PCN Code 82: How to Challenge 'Paid Time Expired'

You paid for parking. You genuinely intended to be back before your ticket ran out. Maybe the meeting overran, the queue at the till was longer than expected, or you simply lost track of time. And now there's a Penalty Charge Notice tucked under your wiper — or worse, waiting in your inbox — telling you that you've been hit with a fine for contravention code 82: parked after the expiry of paid-for time.

It feels deeply unfair, especially when you did pay. But here's the thing: a code 82 PCN is one of the more challengeable off-street parking penalties out there — if you know what to look for and how to respond. This guide walks you through exactly that.

What Is PCN Code 82?

Code 82 applies exclusively to off-street locations — council-operated car parks, rather than on-street bays. It means the parking attendant (or more commonly, an ANPR camera) recorded your vehicle still present after the paid session had ended.

It's closely related to code 80 (parked beyond the maximum stay) and code 84 (insufficient payment), but code 82 is specifically about time running out on a ticket or app session you already purchased. Think: you paid for two hours via PayByPhone or RingGo, your session expired at 2:30pm, and the warden observed your car at 2:47pm.

The legal basis sits under the Traffic Management Act 2004, which gives councils in England and Wales the power to enforce off-street parking contraventions through civil — not criminal — penalties.

The Grace Period: Your First Line of Defence

Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (as amended), councils must allow a 10-minute grace period after a paid session expires before issuing a PCN. This is a mandatory protection, not a courtesy — and many drivers don't realise it exists.

So if your PayByPhone session ended at 2:30pm and the PCN was issued at 2:38pm, you have a strong case. The warden should not have issued that notice.

Pro tip: The grace period clock starts from when your paid time expires, not from when the warden first observed the vehicle. If the PCN timestamp shows fewer than 10 minutes after expiry, challenge it immediately at the informal stage.

Common Scenarios Where Code 82 PCNs Are Issued

Understanding how these fines arise helps you spot weaknesses in the council's case:

• App session expired without auto-renewal — PayByPhone and RingGo sessions don't automatically extend. If you forgot to top up and the system didn't remind you in time, the session lapses.
• ANPR-triggered enforcement — Many modern council car parks use cameras to log entry and exit. If your exit time exceeds your paid session, a PCN is automatically generated. These systems occasionally misread plates or log incorrect timestamps.
• Ticket machine receipts with unclear expiry times — Physical pay-and-display tickets sometimes print in formats that are genuinely ambiguous (e.g., 24-hour vs 12-hour clock errors).
• Bank or app payment failures — You attempted to pay but the transaction didn't complete. This crosses into code 84 territory, but can also trigger a code 82 if partial time was logged.

Evidence to Gather Before You Appeal

Before you write a single word to the council, gather everything you can. A well-evidenced challenge is far more likely to succeed than a purely emotional one.

Here's what you need:

1. Screenshot of your parking app session — PayByPhone, RingGo, JustPark and others all record session start and end times. Download or screenshot this immediately; some apps archive sessions for only 30–60 days.
2. Bank or card statement — Shows the exact time the payment was processed and the amount charged.
3. Photos of the car park signage — Was the maximum stay period clearly displayed? Were the payment instructions legible? Poor or ambiguous signage is a valid ground for challenge.
4. The PCN itself — Note the exact time of issue and compare it against your session expiry.
5. Photos of the car park layout — If ANPR is in use, were the cameras clearly signed? Councils are required to display notices informing drivers that ANPR is in operation.
6. Any app error messages or notifications — Did PayByPhone send you a session expiry reminder that arrived late? Did RingGo fail to process an extension request?

Pro tip: If you use a parking app, check whether it logged any failed extension attempts. A technical error on the app's end — rather than your failure to act — significantly strengthens your appeal.

Grounds for Challenging a Code 82 PCN

Not every challenge will succeed, but these are the strongest arguments:

1. The Grace Period Wasn't Observed

As covered above — if the PCN was issued within 10 minutes of your session expiry, the council has breached its statutory duty. Cite this clearly in your informal challenge.

2. ANPR Camera Error

Cameras misread number plates more often than councils admit. If you have evidence you left the car park before or shortly after your session expired, request the CCTV footage. Councils are obliged to provide it under a Subject Access Request (SAR) if you ask.

3. Signage Was Inadequate or Misleading

If the signs in the car park didn't clearly state the payment terms, maximum stay, or how to extend a session, this undermines the council's ability to enforce. Take photos of every relevant sign — or its absence.

4. Payment Was Made But Not Registered

App glitches happen. If your bank statement shows a successful payment but the council's system has no record of it, this is a strong case for cancellation. Attach both your app screenshot and bank statement as evidence.

5. Mitigating Circumstances

Councils have discretion to cancel PCNs on compassionate grounds — a medical emergency, a vehicle breakdown, or a sudden welfare situation. These aren't guaranteed to work, but they're worth raising with supporting evidence (e.g., a hospital letter or breakdown service receipt).

The Appeals Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Informal Challenge (Within 14 Days)

Write to the council within 14 days of the PCN issue date to benefit from the 50% discounted penalty. This is your informal challenge — it doesn't require formal language, but it must be clear and evidence-based.

State your grounds, attach your evidence, and ask for the PCN to be cancelled. Many councils will accept well-evidenced challenges at this stage without escalating.

Step 2: Formal Representations (After a Notice to Owner)

If your informal challenge is rejected, the council will issue a Notice to Owner (NtO). You then have 28 days to make formal representations. This is a more structured process — your grounds must align with the statutory categories set out in the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Step 3: Traffic Penalty Tribunal (Independent Appeal)

If formal representations are rejected, the council must issue a Notice of Rejection. You then have 28 days to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (outside London) or London Tribunals (inside London). This is a free, independent process — and adjudicators overturn a significant proportion of cases where evidence is strong.

What Not to Do

• Don't ignore the PCN. Unpaid fines escalate quickly — from 50% discount to full amount to a Charge Certificate adding 50% more.
• Don't pay if you intend to appeal. Paying is treated as acceptance of liability and ends your right to challenge.
• Don't rely on verbal explanations. Everything must be in writing, with evidence attached.

Actionable Next Steps

1. Check the PCN timestamp against your session expiry — calculate whether the 10-minute grace period was honoured.
2. Screenshot your parking app session right now before the record disappears.
3. Photograph the car park signage if you can return safely to do so.
4. Write your informal challenge within 14 days, attaching all evidence clearly labelled.
5. Keep copies of everything — every letter, email, screenshot, and photo.

A code 82 PCN isn't automatically a lost cause. With the right evidence and a clear, methodical approach, you have a genuine chance of getting it cancelled — and saving yourself anywhere from £25 to £70 in the process.