Out of Time — Reopen at the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC)

When a council PCN has escalated past the appeal window — to a Charge Certificate, an Order for Recovery, or with bailiffs/enforcement agents involved — the ordinary challenge routes are closed and the only remaining route is the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) out-of-time mechanism, which can cancel the debt registration and any bailiff fees. PARKING contraventions use form TE7 (application for more time) + TE9 (witness statement), which do NOT need to be witnessed. MOVING-TRAFFIC and BUS-LANE contraventions use form PE2 (application for more time) + PE3 (statutory declaration), which MUST be witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths, solicitor or magistrate. Three statutory grounds only: (1) the recipient did not receive the PCN / Notice to Owner / Charge Certificate; (2) representations were made or an appeal lodged in time but no response was received; (3) the penalty was paid in full.

Legal basis

Civil Procedure Rules Part 75 and Practice Direction 75 (enforcement of road traffic penalty debts registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, Northampton). Parking: forms TE7 and TE9 (witness statement; not witnessed). Moving-traffic and bus-lane: forms PE2 and PE3 (statutory declaration; must be witnessed). The statement is filed at the TEC (tec@justice.gov.uk / 0300 123 1059), NOT the issuing authority, and is usually due within 21 days of the Order for Recovery (the TE7/PE2 asks for more time if that window has passed).

How to identify this in your case

The ticket or correspondence mentions a Charge Certificate, an Order for Recovery, a warrant of control, or contact from enforcement agents/bailiffs. At any of these stages the council PCN debt has been (or is about to be) registered at the TEC and only the out-of-time route remains.

Sample appeal wording

I am filing this statement at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, Northampton, in respect of PCN [PCN REFERENCE] issued by [AUTHORITY], vehicle [VEHICLE REGISTRATION]. I make this statement on the following statutory ground only: [ONE OF: I did not receive the Penalty Charge Notice / Notice to Owner / Charge Certificate; OR I made representations or appealed within the time allowed and received no response; OR I paid the penalty in full]. The facts stated are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I ask that the registration of this debt and any enforcement-agent fees be cancelled.

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.

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Sources

Civil Procedure Rules Part 75
Civil Procedure Rules Practice Direction 75
Traffic Enforcement Centre forms TE7 / TE9 (parking) and PE2 / PE3 (moving-traffic / bus-lane)