It is the moment every driver dreads: you took the time to write a polite appeal, and the council sent back a generic letter saying, “Your challenge has been rejected.”
Most people pay at this point because they are afraid of the fine doubling. That is exactly what the council wants you to do.
Why You Should Consider Fighting On
Councils often reject “informal” challenges automatically. However, the statistics tell a different story. At the Independent Tribunal stage (where a professional lawyer reviews the case), over 50% of drivers win.
The Stages of the Fight
- Notice to Owner (NtO): After your informal challenge is rejected, the council will send a formal Notice to Owner. You can now make a “Formal Representation.”
- Notice of Rejection: if they reject the formal one, they must give you the forms to go to the Independent Tribunal (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators or Traffic Penalty Tribunal).
- The Tribunal: It’s free to go to the tribunal. You don’t have to attend in person; it can be done online or by phone. The 50% discount is usually lost at this stage, but the fine does not increase further.
When to Keep Fighting
If you have evidence (like photos of a broken ticket machine or a faded line), the council often “DNC” (Do Not Contest) the case once you reach the tribunal stage because they know they will lose.
Challenge rejected? Don’t pay a penny until you’ve run the council’s rejection letter through our app to find the flaws in their argument.