What should I do if I receive a PCN?

If you are observed committing a Parking, Bus Lane or Moving Traffic contravention, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued. If you do not pay or contest the PCN, you will receive further notices and may be contacted by bailiffs.

There are 3 different types of PCN issued in Newham:

• Parking;
• • issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO)
  • issued by a Camera Operator via CCTV
• Bus Lane; issued by a Camera Operator via CCTV
• Moving Traffic; issued by a Camera Operator via CCTV

When a PCN is issued it is assigned a unique 10-digit PCN number. The first two digits will either be NE, XN or PN. Always read the information on the PCN or any other statutory document very carefully before proceeding.

What to do if you receive a Parking PCN issued by a CEO or a Bus Lane PCN

On receipt of the PCN your options are:

• Pay at the discounted rate within 14 days; or
• Pay at the full rate within 28 days; or
• Send correspondence (an informal challenge) by post explaining why you feel the PCN was incorrectly issued (see How do I challenge a PCN?).

If you do not pay or challenge the PCN within 28 days you will be issued with a Notice to Owner (Parking) or an Enforcement Notice (Bus Lane).

What to do if you receive a Parking PCN issued via CCTV

On receipt of the PCN you must:

• Pay at the discounted rate within 21 days; or
• Pay at the full rate within 28 days; or
• Make representations to the Council (see How do I challenge a PCN?).

If you do nothing, a Charge Certificate will be sent and the charge increases by 50%.

What to do if you receive a Moving Traffic PCN

On receipt of the PCN you must:

• Pay at the discounted rate within 14 days; or
• Pay at the full rate within 28 days; or
• Make representations to the Council (see How do I challenge a PCN?). .

If you do nothing, a Charge Certificate will be sent and the charge increases by 50%.

What to do if you receive a Notice to Owner or an Enforcement Notice

On receipt of the notice you must:

• Pay the charge within 28 days; or
• Make representations to the council (see How do I challenge a PCN?)

If you do nothing, a Charge Certificate will be sent and the charge increases by 50%.

What to do if you receive a Charge Certificate

On receipt of the notice you must:

• Pay the charge within 14 days. There is no right of appeal at this stage.

If you do not pay the charge it will be registered as a debt in the County Court, a court fee is added and an Order for Recovery is sent.

What to do if you receive an Order for Recovery

On receipt of the notice you must:

• Pay the charge within 21 days; or
• File a Witness Statement (Parking) or a Statutory Declaration (Bus Lane and Moving Traffic) to the County Court, which will be enclosed with the Order for Recovery.

If you do nothing, the court may grant authority for a warrant to be issued and a bailiff will be asked to recover the debt from you. The bailiff will charge you for this and at this stage the case is out of the Council's hands.

What to do if your vehicle is removed

Further information can be found on our Vehicle Removals page.