Errors that are likely to invalidate the charge
- —Wrong vehicle registration: If the PCN names a different VRM to your vehicle, it was issued to the wrong vehicle. The charge cannot be transferred to you. Write to the operator with proof of your actual registration and request cancellation.
- —Wrong vehicle make or colour (ANPR tickets): If the operator's ANPR system misread the plate and the notice describes a different vehicle, this is an identification error. Request the ANPR data and compare.
- —PCN not served correctly: For windscreen tickets, the notice must be placed on the vehicle. For ANPR tickets, the Notice to Keeper must be sent to the correct address within the POFA deadlines. Failure on either counts invalidates keeper liability.
- —Charge amount wrong: If the PCN states a different amount from the operator's published schedule, or if a discount was applied incorrectly, the stated amount may not be enforceable.
Errors that are minor but still worth raising
- —Slightly wrong date or time: A minor timestamp error (e.g., 1 minute off) won't void the ticket but shows sloppiness and may support other grounds.
- —Misspelled location: An error in the location description is worth noting — if the described location doesn't match where you were parked, raise it.
- —Operator name wrong: Rare, but if the PCN names a company that isn't the landowner's operator, there may be an authority question.
- —Missing mandatory information: Private PCNs must contain certain prescribed information. Check the BPA/IPC code — any missing required field is a procedural ground.
What courts say about minor errors
Courts generally apply a 'substantial compliance' test — minor, immaterial errors don't void a notice if the substance of what's required is present. However, errors in fundamental information (VRM, keeper identity, amount, legal basis) are treated as material defects. The distinction matters: a typo in a street name is unlikely to help you, but a wrong registration number is almost certainly fatal to the charge.
How to use errors in your appeal
Document the error precisely in your appeal letter. For a VRM error, include photos of your vehicle's registration plate alongside the PCN. For a timing error, include any evidence you have of the actual times (parking receipts, CCTV timestamps, phone location data). Quote the specific field that's wrong and state clearly that the notice does not correctly identify your vehicle or the alleged contravention.
Council PCNs: stricter requirements
Council PCNs issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004 must contain specific prescribed particulars. An error in any prescribed particular that materially prejudices the recipient's ability to understand and respond to the notice can be a ground for cancellation on procedural impropriety grounds. Councils must follow their own statutory process precisely — they have less latitude for error than private operators.
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