Council Fine CheckWhat Merton enforces
- Parking
- Enforces — officers and mobile CCTV units
- Bus lanes / gates
- Enforces — network of CCTV cameras
- Moving traffic
- Enforces — restricted routes, banned turns and yellow box junctions
- Penalty level
- London charge levels (London Councils)
- Appeals
- London Tribunals (free)
About Merton PCNs
Merton has separate guidance for parking, bus lane and moving traffic PCNs. A parking PCN from an officer can be paid at 50% within 14 days; Merton says a parking PCN based on an approved device such as a mobile CCTV unit gets 21 days at the discount. Bus lane and moving traffic PCNs, which come from its CCTV cameras, get 14 days. Moving traffic cameras cover restricted routes, banned turns and yellow box junctions.
If you challenge within 14 days and Merton rejects it, the council gives another 14 days to pay the discount (21 days for a CCTV parking PCN). A challenge after 14 days that fails means the full charge. For an officer-issued parking PCN or a bus lane PCN, if the early challenge fails you can wait for the Notice to Owner or Enforcement Notice and make formal representations at the full rate. A parking PCN sent by post is both the PCN and the Notice to Owner, so your challenge to it is already formal.
Challenge online, where you can also see the photos and footage, or by a signed and dated letter to Merton Parking Services at the Civic Centre, quoting the PCN number. Merton will not take challenges by phone or in person, and once a Notice to Owner or postal PCN is served it only corresponds with the registered keeper unless the keeper names a representative. If representations are rejected, you can appeal free to London Tribunals; if you lose, you get 28 days to pay the full charge.
How to challenge a Merton PCN
- Check the deadline. A camera PCN sent by post gets a 50% discount if paid within 14 days; representations are normally due within 28 days of the notice being served.
- Make representations to the council using its online challenge form or by post to Merton Parking Services, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden SM4 5DX. Quote the PCN number and the grounds that apply.
- If rejected, appeal to London Tribunals within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator is independent of Merton.
London penalty levels from 7 April 2025: Band A £160/£110, Band B £140/£90; bus lane and moving traffic £160 (London Councils).
Questions
How long is the discount on a Merton CCTV parking PCN?
Merton says 21 days from the date of issue for a parking PCN based on an approved device such as a mobile CCTV unit, and 14 days for other PCNs.
Is the discount offered again if Merton rejects my challenge?
Yes, if Merton received your challenge within 14 days: it gives another 14 days (21 for CCTV parking PCNs) to pay the discount.
Can I challenge a Merton PCN by phone?
No. Merton accepts representations online or by signed and dated letter only.
Where do I appeal a Merton PCN if my challenge is rejected?
To London Tribunals, which is independent of the council. Appeals are free and must normally be made within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection.