Council issues parking ticket with wrong number plate

Dave8505

Hello everyone, wanted to know where I stand with this.

I was parked on a busy and narrow road, no room for cars to pass, parked 6 inches on the pavement to allow access, particularly for buses, got a ticket. Fairly straightforward if frustrating, but on the ticket the last digit of my number plate is written wrong every time it's mentioned, and upon attempting to see the details online the incorrect number plate is stored there too. I'm waiting to see if photos were taken, but I wanted to get some advice on whether or not this gives me any legal basis to avoid paying this fine? It wasn't a paid parking zone, or even single yellow, and it's fairly clear from looking at the road that your car is at risk of being hit if you don't park on the pavement- none of which changes the law, but it does make me far more willing to try and find a loophole to get out of it if possible.

Any advice would be great.

peter_the_piper

Getting the number/letters wrong is usually fatal to a council ticket, they are not allowed to change them afterwards. Unless they check the pictures they won't sent you any paperwork as the DVLA will send them the wrong address. Just wait and see what happens. Keep records of all paperwork given/sent.

Coupon-mad

Seconded, as long as you own this car (not leased/company car/hired) then sit tight and you should hear no more from the Council. They can't 'put it right' so can't issue a NTO. If they do, come back! Easy to win this one.

Do not appeal, no phone call, NOTHING. Not unless they send a NTO. After 6 months you are clear.

Orford

I'd just write to the council and say you found pcn no. xxxxx on your windscreen with a VRM that doesn't relate to your vehicle or any vehicle that you have ever owned.

They will realise they've cocked up, but can't re-issue a correct pcn and will cancel the ticket, but more crucially won't chase the other entirely innocent VRM owner, who then won't have the aggravation of dealing with a PCN they know nothing about

But keep the pcn on the off chance that they try and serve an NTO to you.

pogofish

You can stand wherever you want but a wrong reg number is absolutely fatal to any legit/council ticket. They cannot go back and correct it even if they have your number correct in photos/patrollers notes etc and if they did try-it on, PATAS wouldn't.

Dave8505

Thanks for the swift replies everyone! I've now seen the photos (he took like 20, including totally random ones of nearby houses??) and my number plate is all over a lot of them. Obviously you guys have way more experience in this, and I figured the incorrect number could have been an issue, but how certain am I not to be bitten hard by this down the line? I'm happy to sit and wait given it's the consensus but I'm curious as to the process if they do recover my information and send notices directly to me.

Umkomaas

They will realise they've cocked up, but can't re-issue a correct pcn and will cancel the ticket,

..... and fix an appointment with SpecSavers for their CEO.

Coupon-mad

how certain am I not to be bitten hard by this down the line?

100% - as long as, if they do try a NTO, you don't ignore it. This cannot go anywhere, honestly, it's fatal to Council PCNs.

For peace of mind you might prefer Orford's suggestion in post #4 as he knows what's what with Council PCNs.

Lisenswede

I have just got a Parking charge notice, they have written my number plate down wrong. They have written LI5 instead of L15, I can not even log into the parking ticket companys website with my correct number plate. Do I need to pay this? They did take pictures but I feel as they have written my number plate down wrong, this is not a real ticket that I need to pay for... where do I stand?

Kind regards and thanks for your help!

Coupon-mad

This has noting to do with a 2017 archive thread about Council PCNs. Yours is a private scam one as you mention the 'company'.

EDIT - DUPLICATE QUERY ANSWERED IN A NEW THREAD HERE:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5926479/parking-charge-notice-with-a-mistake-on-my-numberplate

NO REPLY NEEDED - LET THIS OLD THREAD DIE...

paultomlinson

just happened to my Mum, so I rang them up and they had pictures but confirmed the wrong reg and cancelled the ticket, didn't want someone else being hassled