How to Submit a London Tribunals Appeal

Check that the document is a Notice of Rejection of formal representations. An informal rejection sent before a Notice to Owner does not normally create a right to appeal to London Tribunals. The next step may instead be to wait for the Notice to Owner and make formal representations to the enforcement authority.

Keep the complete PCN record together:

1. The original Penalty Charge Notice.
2. The Notice to Owner or postal PCN.
3. The formal representations and submission confirmation.
4. The Notice of Rejection and every enclosed page.
5. Photographs, video, payment records, permits and correspondence relevant to the contravention.

The Notice of Rejection should identify the enforcement authority, PCN number, vehicle registration, tribunal verification code and appeal deadline. If any of those details are missing or do not work, contact the authority and London Tribunals promptly rather than waiting until the deadline.

The normal deadline is 28 days beginning with the date the Notice of Rejection was served. This is not always the same as the date printed on the letter. Service rules determine when a posted or electronic document is treated as received.

London Tribunals can consider a late appeal, but the submission must explain why it was delayed. An adjudicator decides whether the reason justifies registration. Evidence such as proof of absence, illness, postal problems or the date the Notice of Rejection was actually received should be included where relevant.

Do not rely on a late appeal being accepted. Submit within the stated period wherever possible and keep a timestamped confirmation.

The London Tribunals online appeal service normally requires:

• The verification code printed on the Notice of Rejection or Notice of Appeal.
• The vehicle registration exactly as recorded on the PCN.
• The PCN number.
• The appellant's contact details.
• The appeal ground and written reasons.
• The documents or images relied upon.

Not every enforcement authority uses the same online arrangement. If the Notice of Rejection does not provide a usable verification code, follow the paper instructions supplied with the decision or contact London Tribunals for procedural help.

The appellant can ask for a personal hearing or request a decision on the documents. London Tribunals commonly conducts personal hearings remotely using Microsoft Teams. A face-to-face hearing may be available on application where appropriate.

A personal hearing lets the appellant explain the case and answer the adjudicator's questions. A paper decision may suit a case that is fully documented and does not require oral explanation. The choice does not change the legal test, but it can affect how the evidence should be organised.

The enforcement authority usually relies on its written evidence pack and does not attend the hearing. The adjudicator can still question the appellant and test both parties' evidence.

Select the statutory ground that matches the type of PCN. Parking, bus lane, moving traffic and road-user charging cases do not all use identical grounds. The Notice of Rejection and appeal form identify the grounds available for that enforcement scheme.

The written appeal should state:

1. What the authority alleges.
2. Which statutory ground applies.
3. Which material facts are disputed.
4. What each item of evidence proves.
5. Which procedural or legal requirement was not met.
6. The outcome requested from the adjudicator.

Mitigation should be distinguished from a statutory appeal ground. An adjudicator can consider the evidence and may recommend that an authority reconsider compelling mitigation, but cannot normally allow an appeal on sympathy alone where no statutory ground is established.

Evidence depends on the alleged contravention. It may include photographs of signs and road markings, council video, payment records, permits, loading documents, Blue Badge evidence, witness statements, repair records, medical evidence, location data or the relevant Traffic Management Order.

Label every item and refer to it in the written grounds. A large file without explanation leaves the adjudicator to guess why it matters. A clear chronology should connect the PCN, representations, Notice of Rejection and supporting documents.

London Tribunals permits evidence to be added after registration, but advises that it should be submitted before the hearing or expected paper decision. Its published pages use five and six-day guidance in different contexts. The practical rule is to upload the complete evidence as early as possible and not leave material until the final week.

The quickest method is the online appeal portal linked from the London Tribunals appeal guidance. Keep the confirmation screen, case reference and a copy of every uploaded file.

Where a paper appeal is required, send the completed appeal form and copies of the evidence to:

Head of Support Services London Tribunals PO Box 460 Hartlepool TS24 4JE

Do not send an appeal to the hearing centre at 24 Martin Lane. London Tribunals also says appeals and evidence must not be sent through its general contact form or by email. The published email address is for queries, not filing an appeal.

Tribunal staff check the submission and register the case. The enforcement authority is notified and must supply its evidence. The appellant receives case details and the scheduled hearing date or expected paper-decision date.

The authority evidence pack may include the PCN history, photographs, video, Traffic Management Order extracts, correspondence, representations, Notice of Rejection and a case summary. Read it as soon as it arrives. New assertions, missing documents or contradictions should be answered before adjudication.

The complete sequence after registration is explained in the London Tribunals Appeal Process.

The official 2024/25 ETA workbook records 772 invalid appeals. London Tribunals defines invalid cases as appeals that cannot be scheduled, including some out-of-time submissions, incomplete appeals, duplicate appeals and cases filed by an unauthorised third party.

If the online verification code fails, confirm that the vehicle registration and PCN number match the Notice of Rejection exactly. If an authorised representative is filing the appeal, provide the required authority. If a document is missing, supply it immediately with the tribunal case reference.

For procedural queries, London Tribunals publishes queries@londontribunals.org.uk. That address must not be used as a substitute for the online or postal appeal method. Record the date, time and substance of any query so the submission history remains clear.