If you receive a Penalty Charge Notice/Penalty Notice (PCN/PN), you must pay it or challenge it quickly. You should not ignore it.

You should always quote the PCN/PN number in any letters or phone calls regarding it.

Deadlines and payment terms

You should follow the instructions on the PCN/PN that explain how to pay it. A PCN/PN must be paid before the end of the period of 28 days, beginning with the date of its service. Date of service is when it was attached to a vehicle or handed to a driver. For PCNs sent by post, date of service is deemed to be 2 working days (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays) after the date issued / posted

Drivers only have to pay half the full amount shown on the PCN if they pay before the end of the period of 14 days of the PCN date of service.

For littering from vehicles Penalty Notices (PNs) some councils may offer drivers the opportunity to pay half the full amount if they pay before the end of the period of 14 days from date of service of the PN.

For drivers sent a Parking PCN in the post, the discounted rate is available for 21 days, because the parking incident was captured on camera.

Once a PCN/PN has been paid it cannot be challenged.