How to Appeal Waltham Forest PCN – Quick Guide
Have you got a parking ticket from Waltham Forest? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Every month, over 32,000 people visit this site for advice on tickets and fines.
It can feel scary, but we’re here to help make things clear. In this guide, we’ll explain:
- What a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is and why you might get one
- How to appeal against a PCN from Waltham Forest
- The reasons why a PCN might be given in Waltham Forest
- What could happen if you don’t pay a PCN
- What you can do if your appeal is turned down
Our team knows what it’s like to get a PCN; some of us have been there too. We’re here to help you understand how to deal with your Waltham Forest parking ticket.
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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Should you appeal a Waltham Forest penalty charge?
Whether you appeal the charge or not depends on several things. For instance:
- Was the penalty charge correctly issued?
- Are the details on the PCN correct?
- Did you own the vehicle when the penalty was given?
- Did you commit a traffic or parking violation?
- Were there mitigating circumstances?
- Can you prove the penalty should be cancelled?
It’s a hard call, but you have the right to appeal when you strongly believe the penalty is unjustified. But remember, you’ll need to prove why you’re challenging the fine. Without it, the council will reject your appeal.
Thanks for reading my post on whether it’s worth filing a Waltham Forest PCN appeal. I hope the info provided helps you decide what to do and that it saves you time, hassle and money!
How to avoid paying a Waltham Forest PCN
If you want to avoid paying a Waltham Forest 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.
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What’s a good reason for appealing a Waltham Forest penalty charge?
You’d need a good excuse to challenge the penalty charge when you’re unhappy about the fine and feel it’s wrong. You won’t get out of paying without a valid reason.
So, here are some good excuses that motorists often use when contesting a penalty charge:
- Your car broke down, and you were waiting for a recovery truck to arrive
- A medical emergency meant you couldn’t return to your vehicle
- Details on the penalty charge notice you got were incorrect
- You didn’t own the vehicle when the PCN was issued
These are just some reasons why the council may cancel the PCN. But it’s never guaranteed!
Plus, you’d have to provide evidence to support your challenge.
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.
In partnership with Just Answer.
How do you appeal a Waltham Forest penalty charge?
You must write to Waltham Forest Council to appeal a PCN you got in the borough. Plus, you must provide evidence of why you’re challenging the charge.
It’s called making an informal appeal within two weeks of being given a PCN or within 21 days of getting by post.
The sort of evidence needed when you file an informal appeal could include:
- A copy of your Pay & Display ticket
- Photos of where you were parked that didn’t have parking restriction road markings
- Photos of signs that were unclear or not visible at all
- A witness statement from someone who was there with you
- An invoice from a recovery vehicle if your vehicle had broken down
You’ll also need to provide other information such as:
- When the penalty charge was issued
- Your contact information (address)
- The vehicle registration number (VRN)
- The penalty charge reference number (found at the top of the PCN)
Make sure you hold on to the originals and only send copies of relevant documents when sending the informal appeal to the council. Also, send everything recorded delivery!
If you’re lucky, the council should accept your appeal and cancel the PCN. In short, you won’t have to dish out any money!
What happens when the council rejects an appeal?
All is not totally lost if the council rejects your appeals against a penalty charge. You have the option to take the appeal to the independent tribunal. In this instance, it’s the London Tribunals.
However, if the tribunal doesn’t uphold your appeal, their decision is final, and you’ll have no choice but to pay!
Should you pay a Waltham Forest penalty charge straight away?
The only advantages to paying a Waltham Forest PCN within two weeks are:
- You get to pay a discounted amount which is 50% less than the original fine. For example, if you got a £130 fine, you’d only have to pay £65, which is still a lot. But better than the original amount!
- You save yourself a lot of hassle and time
But you should only pay the fine once you’re happy you deserve it. Plus, it would be best to consider whether the PCN was correctly issued. Mistakes happen!
So, in short, only pay the penalty charge when you’ve determined there’s no way of getting out of paying the fine! Also, you have 28 days to pay, but you’ll pay the full amount when you wait this long.
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What happens when a Waltham Forest penalty charge is unpaid?
The Council issues a Charge Notice when you don’t pay the penalty charge within 28 days. It means the original fine increases by 50%. So, for example, a £60 fine becomes a £90 fine.
Things escalate even more when you still don’t pay within 14 days of receiving the Charge Notice. Plus, you’ll have lost your right to challenge the penalty charge!
It’d be wiser to pay up at this juncture rather than let things get even worse (and more expensive!). The Council doesn’t have to take you to court to get you to pay.
An order to pay is issued, and enforcement officers are charged with recovering the unpaid amount. Moreover, there’ll be extra charges and fees to pay.
What’s the best way to pay a Waltham Forest penalty charge?
The best way to pay a Waltham Forest PCN is to pay within two weeks, so you pay 50% less than the original amount.
You can either call the council on 0203 092 0112. Or you can use the dedicated online payment option.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
In partnership with Just Answer.
