How to fight a PCN - is there a simple version?

Brie

Basically that.  Is there a very short, maybe bullet point version of what one needs to do to fight a PCN?

I've looked at the Newbie thread and it's painfully long constantly saying read this thread and now read this other thread I don't have a nice idea of the time line of potential events.

I do know that going to the business and asking for the PCN to be cancelled is step one (yes?)
Then I'm guessing it's an appeal to the PCN issuer if step one doesn't work.
then there's all sorts of things that get talked about which may or may not lead to one going to court.  what court? does one have a choice?

It just seems that so many threads start with people saying they've tried to work out what to do but they end up confused.  I appreciate that amount of effort the regulars are doing here but now that I'm needing work my way through all this I'm discovering how difficult it is to see what to expect.

Or am I asking for the impossible?

Johnersh

Well, potentially. There are 170 County courts in England and Wales and I don't know where you live, so I can't guess that. 

I don't know the circumstances of your PCN so I can't even begin to suggest what arguments you might like to think about. Some people on here have received PCNs in their own parking spaces, others (more infrequently) appear to have parked sideways across 3 bays and possibly need to hold their hands up. 

There are no court proceedings until they are commenced. That necessarily introduces new 'rules of engagement' The shortcut as you infer is to try and get the PCN dealt with before that and cancelled. It often is a viable option for retail outlets and the like.

Ultimately if it kicks off, there are no shortcuts - you will need to invest time to defend it. That means you'll need to do some homework.... 

Le_Kirk

1. Plan A, complain to retail outlet/Hotel/station
2. If that doesn't work, appealed the PPC within the timescale on the PCN
3. If that doesn't work, wait for letter of/before claim an come back here and second post of Newbie

Brie

Le_Kirk said:

1. Plan A, complain to retail outlet/Hotel/station
2. If that doesn't work, appealed the PPC within the timescale on the PCN
3. If that doesn't work, wait for letter of/before claim an come back here and second post of Newbie

Thanks @Le_Kirk.  That's exactly what i think is needed to give people an idea of what hoops they may need to jump through.  

Could you continue with steps 4 etc?  And post it somewhere so that new people to this are able to see it?

@Johnersh - I didn't want to talk about my own case on a separate thread to the one I already started as that would just potentially confuse things.  And it's general stuff.  So where would a court case be?  In the county I live in?  In the country where the PCN firm is based?  Somewhere central??

To be perfectly frank I'm in a situation where I don't know if I have the headspace to deal with this in the way you and I would really like.  So I need to decide whether I should go ahead and cave and pay (which I would hate really) or continue to fumble along.  For me - know a potential time line is very helpful in the decision making process.  I expect that some people might look at it and fold immediately and other will say "well I only have to do X right now so that's ok".  

Le_Kirk

4. If you get a claim form, go to Newbie sticky second post and follow the advice about completing the AoS. If you have an issue, i.e. you have received a PCN, some details would assist us to assist you.