Transport for London (25 032 049)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 17 May 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the enforcement of a Penalty Charge Notice. Mr X used his right to appeal the matter to the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
The complaint
- Mr X says the Authority failed to follow the correct procedure for a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and denied them their right to appeal against it. They say the matter has wrongly progressed through the enforcement procedure.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes limits on what we can investigate.
- We cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court or use a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court or appeal. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26(6)(a) and (c), as amended)
- London Tribunals considers parking and moving traffic offence appeals for London, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England. The Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC), part of the county court, considers applications to set the PCN process back where there has been procedural fault.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information from the complainant and the Authority, and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X said the Authority sent a PCN to his neighbour’s address and not his own in error. When Mr X was informed about the issue, he appealed to the Traffic Enforcement Centre and made a statutory declaration that he had not received the PCN. The representations were accepted by the TEC. In response to the Ombudsman’s enquiries, the Authority said it will re-issue the PCN once it receives the revoking order from the TEC.
- Once Mr X receives the PCN, it will be open to him to pay the charge or contest it through the appeals process and, ultimately, the London Tribunals.
- Because Mr X used his right to appeal the matter to the TEC, the law says we cannot investigate.
Final decision
- We cannot investigate this complaint because the complainant has applied to the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman