How to Appeal Birmingham PCN - Should You Pay or Not?

Have you received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) from Birmingham Council? It’s okay, you’re not alone. Each month, over 32,000 people visit this site for advice on tickets and fines.

It can feel scary, but there’s no need to worry. We’re here to help you understand:

Why you might get a Birmingham PCN
The cost of a Birmingham PCN
How you can challenge a PCN you think is wrong
What happens if you ignore a PCN
If paying a Birmingham PCN early is a good idea

We know how you feel, and we’re here to help you understand how to deal with your Birmingham PCN. We’ll stick to the facts and not use any scary words, as we want to make this easy for you.

Let’s get started!

Do You Have to Pay?

In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.

It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.

Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.

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What happens when you get a Notice from the Owner (NtO)?

Don’t panic when you get a Notice to Owner (NtO), which could arrive through your letterbox 28 days after the alleged offence. Moreover, the notice could arrive even later and may come as a complete surprise!

You have 28 days to make a formal appeal against the PCN. But if Birmingham City Council rejects it, you’ll have lost out on paying the discounted amount.

But all is not lost, because you can appeal the City Council’s decision!

Can you file an appeal with an independent adjudicator?

Yes. You can file an appeal against the penalty charge with the independent adjudicator. It’s a tribunal which sounds serious, but it’s not. Plus, it’s free!

In this instance, the adjudicator is the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. But, you can’t contact the Tribunal unless you get a Notice of Rejection from Birmingham City Council first.

The Tribunal’s decision is legally binding, whichever side they align themselves with. So, if your appeal is upheld, Birmingham City Council must respect the decision. But you’ll have to pay if the ETA sides with the council. And that’s the end of your appeal.

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How to avoid paying a Birmingham PCN

If you want to avoid paying a Birmingham PCN then you’ll need an airtight appeal.

The best way to perfect your appeal is getting a little advice from a Solicitor. I’d 100% recommend spending a fiver to get a trial of JustAnswer.

You can explain your situation in their chat and they’ll connect you with a Solicitor who can advise you and give you the best chance to win your appeal.

Click here to get the trial offer with JustAnswer.

How much is a Birmingham PCN?

The cost of a parking or traffic offence in Birmingham is high. Minor offences attract fines of £80. But more serious offences can earn you a penalty charge worth £130.

So, is it worth filing a Birmingham PCN appeal?

It’s never easy knowing whether to pay the penalty within 14 days to save time, money and hassle. But on the other hand, it’s frustrating when you know the fine is wrong.

If you believe the penalty charge is incorrect, appealing a Birmingham PCN could be an option. Providing you have enough evidence to support the challenge, that is!

Thanks for reading this post on whether it’s worth making a Birmingham PCN appeal. I hope the information helps you decide whether it’s worth challenging the penalty charge or not!

Successful Appeal Case Study

Situation

Initial Fine	£100
Additional Fees	£171
Total Fine	£271

The Appeal Process

Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.

Total Fine	£271
Cost of legal advice	£5

JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.

Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.

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In partnership with Just Answer.

So, what’s the proper appeals process, you ask?

You should make an informal appeal within 14 days of getting the PCN when the fine is handed to you or left on your windscreen.

But if you got the notice in the post, you have 21 days to file an informal appeal with Birmingham City Council.

The City Council will consider your appeal and send you a reply within a couple of weeks (usually).

If you get a Notice from the Owner, which sounds final but is not, you have 28 days to file a formal appeal (representations).

Plus, no further action is taken when you appeal a Birmingham PCN until the City Council decides. This would be to uphold or reject your appeal!

You must provide enough evidence to support the appeal when challenging a penalty charge. Plus, you must provide the following information with your appeal:

The vehicle registration number – VRN
The penalty charge notice number
Your address

What happens next?

Birmingham City Councils will consider your appeal and look over the supporting evidence. Your appeal could be accepted, but there’s a chance the authority could reject it too!

That said, if your appeal is accepted, the penalty is cancelled.

But, if the appeal is rejected, you have the right to make a formal appeal against the fine! Or do you pay it and benefit from paying the discounted amount?

What happens if you ignore a Birmingham PCN?

You should never ignore a Birmingham PCN. Instead, you should appeal the penalty or pay it. If you ignore having been given a penalty charge, things escalate. An original fine is suddenly much more expensive.

Plus, you could end up with bailiffs (enforcement agents) turning up at your door. They’ll be armed with a warrant to recover the ‘debt’. You see, what was a parking or traffic fine turns into a debt when you ignore things and fail to pay the PCN.

Note: Once a Charge Certificate is issued, you’ll have to deal with bailiffs. So not only will the penalty increase by 50%, but you’ll also have to pay other fees too!

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Getting the support of a Solicitor can take a huge weight off your mind.

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Should you pay a Birmingham PCN instead of appealing it?

When you know the fine is yours, and you deserve it, paying a Birmingham PCN within 14 days means you pay half the amount. It could be worth considering. But you have 28 days to make up your mind about whether to pay or appeal the fine.

The downside to waiting 28 days before paying is you won’t pay a discounted amount!

You’ll have to provide the following info when paying the fine:

Your vehicle registration number – VRN
The penalty charge notice unique reference number
Payment details

Is it worth paying a Birmingham PCN early?

That said, you’ve always got the option to pay the fine within 14 days of it being issued. It means you’re only charged half the original fine!

The question is whether the PCN is justified or not. And if it’s not, then is it really worth taking the time to challenge it?

So, how do you challenge a Birmingham PCN you think is unjustified?

You can challenge the fine when you feel the PCN is wrong or unjustified. Plus, the council must accept and consider the appeal within an acceptable time. So, why would you contest the fine?

Let’s look at some reasons:

You didn’t commit a violation
The PCN was incorrectly issued
You weren’t the vehicle’s owner when the PCN was issued

These are valid reasons for challenging a Birmingham PCN. But there are others too. In short, if you believe you’ve got good reason to contest the penalty charge, you must include the information in your appeal letter.

The penalty charge is cancelled if Birmingham City Council accepts your reasons for challenging the fine. Now that’s a bonus, but it’s not always the case! In short, the authority is just as likely to reject the appeal!

Plus, the council will not consider it if you wait too long to file an appeal!