Transport for London (26 007 502)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about Transport for London’s handling of a Penalty Charge Notice. This is because Mr X used the representations and appeals procedure and the adjudicator cancelled the Penalty Charge Notice.
The complaint
- Mr X complains Transport for London (TFL) did not properly consider his representations about a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
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 has 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 use this right. If the person has already appealed we have no power to investigate. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- London Tribunals considers parking and moving traffic offence appeals for London, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and Transport for London.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says TFL has accepted it did not consider his representations properly but refused to offer a financial remedy.
- We will not investigate this complaint because Mr X used the representations and appeals procedure and the adjudicator cancelled the PCN. There is nothing more we could achieve for Mr X.
- Mr X appealed and we will not investigate the individual steps in the process.
- Mr X also complains about poor complaint handling. It is not proportionate for us to investigate ancillary maters if we are not investigating the substantive issue.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because Mr X used the representations and appeals procedure and the adjudicator cancelled the PCN. There is nothing more we could achieve for Mr X.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman