You can pay your penalty charge notice online or by phone, by calling 01483 444455. You can also challenge your penalty charge notice online.
Nobody likes getting parking fines. Our aim will be to discourage inconsiderate and dangerous parking by providing good quality information and signs.
Who is responsible for paying the penalty charge notice?
The person who normally owns the vehicle will be responsible for any unpaid penalty charge. If you lend your car to a friend, you will still be responsible for any penalty charge.
How much is a penalty charge notice?
From 31 March 2008, differential parking penalties, depending upon the severity of the contravention will be introduced. Some less serious contraventions now attract a lower rate of penalty (£50), whilst others considered more serious are now penalised at a higher rate of £70. The 50% discount will remain for both types of contraventions. These rates apply within Guildford Borough Council but may differ in other local authorities.
|
Before
31 March 2008
|
After
31 March 2008
(Lower)
|
After
31 March 2008
(Higher)
|
Timescales
|
| £30 |
£25 |
£35 |
if you pay it within 14
days.
|
| £60 |
£50 |
£70 |
if you pay it between
15 days and 28 days.
|
| £60 |
£50 |
£70 |
if you pay it after we
have served you with a 'Notice to Owner' but before we have served you with a 'Charge Certificate', which is usually within 56 days. (See the 'What happens if I don't pay the penalty charge?' section below.)
|
| £90 |
£75 |
£105 |
if you pay it after we have served a 'Charge Certificate'.
|
| £95 |
£80 |
£110 |
if you pay it after it has been registered as a debt. |
If you don't pay your fine, it will be recovered as a civil debt through the County Court.
How do I appeal if I get a penalty charge notice?
There is an appeals system. For more information, visit the government's parking appeals website at www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk (this page opens in a new window).
In the first instance, motorists will appeal to us. If they are not satisfied with the reply we give them, and don't believe they should have received a parking fine, they can state their case in writing or in person to an independent adjudicator. The adjudicator will consider all of the information and decide whether or not the motorist should pay the fine.
What happens if I don't pay the penalty charge notice?
If we don’t receive a payment from you after 28 days, we will issue a ‘Notice to Owner’. This will be sent to the person who is registered by the DVLA as the owner of the vehicle. This document allows the owner to make a formal appeal, first to us and then to an independent adjudicator.
If the adjudicator supports the penalty charge notice, or the motorist does not appeal, we will issue a final reminder called a ‘Charge Certificate’ that increases the penalty by 50%. If the charge is still not paid, we can apply directly to a County Court for a warrant. We will then pass this to a Certificated Bailiff to enforce.
How can I avoid getting a penalty charge notice?
Dos:
- Check the signs and lines when you park.
- Make sure that a valid pay and display ticket or permit is clearly displayed on the windscreen (where necessary).
- Park within a marked bay within the car park or controlled parking zone.
- Carry loose change.
Don'ts:
- Assume you can park because other people have.
- Assume that you can stop for a short time on a yellow line.
- Assume restrictions don't apply on a bank holiday unless the sign says that bank holidays are excluded.
Don’t just think you’ll be okay - be sure of it.
To find out more about parking management arrangements, please contact the Parking Office.
The Parking Office
Bedford Road multi-storey car park
Level 2
Laundry Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4PX
Tel: 01483 444534
Email: parking@guildford.gov.uk