received a PCN for:
“Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place without a valid virtual permit or payment of the parking charge”
On checking the PayByPhone account, the parking session was valid (and ongoing) for this week, but the vehicle registration number was missing the final letter. I've attached an image of this too.
I've drafted the below for my mum to challenge, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
PCN front: https://imgpile.com/m/VsDdwfw
PCN back: https://imgpile.com/m/IxQNvXl
PayByPhone session: https://imgpile.com/m/53vyIMU
-----------
I am writing to challenge the Penalty Charge Notice AO08468598, issued to my vehicle on 09/02/2026.
The PCN states that the vehicle was “parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place without a valid virtual permit or payment of the parking charge”. I would like to respectfully contest that this PCN has been issued despite the parking charge having been paid, and that the contravention occurred only due to a minor typo in the registration when paying via PayByPhone.
I purchased a weekly parking session via PayByPhone on 05/02/2026 for the relevant location, but unfortunately, when entering the vehicle registration number, the final letter was omitted in error.
I have been under significant stress due to caring responsibilities resulting from my mother recently suffering a stroke. Having spent a month in hospital, she was discharged home around two weeks ago and I have been acting as her full-time carer since, which has required extended parking outside her property.
For the past two weeks, I have consistently paid for parking using the PayByPhone app without issue. The error on this occasion, omitting the final letter from the VRN, occurred during a period of emotional and physical strain following her hospitalisation and return home.
There was no intention to avoid payment and no loss of revenue to the council. This was a genuine and isolated mistake, stemming from genuine mitigating circumstances for which I would kindly request the council exercises its discretion and cancels this PCN.
Evidence of the active PayByPhone session with the VRN typo is attached for your consideration.