Merton Code 87 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Merton Code 87 mean?

Code 87 concerns a designated disabled parking place used without displaying a valid disabled person's badge in the required manner. It is important to distinguish a valid badge overlooked in photographs, an obscured badge, and parking by someone who did not qualify to use the space.

Contravention

Code 87 concerns a designated disabled parking place used without displaying a valid disabled person's badge in the required manner

Category

Council Car Park PCNs

Issuing authority

London Borough of Merton

Formal representation deadline

28 days beginning with service of the Notice to Owner or postal parking PCN.

Penalty and discount

Use the charge and discount printed on your PCN; the applicable amount depends on the notice and contravention date.

Initial discount

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

Appeal route

Merton, then London Tribunals after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must Merton establish?

Photograph the bay symbol, nearby notices and the car-park concession board. Check badge-display, clock, payment and time conditions individually.

Do not import on-street Blue Badge concessions or a prescribed on-street sign layout into every council car park. The designated bay and applicable off-street conditions must be identified.

• The occupied space must be designated for disabled parking under the applicable scheme and clearly identifiable as the bay alleged.
• The local conditions must establish the valid badge and display requirement, including any clock or accepted alternative authorisation relevant to that space.
• The evidence must address the badge's validity and display at the PCN time. Eligibility, an obscured badge and a clearly displayed valid badge are different issues.
• The badge or authorisation must cover the eligible use, while any separate charges or time limits depend on the car park's own concessions.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Merton Code 87 appeal

The statutory ground must match what happened. These code-specific points explain how to establish it.

The national Blue Badge scheme does not automatically give free or unrestricted parking in every off-street car park. Check the local charge, time and display conditions. Use of a badge must relate to the badge holder's eligible journey, not merely the availability of somebody else's badge.

• A valid badge was properly displayed for an eligible journey. Provide the relevant badge details and compare the display with the officer's photographs.
• The bay was not designated or identified as the disabled space alleged. Show the actual parking position, symbol, sign and surrounding bays.
• The car park accepted a different recorded authorisation or concession. Supply the confirmation and terms that applied to this space and vehicle.
• A genuine badge was displaced, obscured or affected by an administrative issue. Explain what happened and provide evidence of eligibility. Ask for relevant discretion or disability-related consideration without claiming that eligibility automatically satisfies every display rule.
• The alleged parking contravention did not happen, including where a relevant exemption applied or the restriction was not adequately signed.
• You were not the owner at the relevant time: you never owned the vehicle, sold it before the event or acquired it afterwards.
• The vehicle was under someone else's control without the owner's consent at the time of the alleged contravention.
• You are a vehicle-hire firm and the vehicle was hired under a qualifying agreement with a signed statement accepting PCN liability. Supply the hirer's name and address.
• The authority is demanding more than the penalty legally applicable to this case.
• The authority failed to comply with a statutory requirement in imposing or recovering the penalty: a procedural impropriety.
• The traffic order relied on is invalid, except an order subject to Part 6 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
• For a postal PCN relying on prevented service or a qualifying drive-away under regulation 10(2)(b) or (c), nobody prevented the officer from attaching or handing over the PCN. This is not the ground for an approved-device postal PCN.
• The enforcement notice should not have been served because the penalty was already paid in full, or at the valid discounted amount by the applicable deadline. Paying a parking tariff is different from paying the penalty.

4. How to make a formal representation to Merton

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Merton. Formal representations are made against the Notice to Owner, or directly against a postal parking PCN, within 28 days beginning with service. Respond to the formal notice even if an earlier informal challenge is unanswered.

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

For an on-street parking PCN, Merton says an unsuccessful challenge received within 14 days of the date on the PCN is followed by another 14 days to pay the discounted charge. This summary does not apply the parking policy to bus-lane or moving-traffic notices.

• The valid badge's relevant details and expiry, sharing only the information needed for the challenge.
• The council's photographs showing the badge and any required clock or display position.
• The disabled-bay marking, upright sign and car-park concession terms.
• Evidence of local authorisation or the circumstances explaining a genuine display failure.

1. Open Merton's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference (prefix MT) and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Enter your MT PCN reference and vehicle registration, then select 'Find'. On a phone, open the menu to find 'Make a representation' or 'Make a challenge'; Merton says to use the portal's 'Contact us' option if neither is available.
3. Use 'View images' to inspect available evidence before making your challenge. This is available through the same PCN lookup and does not require payment.
4. For a parking Notice to Owner or postal parking PCN, Merton requires the registered keeper to authorise a representative in writing before corresponding with them.
5. Postal challenges should be signed, dated and quote the PCN number; phone and in-person representations are not accepted.
6. Explain which part of the Code 87 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
7. Postal alternative: Merton Parking Services, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX. Allow time for receipt before the deadline and retain proof of posting.
8. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does Merton have to respond?

Merton must serve its decision within 56 days beginning with receipt of qualifying formal representations. If it fails to comply, those representations are deemed accepted. This statutory period applies to formal representations, not an informal challenge or a request for photographs.

6. If Merton rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Merton's decision and how to appeal to London Tribunals. You have 28 days beginning with service of that notice to pay or register your tribunal appeal.

Compare the reply with the Code 87 grounds and evidence you submitted. Identify any unanswered point, missing evidence or inconsistency between the restriction and the recorded event. Keep the rejection notice and the appeal details supplied with it.

An informal rejection is different: formal representations can be made if a Notice to Owner follows.

7. Taking your Merton appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of Merton. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 87 contravention or liability is disputed.

There is no fee to register the appeal. If it is refused, the full penalty is normally payable; an earlier discount does not automatically continue. If registering late, explain the delay so the adjudicator can decide whether to accept the appeal.

Read Merton's evidence pack and respond to the points relevant to your case. Keep to the tribunal's directions and evidence deadlines.

2025 London Tribunals results: shared context

57 of 225 recorded cases were allowed (25.3%).

Full Code 87 PCN Appeal Guide

Read the detailed legislation, signage requirements, exemptions and case analysis for this contravention.