Failure to pay your Penalty Charge Notice will result in action being taken under the relevant legislation to recover the penalty charge amount due.
After 14 days of the date of issue of the Penalty Charge Notice
You lose the right to pay the discounted sum (50%) after 14 days starting with the date on which the Penalty Charge Notice was issued.
After 28 days of the date of issue of the Penalty Charge Notice
If the penalty charge is not successfully challenged or paid on or before the end of the 28 day period as specified on the front of the Penalty Charge Notice, the Council may serve a Notice to Owner on the person who appears to them to be the owner of the vehicle requiring payment of the penalty charge; at this point you can either;
Failure to act on the Notice to Owner may result in a Charge Certificate being issued.
After 28 days of the date of service of the Notice to Owner
If the Representation is not successful or the penalty charge is not paid on or before the end of the 28 day period as specified on the Notice to Owner, the Council may increase the original penalty charge by 50%. All right to appeal is normally lost and a Charge Certificate will be sent.
After 14 days of the date of issue of the Charge Certificate
If the Charge Certificate is not paid within 14 days, a further letter may be sent to the registered keeper/owner requesting payment of the outstanding penalty charge (this is not a statutory requirement). If payment is still not received within 14 days, the debt will be registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court and a registration fee of £5.00 will be added to the charge. An Order for Recovery of Unpaid Penalty Charge (Parking) will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. If you receive an Order for Recovery of Unpaid Penalty Charge (Parking) you must either:
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Pay the outstanding charge within 21 days; or
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Submit a witness statement to the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
You may make a witness statement under ONE of the following grounds:
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You paid the penalty charge notice in full within 28 days. You must provide details of the date payment was made, the method of payment i.e. cash, cheque etc and who the payment was made to.
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You did not receive the penalty charge notice.
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You made representations about the penalty charge notice to the Local Authority but did not receive a reply within 28 days (Notice of Rejection).
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You appealed to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal against the Local Authority's decision to reject your representation within 28 days, but you had no response to your appeal.
You must file the witness statement by the date shown on the Order for recovery.
Once completed send to the Traffic Enforcement Centre at:
Northampton County Court Bulk Centre
St Katherine's House,
21 – 27 St Katherine's Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH
After 21 days after the Debt Registration
If the charge has not been paid or a witness statement has not been served, the Traffic Enforcement Centre will grant authority for a Warrant to be issued and a certificated Bailiff will be requested to recover the debt from you, in addition to their own fees, which may be significant.
Who do I talk to about a Bailiff's visit or payment?
Once the debt has been passed to Bailiffs, Gateshead Council do not usually enter into further correspondence. All communications should normally be addressed to the Bailiff company or, in the case of serious complaints or statements of truth, the County Court.