Disputes — UK 2026
Two PCN Numbers for the Same Parking Event?
You parked once. You got two different PCN reference numbers. Or you paid one and they're chasing the other. This is a common back-office error from private parking firms — and it's disputable under UK law.
Quick path
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Start My Dispute — £19.99 →The legal position
Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 governs how private parking firms can recover charges from keepers (i.e. from the registered owner of the vehicle). Paragraph 8 makes it explicit: liability is for ONE parking charge per parking event.
If a firm has issued two PCN references that, in substance, relate to the same visit — same vehicle, same car park, same date, single entry and exit — they've breached the statute. They cannot recover both. They have to consolidate.
How to prove it's the same event
- Compare the dates and times on both PCNs. If they're within minutes of each other, it's almost certainly the same event with double-snapshot ANPR.
- Check the vehicle registration — same plate on both confirms one driver, one car.
- Note the location — same car park name on both = same event.
- If you have a payment record for one PCN, attach it. Demonstrating that you paid for the parking event closes the loop.
The dispute letter — what it should say
A solid dispute letter for this scenario:
- States the facts: one parking event on [date] at [location], vehicle registration [REG]
- References both PCN numbers and notes that both relate to the same event
- Cites paragraph 8 of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
- References BPA Code of Practice section 19 (ANPR consolidation)
- Demands cancellation of one PCN and written confirmation within 14 days
- States the consequence of non-compliance: escalation to POPLA, then complaint to the BPA, then small claims for harassment if pursued further
Frequently asked questions
Can a parking firm legally issue two PCNs for the same parking event?
No. Paragraph 8 of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 expressly limits the keeper's liability to ONE parking charge per parking event. If your records show one visit (one entry, one exit, one vehicle, one timeframe) and you've received two PCNs with different reference numbers, the second is procedurally invalid.
Why does this happen?
Most common: ANPR cameras produced two snapshots that the back-office processed as separate events (entry-only + exit-only instead of one matched pair). Second-most common: a windscreen ticket was issued AND a Notice to Keeper was generated from ANPR — both refer to the same event but get different PCN references in the firm's system.
I paid one of the PCNs. Now they're chasing the other. What do I do?
Don't pay the second one. Paying weakens your position. Send a formal dispute letter by recorded delivery quoting both PCN references, attaching your payment receipt for the paid one, and citing PoFA 2012 Schedule 4 paragraph 8. Demand cancellation of the unpaid PCN and written confirmation of closure within 14 days.
What if both PCNs are unpaid?
Same approach — dispute the second on the basis that it's a duplicate of the same parking event. The firm has to choose ONE PCN to enforce. Once you've forced them to consolidate, you can decide whether to pay the remaining one or appeal it on the original grounds.
Will the firm just admit the error?
Sometimes yes — sending a clear, well-cited dispute letter often results in cancellation within days, especially if you reference the BPA Code of Practice section 19 (record-keeping requirements). If they refuse, you can escalate to POPLA (free, independent appeals body for BPA members) within 28 days of any rejection.
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