How to pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
The Penalty Charge is either £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days) or £50 (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days). Please ensure that payment made is for the correct amount.
We do not accept payment by instalments.
A list is available of all standard contraventions and the Penalty Charge which applies (whether it is the higher band of £70 or the lower band of £50). Click on the link below to view the list.
Unpaid Penalty Charge Notices are a civil debt recoverable in the same way as any other debt. The Council employ bailiffs to recover unpaid parking debt.
If you have been contacted by a bailiff/debt recovery agency, please ensure that payment is made to them. We will not accept payment for any Penalty Charge Notices that have reached this stage.
You can pay your Penalty Charge Notice in any of the following ways:
Online
You can pay by credit/debit card using our online payments system (new window)
(Please note: this will take you to part of the NCP Services website who take payments on behalf of Northamptonshire County Council).
By Phone
You can pay by phone by calling our 24-hour automated telephone line on 0845 6800153 and selecting the relevant option for payments. Please have your credit/debit card details and also the relevant Penalty Charge Notice number.
By Post
If paying by Cheque or Postal Order, please make your cheque payable to Northamptonshire County Council and post to the address shown on the right:
Please ensure that you quote the Penalty Charge Notice number on the back of the cheque/postal order. Please allow 2 working days for 1st class post and 5 working days for 2nd class post. If you would like a receipt please forward a stamped addressed envelope.
In Person
You should take your payments and Penalty Charge Notice to the Parking Shop which is based at:
Midsummer House
5 Riverside Way
Bedford Road
Northampton
NN1 5NX
The Parking Shop is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 1:30pm on Saturdays (excluding bank or public holidays).
What happens to the money collected from payment of Penalty Charge Notices?
The money raised from parking enforcement is used to fund the cost of the service. Any surplus raised is used for highway and environmental improvements. Civil Enforcement Officers do not receive bonuses for the number of the Penalty Charge Notices they issue.