Reading Borough Council (25 022 066)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 21 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s escalation of about a penalty charge notice. This is because Miss X can appeal to the Traffic Enforcement Centre and it reasonable for her to do so.
The complaint
- Miss X complains she did not receive correspondence from the Council regarding a penalty charge notice (PCN) issued in June 2025. Miss X says the first correspondence she received was a letter from enforcement agents (bailiffs) in December 2025.
- Miss X says she has had no right of appeal against the PCN and is unhappy about the increase in the amount of the penalty charge.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(c), as amended)
- The Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) is part of Northampton County Court. It considers applications from local authorities to pursue payment of unpaid PCNs and from motorists to challenge local authorities’ pursuit of unpaid PCNs.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Miss X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Because Miss X did not receive the Council’s correspondence about the PCN she may apply to the TEC to make a late witness statement/statutory declaration. If the TEC accepts Miss X’s application it may order the Council to take the process back to an earlier stage, reinstating her right of appeal and removing the basis for the increased charges and bailiffs’ fees. If the TEC refuses Miss X’s application she may apply for a review of its decision.
- I have seen nothing to show it would not be reasonable for Miss X to use this process, which is binding on both parties, and I will not therefore exercise my discretion to investigate this complaint.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it would be reasonable for her to take the matter to the TEC.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman