PCN & Parking Fine Solicitors in London
Order for recovery, bailiff letter or a PCN you never received? We challenge it at the Traffic Enforcement Centre on the right form, within the 21-day deadline.
If you have received an order for recovery, a bailiff letter or a parking fine you never knew about, you usually have 21 days to act. Adam Bernard Solicitors helps drivers and businesses across London challenge penalty charge notices (PCNs) at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, using the correct form and the correct ground. Call 0207 100 2525.
What does a PCN solicitor do?
A PCN solicitor advises you on whether you can challenge a parking or traffic penalty, prepares the right paperwork, and files it on time. Most of our PCN work starts after the debt has been registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC), when the council has sent an order for recovery or passed the case to bailiffs.
We can help if:
- you never received the original PCN or notice to owner, often because you had moved address
- you challenged the PCN on time but the council never replied
- you appealed to the tribunal but heard nothing back
- you have already paid, but the council is still chasing you
- you have missed the 21-day deadline and need to file out of time
- enforcement agents (bailiffs) have contacted you or visited
PCN, fixed penalty notice or private parking charge: which do you have?
The type of ticket decides where you challenge it. A council or TfL penalty charge notice is a civil debt. A fixed penalty notice is criminal and is challenged in the magistrates’ court. A private car park ticket is a contract claim (GOV.UK).
| Ticket | Issued by | Where it is challenged |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty charge notice (PCN) | London borough, local council, or TfL (red routes, congestion charge, ULEZ/LEZ) | Council or TfL, then London Tribunals or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, then the TEC if registered as a debt |
| Fixed penalty notice (FPN) | Police, council or DVSA | Magistrates’ court; see our Single Justice Procedure Notice solicitors |
| Parking charge notice (private) | Private car park operator | The operator, then POPLA or the IAS (GOV.UK) |
If you are facing a criminal driving matter rather than a parking penalty, see our motoring offence solicitors.
The PCN timeline: from ticket to bailiffs
A council PCN moves through fixed stages, and the amount rises at each one you miss.
- PCN issued. You have 28 days to pay or challenge. Pay within 14 days and the charge is usually halved (GOV.UK). In London, higher-level parking PCNs are £160 (Band A) or £140 (Band B), and bus lane and moving traffic PCNs are £160, since 7 April 2025 (London Councils).
- Notice to owner. Sent to the registered keeper. You have 28 days to make a formal challenge, called a representation.
- Notice of rejection. If your representation fails, you have 28 days to appeal to London Tribunals (London) or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (rest of England and Wales) (GOV.UK).
- Charge certificate. If you do not pay or challenge, the penalty rises by 50% and you have 14 days to pay (GOV.UK).
- Order for recovery. The council registers the debt at the TEC. You have 21 days to pay or challenge (GOV.UK).
- Enforcement agents. If you do nothing, bailiffs are instructed and their fees are added.
How to challenge an order for recovery
You challenge an order for recovery by filing a witness statement (form TE13) or, for some London PCNs, a statutory declaration (form PE3) with the Traffic Enforcement Centre within 21 days. HMCTS introduced forms TE13 and TE14 on 14 October 2026, replacing the old TE9 and TE7 (GOV.UK).
You can only use one of four grounds, and you must tick only one (GOV.UK):
- You did not receive the notice to owner (or PCN / enforcement notice).
- You made representations within 28 days but received no notice of rejection.
- You appealed to the tribunal within 28 days but had no response, or the appeal was decided in your favour.
- You have already paid the penalty charge in full.
Disagreeing with the original ticket is not a ground. The TEC does not decide whether the parking contravention happened.
| Your PCN | Form | Out of time? |
|---|---|---|
| Parking PCN, in or outside London | TE13 witness statement | Add TE14 |
| Moving traffic PCN outside London; Dart Charge; Mersey Gateway | TE13 | Add TE14 |
| Moving traffic or bus lane PCN in a London borough; low emission or clean air zone PCN | PE3 statutory declaration | Add TE14 |
Send the form to the Traffic Enforcement Centre by email (tec@justice.gov.uk) or post. The address is on the form and on GOV.UK.
Witness statement or statutory declaration: why the difference matters
A TE13 is a witness statement signed with a statement of truth; a PE3 is a statutory declaration that must be made in front of a solicitor or other authorised person. Both carry legal risk if the content is untrue.
- TE13: a false statement made without an honest belief in its truth can lead to proceedings for contempt of court (form TE13).
- PE3: knowingly making a false statutory declaration is an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911.
We witness PE3 statutory declarations at both London offices. The witnessing fee is fixed by law; see our statutory declaration solicitors page.
Missed the 21-day deadline?
You can still challenge late by filing form TE14 with your TE13 or PE3, explaining why you are out of time. Typical reasons are not knowing about the PCN, being chased for a paid or cancelled PCN, or getting no reply to a challenge (GOV.UK).
- Bailiffs must stop while the council considers your out-of-time application.
- If the council refuses it, the TEC reviews the decision.
- If the TEC refuses, you can ask a district judge to review it on form N244 within 14 days. The court fee is £126 (GOV.UK).
What happens if your challenge succeeds?
The order for recovery is revoked and bailiffs can no longer act, but the PCN is not automatically cancelled. The council will then cancel the PCN, issue a new notice to owner giving you 28 days to pay or challenge, or refer the case to the tribunal (GOV.UK). That is your chance to argue the original ticket.
Bailiffs and parking fines: your rights
Bailiffs collecting a PCN debt cannot force entry to your home. Under GOV.UK guidance, they cannot push past you, enter between 9pm and 6am, or enter when only children under 16 or vulnerable people are present. They can take goods from outside your home, including your car. Always ask for ID and a breakdown of the amount owed. Fees are set by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014.
How our PCN solicitors help
- Case review: we check your order for recovery, notice history and DVLA address record, and confirm which ground applies.
- Correct form: we prepare your TE13, PE3 and, where needed, TE14, with supporting evidence.
- Witnessing: PE3 declarations are witnessed by an SRA-regulated solicitor at our office.
- Bailiff contact: we notify the council and enforcement agent once your application is filed.
- Next stage: if the order is revoked, we prepare your representation or tribunal appeal against the original PCN.
- Judge review: if the TEC refuses, we prepare the N244 application.
Why Adam Bernard Solicitors? SRA-regulated solicitors listed on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor directory. Fifteen years in practice and 15,000+ clients. Two London offices, with Saturday appointments in East London.
PCN solicitors near you in London
- Central London: Chancery Station House, 33 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AX, near Chancery Lane and Holborn stations.
- East London: 25 Barking Road, Upton Park, London E6 1PW, serving Newham, Stratford, East Ham, Barking and Ilford. Saturday appointments 10am–2pm.
We also advise by phone and video (Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, Skype). Call 0207 100 2525 or request an appointment.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines run from the date on your notice, so act quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor to challenge a PCN?
No, you can file the forms yourself. A solicitor helps when you are past the deadline, bailiffs are involved, or you are unsure which ground or form applies, because the TEC rejects forms with the wrong ground.
What is an order for recovery?
It is a court order from the Traffic Enforcement Centre registering an unpaid PCN as a debt. You have 21 days to pay or challenge it before bailiffs can be instructed.
Can I still use form TE9 or TE7?
No. Since 14 October 2026, parking PCNs are challenged on form TE13, and late applications use form TE14.
Is a parking ticket challenge a statutory declaration?
Usually not. Council parking PCNs use a TE13 witness statement. A PE3 statutory declaration is only for London moving traffic or bus lane PCNs and low emission or clean air zone PCNs.
What if I never received the parking ticket?
That is a valid ground. Tick ground A on form TE13 (or PE3) and include your current address. This often happens when the DVLA had an old address.
Does a successful TE13 cancel the PCN?
Not always. The order for recovery is revoked, then the council either cancels the PCN, sends a new notice to owner with 28 days to pay or challenge, or refers it to the tribunal.
What if I missed the 21 days?
File form TE14 with your TE13 or PE3 and explain why. Bailiff action is put on hold while it is considered.
Can bailiffs force entry for a parking fine?
No. For PCN debts they cannot force their way into your home or enter between 9pm and 6am, but they can take goods from outside, including your car.
Do you deal with private parking tickets?
Private parking charge notices are not PCNs and do not go to the TEC. They are appealed to the operator, then POPLA or the IAS. If the operator issues a county court claim, we can advise on defending it.
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