Transport for London and Bailiff Enforcement
Each month, a staggering 400,000 warrants of control are passed to bailiffs for non payment of a Penalty Charge Notice !! Of that number, over 1 million warrants (1,029,298) relate to non payment of a TfL penalty !! Also in the 12 months to July 2025, over 1,400 vehicles were seized by bailiffs for non payment of the daily ULEZ charge.
Which bailiff companies enforce warrants for Transport for London (TfL)?
If you have an unpaid Penalty Charge Notice issued by Transport for London that has been passed to bailiffs, it will be enforced by either CDER Group Ltd, Marston Holdings Ltd or Bristow & Sutor,
TfL Penalty Charge Notices start with the following 2 digit prefix’s
All Transport for London PCN’s will start with 2 digits followed by 8 numbers (or 7 numbers followed by the letter A). The 2 digit prefix for each contravention type is as follows:
For a TfL Congestion Charge PCN the two digit prefix will be either LP or TZ
For a ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) PCN the two digit prefix will be either XJ or YJ.
For a TfL Low Emission Zone PCN the two digit prefix will be LZ
If the PCN is for either the Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel, it will start with YJ 7
For a PCN issued ‘on street’ by an enforcement agent or for parking on a red route, will start with GF
If the TfL PCN was for a bus lane, yellow box and banned turn offence it will begin with G
My TfL PCN has been passed to bailiffs, how much will I have to pay
With effect from 1st May 2026 (when bailiff fees increased), if your unpaid ULEZ or Congestion Charge PCN has been passed to bailiffs, you will receive a Notice of Enforcement giving you a period of 14 ‘clear days’ to either pay the sum outstanding, or to set up a payment arrangement. The PCN debt will be £280. A Compliance Fee of £79 will be added to the debt increasing the amount payable to £359. If payment is not made (or a payment arrangement not set up) by the date and time outlined in the Notice of Enforcement, a enforcement agent/bailiff may make a personal visit to your home. At the time of the visit, an Enforcement fee of £247 will be charged bringing the total amount payable to £606.
Making a payment arrangement with bailiffs for a TFL PCN.
A payment arrangement with the enforcement company must be set up within the strict time frame (known as the ‘Compliance stage) outlined on the Notice of Enforcement. With effect from 1st May 2026, this period was extended and should now provide you a period of 14 ‘clear days’ to either pay the amount requested or alternatively; to set up a payment arrangement. The usual period of repayment is around 3 months.
Commentary from Bailiff Advice Online
Since 2006, Bailiff Advice Online has been providing assistance to members of the public faced with bailiff enforcement. If you have an enquiry regarding a PCN issued by Transport for London that is subject to bailiff enforcement, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can email a question to us in confidence using our online Enquiry Form. Alternatively, you can contact our free helpline. Details are on our Contact page.