PCN got closed by itself (Southwark)

14sprocket

Hi there guys,

A bit of a bizarre case really - I left my car in the evening on a street near Bermondsey parked on a single yellow line.
It was a really cold evening, so I didn't expect wardens to be roaming the streets at that time (after 8).
Unfortunately they did, and upon return I found a yellow PCN stuck to my windshield....

The 2 week period was running out today, so I went online to pay it at the reduced rate. I logged the PCN number and my car's plate number on the Southwark website.
It pulled all the details of the contravention, 3 photos of my car etc, but right at the bottom it says "This PCN is now closed. Thank you."
Now I'm pretty confident that I havent paid this fine (by accident or in my sleep ) and neither have I filed an appeal.

Could it get canceled "by itself"? What would be the reason for that? I can see that the photos are kind of blurry, but not sure if that by itself would cause the PCN to close.

My concern is that this might be a glitch by the Southwark website, and the PCN will come back to me at full cost, once the window for 50% concession runs off.

Any ideas please!

Coupon-mad

IMHO this will be a PCN issued by a rookie CEO having their evidence photos for PCNs checked by a second person after issue, and either:

(a) the photos were found wanting, or

(b) the CEO didn't record on the PCN that he/she observed your car for more than 5 minutes to discount the possibility of exempt activity (loading/unloading is allowed on yellow lines, hence 5 mins minimum observation is required), or

(c) there was a fatal error on the PCN, such as incorrect contravention code (should be 01 on a single yellow with no right angle kerb blips), or

(d) the single yellow wasn't actually in operation at that point in the evening and the PCN was issued in error. I suspect this answer because single yellows are normally OK to park on at night in London boroughs.

I always look for a single yellow for evening parking or Sunday shopping!  Usually not in operation (not that I've ever been to Bermondsey, but I mean generally).

Check the signs at the line itself, or the ones at the entrance to the 'zone' if it's a CPZ, and you'll always know if you are safe.

14sprocket

Coupon-mad said:

IMHO this will be a PCN issued by a rookie CEO having their evidence photos for PCNs checked by a second person after issue, and either:

(a) the photos were found wanting, or

(b) the CEO didn't record on the PCN that he/she observed your car for more than 5 minutes to discount the possibility of exempt activity (loading/unloading is allowed on yellow lines, hence 5 mins minimum observation is required), or

(c) there was a fatal error on the PCN, such as incorrect contravention code (should be 01 on a single yellow with no right angle kerb blips), or

(d) the single yellow wasn't actually in operation at that point in the evening and the PCN was issued in error.

Thanks for the comment!

I've googled about the experience other folks had in the past, and apparently it's not uncommon in the situation similar to mine to receive a "notice to owner" after few more weeks.

Wonder if I should email the council (parking@) and request the official cancellation based on the grounds of not being able to pay?

Coupon-mad

Screenshot the webpage and send a written appeal.  But I have NEVER heard of a NTO arriving after the PCN shows as closed.

14sprocket

Coupon-mad said:

Screenshot the webpage and send a written appeal.  But I have NEVER heard of a NTO arriving after the PCN shows as closed.

Here's few cases in Hackney discussed on a different forum several years ago
http://forums.pepipoo.com/lofiversion/index.php/t115276.html

I've made a screenshot that shows a date/time from the phone.. Shall I email it to the Council's parking dept or just sit tight in the hope that a NTO won't follow??

Coupon-mad

Already advised.

No-one said sit tight.

Not sure why you are emailing unless that is an appeal option gateway? If the PCN doesn't say you can appeal by email then don't do that.