PCN - Am I missing something here?

JohnnyG · 13 May 2018 at 10:24

A brief description of the situation -

Contravention date was 7/4/17, PCN was issued and I paid £65 (50% discount) 3 weeks later on 28/4/17
I have the receipt of payment email from council's online payment portal & bank statement proving payment.
Fast forward to 6/5/18 & I receive a Charge Certificate stating I now owe £130, which is the full PCN cost plus £65 surcharge for the Charge Certificate minus £65 I've already paid, so they acknowledge receipt of payment.
There has been no response to the emails I've sent & it's impossible to talk to anyone at the council about it.
Any idea why this happened?

Mujja · 13 May 2018 at 10:26

How long was the 50% discount for? I thinks it's only for 2 weeks here.

AHarvey · 13 May 2018 at 10:32

yes I thought the discount was payment within 14 days after which it rises to the full amount.

JohnnyG · 13 May 2018 at 10:33

28 days, I also paid it as soon as I received it
It was a rented vehicle so came through the hire company first
It wasn't a parking offence as such, it was a prohibition on certain vehicles contravention if that makes any difference.

AHarvey · 13 May 2018 at 11:00

You'll need to phone up and speak to them, they can ignore emails. If you've no number go through the main council switchboard.

What I would be concerned about it the amount of time between the initial charge and the follow-up of 13 months, are you sure it's from the council and it's not from either a credit agency trying their luck or worse, conmen that have gained access to the system?

Avalon · 14 May 2018 at 16:12

AHarvey said:
What I would be concerned about it the amount of time between the initial charge and the follow-up of 13 months, are you sure it's from the council and it's not from either a credit agency trying their luck or worse, conmen that have gained access to the system?

A ‘Credit Agency’ is a company who provides details on you and your financial status to 3rd parties such as lenders who you authorise to view that information. It’s generally payments, liabilities, defaults and judgements/bankruptcy etc. They don’t chase you for anything, that’s what private collection companies or ‘debt collectors’ do.

For the op, call the council or send them a letter with copies of anything relevant that shows your actions, even visit the council if you need to, if you can prove payment fell within the time period for the discounted offer, then you’re set, but deal with it now, ignoring it will just make it more difficult to resolve at a later date.

AHarvey · 14 May 2018 at 21:02

Avalon said:
A ‘Credit Agency’ is a company who provides details on you and your financial status to 3rd parties such as lenders who you authorise to view that information. It’s generally payments, liabilities, defaults and judgements/bankruptcy etc. They don’t chase you for anything, that’s what private collection companies or ‘debt collectors’ do.

Yet you still knew exactly what I meant

you do have to love these forums at times

bet it got you all excited correcting something on the internet didn't it? don't lie

Avalon · 14 May 2018 at 22:50

AHarvey said:
Yet you still knew exactly what I meant you do have to love these forums at times bet it got you all excited correcting something on the internet didn't it? don't lie

Oh yea, I do it for the 'internetz pointz', i'm saving for a radio!

Where we seem to differ is if I make a mistake, i'd actually welcome someone taking the time to point it out, that way I can learn from it. You seem to resent it, perhaps that says more about you than me? Just a thought

muon · 14 May 2018 at 23:18

AHarvey said:
Yet you still knew exactly what I meant you do have to love these forums at times bet it got you all excited correcting something on the internet didn't it? don't lie

Except this is a very bad mistake that deserved correction, without which would confuse people. You likely genuinely believed credit agencies chase debt for example.

You should learn from your mistake.