ByeFine can take on a penalty notice that gives a written way to challenge it. A police notice other than a speeding one, a summons or anything naming a court hearing is different: ByeFine does not handle it, and you should not ignore it.
Who sent it, and what does it say?
- Who issued it: a council, a transport operator, a company or a public body.
- What it asks you to do, and by when.
- The law, byelaw or contract it says it relies on, if it names one.
- How it says you can challenge it, and where to send a challenge.
Which grounds work?
Because these notices differ, the grounds depend on the notice. Each applies only if it is true for you.
- The details on the notice are wrong or contradict each other.
- The notice does not say what it is issued under or how to challenge it.
- The charge is not yours to pay, for example the vehicle was not yours at the time.
- You had already paid, or had permission, and can show it.
Not sure which of these fit your notice? Check it free. You see the verdict and the deadline before you pay.
Which notices can I challenge in writing?
Many penalties and charges come with a written route to challenge them: a form on a website, an email address or a postal address. Examples are penalties at an airport, port, station, hospital or university. If the notice prints a written way to challenge it, ByeFine can usually take it on. A penalty fare on a train, tram or bus has its own guide.
A Fixed Penalty Notice is different. It can come from the police, a council or the DVSA, and disputing one means going to a magistrates' court. The back of the ticket explains how. For a police motoring ticket, a speeding ticket or a red light, phone or insurance ticket, ByeFine writes a letter to the force that you send yourself: each has its own guide.
ByeFine does not handle a police penalty that is not about driving, or anything that has reached a court. Read the notice and go by the dates printed on it. Citizens Advice gives free help and a solicitor can act for you.
What about papers from a court?
A summons, a claim form or a criminal charge names a court and usually a date. ByeFine does not handle these. Do not ignore them. GOV.UK says that if you do not respond to a money claim in time you might have to pay more or get a county court judgment.
Citizens Advice gives free help, and a solicitor can act for you. The court named on the document can explain how its own process works.
What does ByeFine do?
ByeFine reads the notice and says plainly whether it is one it can take on. If it is, it tells you free how strong a challenge looks, and if you go ahead and give your permission it writes the challenge from the notice and what you tell it, asking for the notice to be cancelled in full. Our team files it by the route printed on the notice.
If it is not, ByeFine says so, does not charge you and points you to where to get help. ByeFine is not a law firm and never appears at a hearing for you.
Last checked 13 October 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Always go by the dates printed on your own notice.
Common questions
Can ByeFine help with any penalty notice?
It can take on a penalty notice that gives a written way to challenge it, and it writes a letter you send yourself for a police motoring ticket. It does not handle a police penalty that is not about driving, a summons, a claim form, a criminal charge or anything where the only route is a court hearing.
How do I dispute a Fixed Penalty Notice?
A Fixed Penalty Notice can come from the police, a council or the DVSA, and disputing one means going to a magistrates' court. The back of the ticket explains how. For a police motoring ticket ByeFine writes a letter to the force that you send yourself: the speeding guide and the red light, phone and insurance guide explain.
What if I have been sent court papers?
ByeFine does not handle them, and you should not ignore them. Citizens Advice gives free help, a solicitor can act for you, and the court named on the document can explain its process.
Where this comes from
Written by the ByeFine editorial team from the official and tribunal pages below. Nothing here is copied from another appeal service. How we check our guides.