London Borough of Havering (25 010 842)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 20 Nov 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about penalty charge notice. This is because Mr X has appealed so we cannot consider it.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council failed to properly assess his representation against a PCN it issued. He says it referred to the wrong type of vehicle. This caused him stress and a higher fine. He wants the Council to properly consider his appeal.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended).
- London Tribunals considers parking and moving traffic offence appeals for London.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council issued a PCN to Mr X as it said his vehicle was seen in a street which prohibited HGVs at certain times.
- Mr X made formal representations against the PCN. He said his vehicle was not an HGV. The Council rejected Mr X’s appeal and gave details how to appeal.
- Mr X complained to the Council he had now appealed but it was unfair to increase the charge to £250. The Council replied that the correct procedure was to appeal via the statutory appeals process.
- M X has used his right of appeal and as I have set out in paragraph 2 we cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he has used his right of appeal to London Tribunals.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman