Apply for a parking fine refund

On this page
About parking fines
Why are the council giving refunds?
Check if you qualify for a refund
How to apply for a refund
FAQs

About parking fines

A parking fine issued by the council is called a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). A PCN is given to a driver in the form of a ticket, usually stuck to your car window or sent to you in the post.

Parking offences include:

stopping or parking on a Red Route
parking outside a designated parking bay
parking without paying the meter
parking in a Blue Badge parking bay without a Blue Badge

The council can only enforce parking restrictions and issue PCNs if a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is in place. A TRO is a legal rule that sets out where and when parking restrictions apply on roads.

Why are the council giving refunds?

Reading Borough Council recently found that five Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) were not properly in place on certain roads in Reading. This means that PCNs issued under these rules were not valid. The error has affected 6,136 PCNs, in some cases dating back to 2013.

We sincerely apologise to all those who are affected. To correct this mistake, we are offering refunds for the incorrectly issued PCNs with added interest. Continue reading to check if you qualify and find out how to apply for a refund.

Check if you qualify for a refund

You may be eligible for a refund if you received a PCN for parking on one of the affected roads, from 2013 onwards.

To check if you qualify:

look up the date your PCN was issued

check that the contravention code is valid

compare your PCN location with the affected areas and roads

These details can be found:

on the original PCN notice, as highlighted on the image shown

in your receipt email, if you paid online

on your receipt, if you paid by postal order

I can’t find my PCN details

graphic image of a PCN ticket with highlighted elements

Valid contravention codes

Each parking offence has it’s own number, this is called a contravention code. The codes help the council to quickly identify the type of parking offence.

Only PCNs issued for the following codes on the affected roads qualify for a refund:

01 – Parking on double yellow lines
02 – Parking on double yellow lines with a loading ban
12 – Parking in a shared bay without a permit or displaying a ticket
16 – Parking in a permit holders only bay without a permit or displaying a ticket
19 – Parking in a shared bay without a permit, displaying a ticket or exceeding the time limit
25 – Parking in a loading bay during restricted hours
46 – Stopping or parking on red lines
62 – Parking on a verge

PCNs issued for bus lanes and moving traffic offences must still be paid or challenged in accordance with the details on your notice. Pay and display bays are not included and do not qualify for a refund.

Affected areas and roads

Red Route East – Adjoining roads to Kings Road, Wokingham Road and more

All locations on this route are listed below. If you received a PCN for parking in any of these areas from 16 July 2018, you may be eligible for a refund.

Please note: pay and display bays are not included and do not qualify for a refund.

Belle Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Brackendale Way
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Bulmershe Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

College Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Crescent Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Culver Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Eastern Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Eldon Road
Junction with Kings Road only

Eldon Street
Junction with Kings Road only

Fatherson Road
Junction with Kings Road only

Granby Gardens
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Grange Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Green Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Hamilton Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Heath Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Holmes Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Kennet Side
Junction with Watlington Street only

Kennet Street
Junction with Kings Road only

Kings Road
From the London Road junction to Bembridge Place junction, and from the Duncan Place junction to Cumberland Road junction

Kingsgate Street
Junction with Kings Road only

London Road
Around the Cemetery Junction area only: on the junction with Wokingham Road and between Cumberland Road and Amity Road

Melrose Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Montague Street
Junction with Kings Road only

Orts Road
Junction with Kings Road only

Palmer Park Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Pitcroft Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Queens Road
Area between Kings Road and Watlington Street

Rupert Street
Junction with Kings Road only

St Bartholomew’s Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

St Johns Street
Junction with Queens Road only

St Johns Hill
Junction with Queens Road only

St Peters Road
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Talford Avenue
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Tuns Hill Cottages
Junction with Wokingham Road only

Victoria Street
Junction with Kings Road only

Watlington Street
Between Queens Road and Kings Road only

Wokingham Road
Entire length of road

View map of affected roads

Does your PCN match any of the affected locations?

Apply for a refund

Swainstone Road and Waldeck Street

If you received a PCN for parking on either of these roads from 01 March 2016, you may be eligible for a refund.

Please note: pay and display bays are not included and do not qualify for a refund.

Swainstone Road
Waldeck Street

View map of affected roads

Does your PCN match any of the affected locations?

Apply for a refund

Tilehurst – Affected roads

All roads applicable in Tilehurst are listed below. If you received a PCN for parking on a verge on any of these roads from 08 November 2013, you may be eligible for a refund.

Please note: pay and display bays are not included and do not qualify for a refund.

Church End Lane
Lower Elmstone Drive
Mayfair

Norcot Road
Between Church End Lane and School Road

Oak Tree Road

Overdown Road
Between Kentwood Hill and Brooksby Road

Park Lane

Recreation Road
Between the car park entrance and School Road

School Road

The Meadway
Between Church End Lane and Mayfair

Westwood Road

View map of affected roads

Does your PCN match any of the affected locations?

Apply for a refund

Southcote – Affected roads

All roads applicable in Southcote are listed below. If you received a PCN for parking on a verge on any of these roads from 10 August 2016, you may be eligible for a refund.

Please note: pay and display bays are not included and do not qualify for a refund.

Ashampstead Road
Brunel Road
Circuit Lane
Frilsham Road
Gainsborough Road
Southcote Lane
Virginia Way

View map of affected roads

Does your PCN match any of the affected locations?

Apply for a refund

Red Route West – Specific locations on Oxford Road

If you received a PCN between 18 May 2018 and 24 May 2018 for parking on red lines on Oxford Road and/or the adjoining roads, you could be eligible for a refund.

Important Note: Only 13 PCNs are affected in this location. If your PCN meets the criteria, please email parking.services@reading.gov.uk and include:

subject header: ‘West Reading Red Route TRO Issue’

your first and last name

PCN number (optional)

PCN date

PCN location

vehicle registration

PCN amount / proof of payment

We will need to review and validate your claim, so we may be in contact to request further information.

Town Centre PCNs remain valid and will not be refunded.

How to apply for a refund

We have made the refund process as easy as possible. First, check that you qualify for a refund. If your PCN matches the criteria, submit your refund request. If your claim is approved, we will contact you to ask for your bank details. The refund, along with calculated interest, will be transferred directly into your bank account within 28 days of applying.

graphic image showing the refund process with icons: check that you qualify, submit refund request, approval, provide payment details, receive your refund

What you’ll need

To apply for a refund, you will need:

a valid email address or phone number

the address you were living at when the PCN was issued

proof of payment e.g. screenshot of an email receipt or associated bank statement

In addition, you will need:

PCN number (optional)

date the PCN was issued

location the PCN was issued

vehicle registration number

These details can be found on the original PCN, as highlighted in the image shown, or on your payment receipt/email.

I can’t find my PCN details

Apply for a refund online

Completing the online form is the quickest way to apply for a refund. If you have multiple PCNs that are affected, you will need to submit each claim individually.

We will email you to let you know if it has been approved. The approval email will also include a secure link to provide your bank details. The refund, along with calculated interest, will be transferred directly into your bank account within 28 days of applying.

Apply for a refund

Apply for a refund in person

If you are unable to complete the online form, you can apply for a refund in person at the Reading Borough Council Civic Offices. Please bring all the required information with you.

Civic Offices address and opening times

If you are unable to attend in person, we can help you to request a refund over the phone. Contact us on 0118 937 3077 and select the option for invalid TRO claims. You will be required to post proof of payment to us.

If your application is approved, we will contact you via phone to ask for your bank details. The refund, along with calculated interest, will be transferred directly into your bank account within 28 days of applying.

Please do not send us your bank details in the post.

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t find my PCN details, can I apply for a refund?

We need the PCN date, location, vehicle registration and proof of payment as a minimum requirement. Without these details we are unable to investigate and validate your claim, which means we can’t process a refund.

