Blank PCN!

[spacebiscuit]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice regarding a PCN notice issues by a local council. A yellow envelope was left on the vehicle but the paper inside was blank. It is not clear who issued the ticket, details of the fine, what to pay or whom to pay to!

The driver is a n elderly gentlemen who approached the local council to let them know their error, but how does this stand from a legal perspective. Does the fact the ticket was not properly issued hold any sway in our favour.

Thanks in advance.

[michael]

It's not unheard of for pcn's to be removed by a third party. The council will almost certainly maintain that the pcn was in the envelope when placed on the vehicle and therefore correctly served.

Phone the parking dept of the local council and give them the reg no. They will be able to tell you the pcn no. which you can then use on their website to find out the contravention and see their photographic evidence, at which point you can decide whether to pay or challenge.

The one thing you don't do is ignore it and hope it will go away, it won't

[ostell]

But the OP stated that there was paper inside but it was blank. The ticket machine ran out of ink perhaps and the Attendant didn't notice.

[michael]

But the OP stated that there was paper inside but it was blank. The ticket machine ran out of ink perhaps and the Attendant didn't notice.

Oops, missed that bit. Was it a completely blank piece of paper or was it headed with the council logo etc but no details of the alleged contravention?

If the latter, whatever you do don't lose it, it's a get out of jail free card.

[spacebiscuit]

The paper is blank on both sides, one side glossier than the other. No logo or any other way to identify the issuing party.

[michael]

OK, the problem I have is that all council pcn's that I've seen are basically pre-printed with all the statutory information on the front and back and the hand-held PDA merely prints the vehicle and contravention details at the appropruate places on the front of the pcn.

In other words it would be impossible for the PDA to produce a completely blank piece of paper.

So we are back to either the CEO didn't put the pcn in the envelope or it was removed by someone after it was placed on your vehicle.

[Laticsforlife]

or it's a joke one.

[ostell]

It could be heat sensitive paper, sounds like it, that is used for printing and with those no problem printing logos as required. Hold a corner in the heat rising from a flame and see if it turns black. The paper has been put in upside down or the printhead has gone.

[jaguarsuk]

Phone the parking dept of the local council and give them the reg no. They will be able to tell you the pcn no. which you can then use on their website to find out the contravention and see their photographic evidence, at which point you can decide whether to pay or challenge.

Do this and then go from there.