Escalated Penalty Charge Notice

Hello. I write on behalf of someone elderly who received a PCN from their local council.

They appealed the PCN by email, to the council's email address provided in the PCN letter.

They followed up with another email asking for an acknowledgment.

They received an acknowldegment from the council clearly stating their PCN was on hold until a decision was made about their appeal by the adjudicator.

No decision outcome was recieved. Instead a Charge Certificate was receieved increasing the fine and threatening that is the fine was not paid, a court order for bailiffs to take possession of items to cover the fine plus additional fees could occur.

They emailed the council again stating they received no appeal outcome providing the email they sent as evidence that the PCN was on hold.

There has still been no response for over a week.

They also phoned the council and the council told them they sent an email with the decision rejecting the appeal.

No rejection email was apparently received and they had people check all the email folders e.g. deleted, spam and junk, archived, etc.

They would like to know if:

1) they should pay the increased PCN fine charge certificate and write a recorded postal letter and email, saying the payment is under protest and not accepting of guilt of the increased fine charge certificate, but only accepting the original fine.

And also that they be reimbursed the difference by the council or face escalation to the local government ombudsman because they did not receive the rejection decision.

or

2) they should they wait for the next escalation stage? Although they have concerns whether correspondences are being sent and received by the council properly and that bailiffs will visit.

Thanks.