Paying a Penalty Charge Notice
The penalty charge notice must be paid within 28 days from the date on which it is served. However, the payment is discounted by 50% (to £25 or £35) if paid within 14 days.
The quickest way to pay is with a debit or credit card using our secure online payment system.
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES: WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF TEXT MESSAGES BEING SENT REQUESTING PAYMENT FOR UNPAID PARKING NOTICES THAT INCLUDE LINKS TO COPYCAT WEBSITES. SEFTON COUNCIL DOES NOT USE TEXT MESSAGING TO RECOVER UNPAID PARKING CHARGES. PLEASE CHECK CAREFULLY BEFORE PAYING A PARKING CHARGE AND IF YOU'RE UNSURE PLEASE EMAIL US TO CHECK.
MASTERCARD PAYMENT ISSUES: DUE TO AN INTERMITTANT ISSUE AFFECTING CARD PAYMENTS, SOME MASTERCARD TRANSACTIONS MAY BE UNEXPECTEDLY DECLINED. IF YOUR PAYMENT IS DECLINED PLEASE USE AN ALTERNATIVE CARD OR CONTACT US BY EMAIL.
IPHONE USERS: WHEN USING SAFARI OUR ONLINE PORTAL MAY SOMETIMES LOAD INCORRECTLY SHOWING BLACK LINES ACROSS TEXT. PLEASE USE AN ALTERNATIVE BROWSER IF THIS OCCURS.
If you cannot use the online payment system you can pay your PCN:
- BY PHONE on 0151 934 4697 – this is an automated phone line (available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week)
- BY POST by sending a cheque or postal order to Parking Services, PO Box 225, Bootle, L20 3WD (please put your reference number on the back).
The Council enforces parking restrictions within the borough under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Information regarding civil parking enforcement is available on the PATROL website, which can be accessed here.
Penalty charge notices are usually served by being attached to the windscreen or handed to the driver. However if the officer cannot serve the notice in one of these ways because the vehicle is driven away or someone prevents them from doing so in another way, the notice may be served through the post.
The liability for paying the parking penalty lies with the owner of the vehicle (as named by the DVLA) even if they were not the driver at the time, except for hire vehicles under a hire agreement.
Please see the appeals page here.