Lost PCN Number? What To Do Next (2024)

Have you lost your PCN number and don’t know what to do? We’re here to help. Each month, over 130,000 people come to us for advice on fines and parking tickets.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• What to do if you lose your PCN number.
• How to challenge the charge if you think it is wrong.
• Times when you might not need to pay.
• What could happen if you decide not to pay.

In 2021, Churchill Motor Insurance reported an 8% increase in penalty charge notices (PCNs) across Britain, with over 5.2 million issued.¹ So you’re not alone.

We’ve been in your shoes and are here to support you. Let’s go through the details…

What is a PCN reference number?

Every PCN that is issued has a unique reference number.

The PCN number is used to identify your PCN fine and your details.

These reference numbers start with a two-letter prefix which can be used to work out either who issued the PCN or the type of PCN fine.

Your PCN reference number should be at the top of your PCN notice. If Transport for London issued your PCN, it would be visible above the vehicle image in the top right corner.

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Lost PCN number – how to pay?

If you have lost your PCN number, you won’t be able to pay online.

In this situation, you must contact your PCN issuer and ask them for your PCN number. If you call them, you may be given the option to pay over the phone.

You may need to be the registered vehicle owner to be given the lost PCN number over the phone.

What should you do if you lose your parking ticket UK?

From my experience, if you have lost your UK parking ticket, it is best to contact the local council or (private) company that issued your parking ticket.

Using your vehicle registration number, they should be able to find your reference number.

What happens if you don’t pay your parking ticket UK?

If you don’t pay your PCN within 28 days, you’ll be issued a charge certificate that gives you an additional 14 days to pay, but the fine will be increased by 50%.

Failing to pay within the additional 14 days can result in a court order and the use of bailiffs. You can pay a reduced fee if you pay within 14 days of first receiving the PCN.

How to challenge your PCN

You can challenge a PCN if you disagree with it.

If the PCN was left on your vehicle, you must first make an informal appeal. In any other case, you must make a formal appeal called a ‘representation’. This involves writing a letter detailing why you contest the PCN with as much evidence as possible.

If a formal appeal is rejected, you have the right to escalate the appeal to an independent tribunal.

The specific tribunal that takes your case is dependent on whether you live inside London, outside London, in Scotland, or in Northern Ireland.

You will not have to pay a fine if your informal challenge or your representation is accepted.

Can PCN affect your credit score?

A PCN is not a credit debt and will not directly affect your credit score.

Please do not confuse it with a parking charge notice issued by a private company.

Unlike unpaid PCNs, if you don’t pay a parking charge notice, a CCJ could be issued against you. A CCJ can damage your credit score.

Is a PCN Enforceable?

A PCN or penalty charge notice is an enforceable fine.

A local council or the police typically give them out. Please don’t mix them up with parking charge notices that private companies give out.

Private parking companies do not shy away from hiring bailiffs.

As you can see from the example of Parking Eye below, they’ve been known to hire bailiffs sometimes years after an offence.

So, if you lose your PCN, try to recover it as quickly as possible and don’t forget about it.

Lost your PCN number? (quick recap!)

Losing your PCN reference number can make it impossible to pay your PCN quickly, potentially saving some money.

You should recover your PCN number by contacting your PCN issuer.

References

1. Direct Line Group – 10 parking fines issued every minute across Britain