How long will it take to receive a refund?

Once submitted, your claim will need to be reviewed. We will let you know whether your claim has been approved and contact you to ask for your bank details. The refund, along with calculated interest, will be transferred directly into your bank account within 28 days of applying.

I’m unsure if my PCN is affected, should I apply for a refund?

Yes. If you have checked your PCN details and the affected locations and you are still not sure, you can apply for a refund. We will let you know whether your claim is approved or rejected.

Apply for a refund

I no longer own the vehicle, can I still apply for a refund?

Yes. We are refunding the person who paid the original fine. Whether you still own the vehicle or not doesn’t matter.

Apply for a refund

I paid the bailiff/enforcement agents, can I apply for a refund?

If you paid your PCN directly to the bailiff/enforcement agents, we will contact you directly to inform you how to receive your refund.

If we haven’t contacted you by 14 November 2023, please contact us at parking.services@reading.gov.uk using ‘TRO issues’ in the subject header of your email.

I haven’t paid my PCN yet, what should I do?

You do not need to take any action. Any outstanding PCNs that are affected are currently on hold and will be cancelled. All other PCNs must still be paid or challenged as outlined on the notice received.

What if I was driving a hire/lease/company vehicle?

Refunds will only be issued to those who paid the original fines. If a hire/lease/company vehicle fine was paid for by a company, you should contact them directly to ask them to apply for a refund.

I have multiple PCNs that are affected, how should I apply?

If you have multiple PCNs that are affected, you will need to submit each claim individually.

Apply for a refund

My refund application was rejected, what can I do?

A rejection to your claim is final and cannot be appealed.

If you would like to make a complaint, you can do so directly to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Can I get a refund for my bus lane / moving traffic fine?

No. Only PCNs issued for parking on the affected roads qualify for a refund.

What proof of payment is required?

If you paid your PCN online, you will have received an email receipt to confirm successful payment. Alternatively, you can include a copy of the associated bank statement. You can use either of these as proof of payment.

If you paid your PCN by postal order and you still have the receipt, please include this with your claim.

If you paid your PCN by cheque, please include a copy of the associated bank statement with your claim.

If you paid your PCN by telephone, please include a copy of the associated bank statement with your claim.

How will refunds be made?

Once your claim has been approved, we will contact you to ask for your bank details. If you don’t have a bank account, there will be an option on the form to let us know. We will contact you for more details and arrange an alternative payment method. The refund, along with calculated interest, will be transferred directly into your bank account within 28 days of applying.

How is the interest calculated?

Interest is calculated based on the Bank of England’s base rate (minus 0.1%) from the date you paid the PCN until the date we approved your claim. We use compound interest, which means the interest is added to the amount over time.

Please note that the amounts shown in the tables below are examples. Interest amounts may vary depending on the details of each individual claim. The final amount will be calculated based on your payment date, amount and the applicable interest rate at the time.

Red Route East – example interest amounts

Date PCN issued	Date PCN approved	PCN original amount	Interest	Total refund
12/07/2018	28/10/2024	£35	£4.15	£39.15
12/07/2018	28/10/2024	£70	£8.31	£78.31

Swainstone Road and Waldeck Street – example interest amounts

Date PCN issued	Date PCN approved	PCN original amount	Interest	Total refund
01/03/2016	28/10/2024	£35	£4.40	£39.40
01/03/2016	28/10/2024	£70	£8.81	£78.81

Southcote – example interest amounts

Date PCN issued	Date PCN approved	PCN original amount	Interest	Total refund
09/08/2015	28/10/2024	£35	£4.49	£39.49
09/08/2015	28/10/2024	£70	£8.98	£78.98

Tilehurst – example interest amounts

Date PCN issued	Date PCN approved	PCN original amount	Interest	Total refund
08/11/2015	28/10/2024	£35	£4.45	£39.45
08/11/2015	28/10/2024	£70	£8.90	£78.90