If a charge certificate is not paid within 14 days, the authority in England and Wales can register the debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) in Northampton. You then receive an order for recovery. You have 21 days to pay or to file a statement. After that the authority can send enforcement agents.
The statements you can make
| Statement | England schemes (reg 19(2)) | London TfL schemes (reg 19(2)) |
|---|---|---|
| You did not receive the penalty charge notice | Yes | Yes |
| You made representations but got no notice of rejection | Yes | Yes |
| You appealed but had no response, or it was not decided before the charge certificate, or you won | Yes | No response only |
| You have paid the penalty | Yes | No |
The England regulations call it a witness statement; the London regulations call it a statutory declaration. Use the form the order tells you to use.
Forms and where to send them
GOV.UK says to use form TE13 for Dart Charge, Mersey Gateway and Clean Air Zone PCNs, and PE3 for London low emission zone PCNs. Send it within 21 days to the Traffic Enforcement Centre, Civil National Business Centre, St Katharine's House, 21-27 St Katharine's Street, Northampton NN1 2LH, or [email protected].
Out of time
If more than 21 days have passed, send form TE14 with TE13 (or PE3) explaining the delay, for example you only found out when an enforcement agent wrote. GOV.UK says enforcement agents will be told to stop while it is considered. If the authority refuses, the TEC reviews it; if the TEC refuses, you can ask a judge to review with form N244 within 14 days (fee £126, help with fees available).
If your statement is accepted
The order is revoked and the charge certificate cancelled. Depending on the statement, the PCN is cancelled, a new notice is issued, or the case goes to the adjudicator.
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Representation letter
Your formal challenge to the authority, citing each ground that fits with its regulation number, the evidence you enclose and a request to cancel.
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The representation, a tribunal appeal statement, replies at the charge certificate and debt registration stages, witness statement and out-of-time wording, and a bailiff fee check.
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Questions people ask
Does an order for recovery go on my credit file?
TfL says an order for recovery is not a county court judgment and will not affect your credit rating.
Sources
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against these official pages. How we check