Question & Answers

  • q:I tried to pay at the payment machine and my number plate was not recognised, so I left / was told by security to leave, why did I get a PCN?

    a:

    In the event that a Payment Machine does not recognise your Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) when you go to pay on exit from a car park, it does not automatically mean that you won’t then get a PCN from PCPEA. PCPEA use separate cameras to manage the enforcement of the car parks, meaning if we do not get data from the payment machine operator telling us about your incident, you will likely get a PCN as our cameras will have picked up your VRM correctly. If you appeal against this PCN we will check the data from the payment machine operator and if your VRM is not found on their system, we will accept your appeal and void your PCN.

  • q:I overpaid at the Payment Machines at QAH Portsmouth, how do I get a refund?

    a:

    Please be advised, PCPEA do not operate or administrate the parking payment machines in the multi-storey car parks at QAH, if you have been overcharged you must contact Facilities Management at QAH who will be able to arrange a refund of your overpayment. You can call the hospital or speak to reception for further help.

  • q:How can I pay my PCN?

    a:

    The various methods for paying a PCN can be found on our https://www.parkingenforcementagency.org/online-payment/ page, where you can pay using a card online, or read about the other payment methods. The best method is always online payment, as this automatically gets allocated to your PCN and prevents further action, it also enables us to refund you easily if required.

  • q:How long after issue can I appeal a PCN?

    a:

    We accept appeals up to 21 days after the PCN was issued, by going to the Appeals page if it was longer ago than that, you can email appeals@parkingenforcementagency.org but we do not guarantee it will be considered.

  • q:How do I contact you?

    a:

    You can email us regarding appeals on appeals@parkingenforcementagency.org, speak to us about payments via email at payments@parkingenforcementagency.org, we are implementing a telephone support line in 2024, this is not ready yet however so at the moment our telephone line is just being used to accept payments. We can always be contacted via email and will respond swiftly to all emails regardless of the subject.

  • q:I was not the driver, I did not know my vehicle was ticketed, now I have received a PCN Reminder in the post, what do I do?

    a:

    You should write to us as soon as possible to transfer the liability. You must provide a signed declaration along with details of the driver at the time of the incident, which must include their name and address. We will then write to the person and request that they pay the amount owed. If we do not receive a response or payment or if the driver does not accept liability, liability will revert back to the registered keeper until such time as the charge is paid. It will then become then your own responsibility to seek reimbursement from the driver. You can do this via the Transfer of Liability page on this website.

  • q:I sold the car, prior to the ticket being issued, what should I do?

    a:

    The reason why you have been contacted about the ticket is because your are still registered at DVLA as the keeper for the vehicle that was ticketed. You should contact DVLA in order to check this. If you have proof that you sold your vehicle you should first inform DVLA and then write to us including the evidence of transfer. Transfer of liability to the new keeper will only be possible if DVLA confirm to us that you were not the registered keeper of the vehicle at the time of the incident.

  • q:I had broken down at the time the ticket was issued, what should i do?

    a:

    If your vehicle was broken down, you must seek permission to park the car from the land owner or facility operator. Contact the telephone number on the signs or the landowner of the property. You should buy a ticket if you intend on leaving it in a pay and display car park. If you had sought permission to park and can provide evidence to back up your statement, include this with your appeal.

  • q:I am a disabled badge holder can I park for free?

    a:

    The Disabled Badge holders/Blue badge parking scheme does not always apply to some off-street car parking. You are not entitled to free parking unless indicated on the signs displayed in the car park. You will need to ensure your Blue Badge is registered if you are parking in an ANPR car park, as those car parks use cameras to read registration plates, not look for permits or blue badges, that is done via a list usually managed by the car park owner. If you are concerned your badge is not registered, please contact the site management to register your badge, which must be registered against all vehicles you use regularly.

  • q:Missing tickets - What should you do if a Notice to Owner (NTO) arrives for a parking ticket that you didn't know had been issued?

    a:

    If you know that you had been parked in the location at the time of the event, and the NTO arrived within a couple of months then we would recommend that you:-

    i) respond by admitting you were there at the time in question
    ii) say that had you received the ticket you would immediately have paid it at the reduced rate and that, in fairness, the agency should allow you to pay it at the reduced rate.
    iii) we will reduce the amount for a further 14 days to allow you time to pay

  • q:What happens if one sticks a pay-and-display ticket on the windscreen and it falls, face down, on the dashboard before returning to the vehicle?

    a:

    You will more than likely get a parking ticket. You are under an obligation to both “pay” and “display” – it is safest to place the ticket, face up, on the dashboard and check it is in place before leaving your vehicle.

  • q:Do waiting restrictions (yellow lines) apply on Bank Holidays?

    a:

    There is a motoring myth that Bank Holidays are the same as Sundays and that waiting restrictions do not apply. If the sign says ‘Mondays – Saturdays’ then that includes Bank Holiday Mondays. For Bank Holidays to be exempt the sign would also have to include ‘Except Bank Holidays’.

  • q:Do single yellow lines apply after 6.30pm or on Sundays?

    a:

    Yes! Single yellow lines can apply for anything between one and 23 hours per day and also on Sundays. Double yellow lines always mean ‘at any time’ and the need to have an accompanying sign was dropped in April 2003. Single yellow lines now apply for any restriction that is less than ‘at any time’ and it is essential that you check the signs. If the sign does not mention days of operation it means that the restriction applies seven days a week.

  • q:Aren't wardens supposed to give 'a few minutes grace' before issuing a ticket?

    a:

    Contrary to popular belief, you are not – and never have been – permitted to stop for ‘a few minutes’ other than to set down or pick up passengers or load and unload goods (in the absence of any loading restrictions). A warden or parking attendant may observe a vehicle for a few minutes to see if any such activity is going on before issuing a parking ticket, but they are within there rights to issue the ticket as soon as an illegally parked vehicle is seen. If you have been loading or unloading it is incumbent on the driver to produce evidence to that effect. There is not always a grace period.

  • q:If I return to my car whilst the ticket is being issued but drive off before it can be either handed to me or fixed to the vehicle am I still liable?

    a:

    If you return to find a warden in the process of issuing a ticket then, if you drive off, the ticket can be sent to you as a NOTICE TO OWNER which will served via the post.