FAQs on parking in Cheltenham Borough Council car parks

What is a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)?

PCN’s are more commonly known as a parking ticket. These are issued by civil enforcement officers for vehicles parked in contravention of parking regulations.

Examples of when a PCN can be issued include:

  • Not parking within the bay markings
  • Not displaying a ticket or not paying by phone for parking in a pay and display car park
  • Parking in a disabled parking bay without displaying a Blue Badge and setting your time clock
  • Overstaying when your ticket has expired

I have lost my PCN number, what can I do?

Contact the parking team by emailing [email protected]. You will need to provide the following information:

  • vehicle registration number
  • date and time of parking
  • car park location

How do I pay a PCN?

  • Pay a PCN online 
  • Pay by phone using a credit or debit card – 0300 456 2774

When making a payment please ensure that you have your reference number to hand. This starts "IC". 

What happens if I do not pay my PCN?

Do not ignore a PCN it will not just go away.

  • If it remains unpaid after 28 days, the registered keeper will receive a Notice to Owner (NtO) and be given an opportunity to pay the full amount or make a formal representation.
  • If the registered keeper of the car does not pay, or respond, to the NtO within 28 days then a Charge Certificate will be issued and the original PCN amount will increase by 50%.
  • If after another 14 days the PCN remains unpaid, it will be registered as a debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). At this stage an additional £10.00 will be added to the amount owed.  You will then have a further 21 days to pay.
  • If payment remains outstanding after the 21 days your debt will be passed to the Enforcement Agents who will enforce the debt.

For more information about the process, please visit the PATROL (parking and traffic regulations outside London) website.

How do I challenge a PCN?

You can:

  • Challenge a PCN online
  • Challenge a PCN in writing to Parking Services, Cheltenham Borough Council, Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1PW
  • Challenge a PCN by email to [email protected] 

Please be aware that you may be asked to provide evidence in support of your challenge.

What happens if I cannot afford to pay?

We are not required to offer you a way of paying in instalments, however, each request will be reviewed individually. Any agreement that is made must be realistic so that the outstanding balance is paid as quickly as possible. 

If you are not in a position to pay, please contact us immediately.

Do civil enforcement officers have targets for the number of PCN’s they issue?

No. There are no targets set and no incentives based on the number of PCN’s issued.

Which parking payment app do you use?

All Cheltenham Borough Council operated car parks use PayByPhone only.

Who is liable for paying a PCN?

The registered keeper of the vehicle is liable for payment of a PCN.