Incorrect VRN on PCN

ohnotnow35

So far I am confused by all the advice i've read on t'internet.

Returned to car to find PCN on windscreen (local council issue)

After a closer look I realised that the VRN on the PCN is incorrect (by one letter) Can only log on to council website using these incorrect details.

Have not paid fine or contacted council, yet.

What's the score? Many people say I must appeal immediately or consequences could be worse than initial fine.
Others say definitely do not contact council at all, just keep hold of PCN and wait as council will be unable to contact me due to wrong VRN.

Council do however have a photo, obviously showing correct VRN.

Is PCN invalid?
Should I contact council or not?

Thanks for any help

Trebor16

Yes, the PCN is invalid as the incorrect registration mark is a fatal flaw. I'm not sure if the correct way forward is to do nothing or to write to the council and point it out and tell them to cancel the PCN, but I am sure someone more familiar with the procedure will be along soon to advise you.

peter_the_piper

Get some lottery numbers, your lucks in. As trebor says there is no way for the council to contact you if they have the wrong numbers/letters.If you don't tell them then you cannot be contacted, if you tell them then they cannot reissue the ticket -they only get one go and they've blown it. Wait to see if you get an NTO(notice to owner and extremely unlikely) then you would put in an appeal based on the fact that its not your car.

ohnotnow35

thanks v much for the advice.

I called the council anonomously and asked what one should do and was told that the PCN must be challenged/appealed in the 1st instance to avoid costs going up etc..., but that the incorrect VRN does indeed crush the PCN.

So still a bit wary! I can return the online form challenging the PCN but just using my email address and the PCN number so perhaps i should do that??

Thank you

Coupon-mad

No, as long as it's definitely wrong (not just an I instead of 1 which is debatable I suppose). And they will only accept appeals by email if you include a postal address!

This is the one instance with a Council ticket when you just keep the PCN and keep schtumm, no appeal, nothing.

A wrong car reg number is fatal to a PCN, you should hear nothing more but if you do come back and it's easy enough to deal with, very unlikely to be needed though.

vax2002

How "unclear" or wrong is it ?
are we talking what looks like a u for a v
or miles out.

vax2002

Just another point, if you do get NTO, be warned the councils have a rubber stamp approach to appeals.

peter_the_piper

ohnotnow35 wrote: »

thanks v much for the advice.

I called the council anonomously and asked what one should do and was told that the PCN must be challenged/appealed in the 1st instance to avoid costs going up etc..., but that the incorrect VRN does indeed crush the PCN.

So still a bit wary! I can return the online form challenging the PCN but just using my email address and the PCN number so perhaps i should do that??

Thank you

Still trying to work out how you can challenge a ticket for a car with a different reg to yours.

vax2002

I know what I would do, chance it, no NTO turns up.
All well and good.
If it does, put in a rubber stamp appeal, await the rejection and let the adjudicator have his day with them

molerat

The PCN is the official document and any photo is supporting evidence that the vehicle on the pcn was comitting the offence, it cannot do this as the photo is of a different vehicle to that noted. The official document cannot be changed, it is a one shot document. Just ignore it but keep it safe.

ohnotnow35

VRN is only wrong by one letter.

A V instead of a Y.

It's close!

I usually pay all fines, don't ever bother contesting, but in this instance i had made a mistake (parked outside a bay after 9pm in a car park) not in anyones way! I know this makes no difference....apart from I am willing to appeal!

Still unsure what to do, everyone saying different things...last thing i want, obviously, is the fine being doubled, tripled.....:o