Order of Recovery of unpaid penalty charge
An Order of Recovery is a legal notice sent when a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has not been paid and no successful challenge has been made.
This notice allows the authority to take legal action to recover the money owed.
You cannot challenge the PCN at this stage.
What you can do
You have 21 days to:
- pay the PCN
- make a witness statement to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC)
If you do not take action, the case may be passed to enforcement agents (bailiffs). This could increase the total amount you have to pay.
Grounds for making a witness statement
You can make a witness statement if one of the following applies:
- you did not receive the Notice to Owner or the PCN
- you made representations about the PCN within 28 days of receiving the notice, but did not receive a response (Notice of Rejection)
- you appealed against the local authority’s decision to reject your representation within 28 days of receiving the Notice of Rejection, but have not received a response to your appeal
- you paid the charge shown on the Notice to Owner or PCN. You must include the date and method of payment (for example, cash or cheque)
How to make a witness statement
To make a witness statement, you must complete Form TE9 and send it to the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
Read the instructions and download the form on the Appeal against a penalty charge notice page on GOV.UK.
Page last updated: 18 September 2025
