How long do the council have to reply to an informal representation?

jucee84

As I was wrongly issued a ticket on 21st July this year, I made an informal representation on the 1st August, by presenting the penalty charge and parking ticket receipt in person at the council office.

It has taken them until today to reply stating the fine has been upheld.

I am not paying as I still had 30 mins left on my ticket issued. This was presented to the council and yet they still say the fine stands?

I am furious at this!!!

Surely they must have a timescale in which they have to make contact with you, over 3 months down the line is extreme when they give you just a 14 day deadline in which to pay?

Orford

There is no statutory time within which a council must reply to an informal appeal.
Somereply within a fewdays, others take their own sweet time.

Formal appeals in response to the Notice to Owner must be replied to within 56 days.

jucee84

pretty poor when I have to pay within 14 days or fine doubles, should be a time limit for them also! thanks for the help though

Sirdan

jucee84 wrote: »

pretty poor when I have to pay within 14 days or fine doubles, should be a time limit for them also! thanks for the help though

Technically it does not double, you get a 50% discount for paying promptly , which is akin to getting a reduced sentence for an early guilty plea in criminal proceedings.

So if you appeal it's an all or nothing game .

Orford

jucee84 wrote: »

pretty poor when I have to pay within 14 days or fine doubles, should be a time limit for them also! thanks for the help though

They have extended the discount until 14 days after their rejection letter, so in total you will have had the discount available since July 21st ie for over 120 days

Coupon-mad

jucee84 wrote: »

pretty poor when I have to pay within 14 days or fine doubles, should be a time limit for them also! thanks for the help though

No, that's not how it works, read the back of the PCN and forget the 14 days thing.

Almost every Council will 're-offer' the [STRIKE]obvious bribe[/STRIKE] discount after their laughable standard 'computer-says-no' informal challenge system has considered, chewed up and spat out your appeal with a rejection letter.

So when you get the rejection letter take it to a new thread (with photos of your documents) on pepipoo forums and win the appeal at the second or third stage instead:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

Most people with grounds for appeal win in the end if they can just take their eye off the bribe, forget it and treat it like a proper all or nothing appeal (with the odds of winning in your favour).