What happens if you do not pay a parking fine

If you don't pay your parking fine (Penalty Charge Notice), we can go through a series of processes to get the money from you.

If you have received a parking fine and want to pay it, please see our Pay a parking fine page. If you want to challenge it, see Challenge a parking fine.

If you have not paid or challenged the fine: or have received a Notice to Owner through the post:

Notice to Owner (NtO)

You will receive an NtO if no payment or challenge is received within 28 days of the fine being issued. If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice by post it will act as an NtO.

You can still pay your parking fine or make a representation online.

The registered owner/keeper of the vehicle (or the person who has hired it) is responsible for paying the fine, regardless of whether they were the driver at the time.

Other ways to pay

automated payment line 0330 0884 785
telephone: 0191 384 6633

Challenging an NtO

Challenging an NtO is called 'making a representation' and may be made online or by post to Parking Services, PO Box 568, Durham, DH1 9GP. You must make representation within 28 days of the NtO being issued.

You can make a representation even if you have had a PCN challenge rejected.

Representations:

can contain any mitigating circumstances (see below)
should include any evidence that may support your case eg pay and display tickets, invoices, photographs
are considered on their individual merits (they are not looked at by the same people who look at PCN challenges)

Mitigating circumstances

Any reasons you give for the fine being cancelled will be considered. If you do not tell us about any reasons at this point, you may lose your chance to refer the case to the Independent Adjudicator later. Here are some examples of possible reasons (for guidance only):

Mitigating circumstance	Our guidance
Pay and Display ticket machine was out of order.	The fine may be cancelled (waived) if there are ticket machine records confirming a malfunction and no other working machine was available for use within the street.
I was delayed due to an emergency.	The fine may be cancelled if supporting evidence from a doctor / emergency service is provided.
Blue badge was accidentally displayed incorrectly.	If a valid badge is produced the fine may be cancelled. However, this decision may be taken into account should another fine be issued for the same reason.
I was ill and couldn't return to my car in time.	The fine may be cancelled if appropriate supporting evidence from a doctor provided.
My car broke down.	The fine may be cancelled if evidence (breakdown recovery call-out sheet and garage/purchase parts invoice) is provided.
Resident's visitor's permit (scratchcard) completed incorrectly.	If photographic evidence shows a minor omission the fine may be cancelled. However, this decision may be taken into account should another fine be issued for the same reason.
Snow, leaves, etc covered the road markings and/or signage when I parked.	If photographic evidence shows this, the fine may be cancelled.

Letting you know the result

We must notify you of our decision within 56 days.

Fine is cancelled

We will send you a 'Notice of Acceptance' if the fine has been cancelled.

Fine isn't cancelled

We will send you a 'Notice of Rejection' if the fine hasn't been cancelled, let you know how to pay the fine or appeal against the decision.

Appealing against the decision

Your appeal will be to an independent Adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. You can't appeal to them until we have officially told you that your representation has been rejected.

There is no charge to appeal.

The decision by the Adjudicator is final and binding on both sides.

If you win your appeal your fine will be cancelled. If you lose your appeal you will be notified of the outcome and allowed 28 days to pay the full charge.

If you do not pay within 28 days following notification that your appeal has been rejected we will send a Charge Certificate.

Charge Certificate

If you do not pay an outstanding fine within 28 days of receiving a Notice to Owner letter, we will send you a Charge Certificate.

The payment required will have increased by 50% when the Charge Certificate is issued.

Pay your parking fine online

Other ways to pay

automated payment line 0330 0884 785
telephone: 0191 384 6633

Challenging a Charge Certificate

You can't challenge a Charge Certificate.

Order for Recovery

We will send you an Order for Recovery if we don't receive payment within 14 days of the Charge Certificate being sent.

We will register the total fine as a debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) and is the same as a County Court Order. We will send you the appropriate form after the debt has been registered at the TEC, and you may submit a witness statement.

A sum to cover court costs will be added to the fine.

Witness statement

A witness statement is an oath sworn by someone who has a debt registered against them. You may only make a witness statement if you:

did not receive a Notice to Owner
made a representation to us but did not receive a Notice of Rejection
appealed to an Adjudicator but did not receive a response from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal
have already paid the fine

You must submit the witness statement by the date shown on the Order for Recovery. If you need more time to submit it, you may apply for it, using a TE7 - application to file a statement out of time form. The form can only be used to extend time for submitting the statement, not to dispute the fine.

Proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against you if you make, or cause to be made, a false statement in an application without an honest belief in its truth.

Warrant of Control

We will send you a Warrant of Control if you don't pay the debt or file a witness statement within 21 days of the Order of Recovery being sent.

A Warrant of Control allows us to recover an unpaid fine using certificated enforcement agents, authorised by the County Court to recover the debt(s).

The enforcement agents will add their charges to the outstanding debt.