Charge Certificates and
Orders for Recovery

Charge Certificates and Orders for Recovery

If a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) remains unpaid or is ignored, the authority that issued it has the right to increase the charge and register the outstanding amount as a debt.

28 Days after…

Receiving a Notice to Owner (Parking PCNs only) or a PCN by post and either not paying the PCN or making representations to the authority

Receiving a Notice of Rejection of Representations (after making representations to the authority that issued the PCN) and either not paying the PCN or appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Receiving a Dismissed Appeal decision after appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and not paying the PCN

You are likely to receive
a Charge Certificate

A Charge Certificate increases the penalty charge owed by 50% and means you no longer have a right to make representations.*

*Some authorities may still accept representations, but this will be at their discretion

After receiving a Charge Certificate, you have 14 days to pay the PCN.

Important: In certain circumstances, the Adjudicator will consider a late appeal, if there is a good reason why you did not appeal within 28 days (e.g. because you made representations, but you did not receive the NoR letter). If this applies to you, submit an appeal now, explaining the reason why the appeal is late.

If the PCN remains unpaid 14 days after receipt of a Charge Certificate, the authority can register the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

You will then receive
an Order for Recovery

The Order for Recovery will be sent to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, together with a Witness Statement form.

If a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) remains unpaid or is ignored, the authority that issued it has the right to increase the charge and register the outstanding amount as a debt.

28 Days after…

Receiving a Notice to Owner (Parking PCNs only) or PCN by post and either not paying the PCN or making representations to the authority

Receiving a Notice of Rejection of Representations (after making representations to the authority that issued the PCN) and either not paying the PCN or appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Receiving a Dismissed Appeal decision after appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and not paying the PCN

You are likely to receive a Charge Certificate

A Charge Certificate increases the penalty charge owed by 50% and means you no longer have a right to make representations.*

*Some authorities may still accept representations, but this will be at their discretion

After receiving a Charge Certificate, you have 14 days to pay the PCN.

Important: In certain circumstances, the Adjudicator will consider a late appeal if there is a good reason why you did not appeal within 28 days (e.g. because you made representations, but you did not receive the NoR letter). If this applies to you, submit an appeal now, explaining the reason why the appeal is late.

If the PCN remains unpaid 14 days after receipt of a Charge Certificate, the authority can register the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

You will then receive an Order for Recovery

The Order for Recovery will be sent to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, together with a Witness Statement form.

Received an Order for Recovery?

If you have received an Order for Recovery from the Traffic Enforcement Centre,
the most important thing to say is

Don’t ignore it

If you do, the debt can be passed on to Bailiffs
(now often called Civil Enforcement Agents)

Received an Order for Recovery?

If you have received an Order for Recovery from the Traffic Enforcement Centre, the most important thing to say is

Don’t ignore it

If you do, the debt can be passed on to Bailiffs (now often called Civil Enforcement Agents).

Making a Witness Statement

A Witness Statement form is included with all Orders for Recovery.

This form provides you with an opportunity to explain why you don’t agree the debt should have been registered and the PCN progressed to this point.

One of four grounds (reasons)
must apply

Making a
Witness Statement

A Witness Statement form is included with all Orders for Recovery.

This form provides you with an opportunity to explain why you don’t agree the debt should have been registered and the PCN progressed to this point.

One of four grounds (reasons)
must apply

A Notice to Owner (NtO) – for Parking contraventions only –
or PCN was not received.

Representations were made to the local authority or charging authority
within 28 days of the NtO / PCN being received,
but no Notice of Rejection (NoR) of Representations was received.

An appeal was made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of the NoR, but:

no response was received

a Charge Certificate was issued by the authority
before the appeal was decided

the appeal was successful, but the authority
issued a Charge Certificate.

The PCN has already been paid in full.

A Notice to Owner (NtO) – for Parking contraventions only – or PCN was not received.

Representations were made to the local authority or charging authority within 28 days of the NtO / PCN being received, but no Notice of Rejection (NoR) of Representations was received.

An appeal was made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of the NoR, but:

no response was received

a Charge Certificate was issued by the authority before the appeal was decided

the appeal was successful, but the authority issued a Charge Certificate

The PCN has already been paid in full.

If one of the grounds above applies, then you have

21 Days

to make an application to the Traffic Enforcement Centre*

(opens external link to further information on GOV.UK)

*Follow the instructions on the form you have received

Otherwise, you should

pay as soon as possible