Appeal a Charge Certificate

Yes. A Charge Certificate must be cancelled if the local authority was not legally entitled to issue it.

This commonly occurs where:

• An appeal or representation had already been submitted

• An appeal was still being processed

• The authority failed to respond to an appeal within the required time

• The Charge Certificate was issued too early

• Earlier statutory notices were never served

In these situations, the authority has escalated the charge unlawfully.

Challenging an incorrect Charge Certificate can stop enforcement and prevent the case progressing to debt registration.

Stop Unlawful Escalation

If the Charge Certificate was issued incorrectly, enforcement should not continue.

Restore Appeal Rights

Correctly handling this stage can return the case to the appeal or tribunal process.

Prevent Further Enforcement

If left unchecked, a Charge Certificate can lead to an Order for Recovery and enforcement action.

The cost depends on how much support you want.

• DIY Penalty Charge Appeal from £9.99
  You receive an appeal pack that includes a legal assessment, tailored appeal documents, and clear instructions for council and tribunal appeals.

• Appeal Representation from £39.99
  We assess your case and handle the appeal process on your behalf, including representations to the council and appeals to the parking tribunal where appropriate.

• Bailiff and Enforcement Support from £99.99
  For cases that have escalated, we prepare and submit the required statutory and court documents to stop enforcement and restore your appeal rights where possible.

You can start by checking your Penalty Charge Notice and we will guide you to the most suitable option.

A Charge Certificate does not require an immediate response and cannot be appealed directly.

If it is not paid, the local authority must register the debt and issue an Order for Recovery.

At the Order for Recovery stage, you are entitled to respond on the basis that:

• An appeal or representation was submitted and not responded to

• An appeal was in progress when the Charge Certificate was issued

• You did not receive the Penalty Charge Notice or earlier notices

When this is done correctly:

• The case is automatically referred to the tribunal

• The Charge Certificate is cancelled

• The Penalty Charge Notice is cancelled or reset

• Enforcement is stopped

Paying a Charge Certificate immediately may seem like the safest option, but it can permanently remove your ability to challenge it.

A Charge Certificate increases the original Penalty Charge Notice by 50 percent. If it has been issued incorrectly, it should be cancelled and the increased charge should not be paid.

Before paying, it is important to understand that:

• Many Charge Certificates are issued unlawfully or too early

• Payment closes down the process, even if the Charge Certificate was invalid

• Once paid, the increased charge cannot usually be recovered

• Correctly challenging an invalid Charge Certificate can stop enforcement

If a Charge Certificate is cancelled, the increased amount is removed and, in many cases, the Penalty Charge Notice is also cancelled or reset. This can save up to £240, depending on the original penalty and enforcement stage.

Checking whether the Charge Certificate was issued correctly before paying ensures you do not pay an amount that the local authority was not entitled to demand.