Congestion Charge

[deemacperth]

Anyone got any ideas on whether this would work with the London CC?

I've been hit twice for £100 penalties because through sheer forgetfulness myself I've forgotten to pay the £5.

Now this is a clear example of a Penalty charge, but have we entered a contract by me driving into the congestion zone?

[trundlecat]

Afraid I don't know the answer to your question but just wanted to say I think it stinks. Councils get things wrong more often than they get them right & just expect you to wait it out. However, if Joe public innocently puts a foot wrong they jump on you hard & fast & always in the wallet. Talk about "do as I say not as I do", it's so 1 sided.

[Alison82]

I don't think it applies here as it is owned by the government, like if you don't buy the correct ticket on the tube you get a penalty fine/charge of 20 pounds, could be wrong though, ask Dave

[BotB]

Now this is a clear example of a Penalty charge, but have we entered a contract by me driving into the congestion zone?

Its a different kind of "penalty" though. Local Authorities are specifically authorised by law to charge them so unless you can come up with some procedural defect or your circumstances fall into whatever other reasons are legally allowable, you have to pay. Bank charges are a different animal altogether.

You might find some useful info on the London Motorists Action Group site:

http://www.lmag.org.uk/

	Bank Charges You should have started your claim for your bank charges by now. Don't wait. You should send your bank a Subject Acess Request asking for all personal data they hold on you - not just statements. You should calculate all of your bank charges and related interest as far back as 1995. You should send your bank a demand for a refund giving them 7 days. You should commence your legal action adding 8% statutory interest. If you wait for the outcome of the test case, you may not be able to claim like this. you may not be able to claim interest. You may only be offered the difference between the charge and the OFT "fair charge". The repayment scheme will try to limit you to refinds from 2001 only. A repayment scheme will not deal with any bank charges related defaults on the credit register whereas in a court action you can ask for these to be removed and to be compensated for the damage caused to you and your family by them. You should also write to the bank and to the CRA and put all charges related credit entries in disupte and warn them that you will want them removed from the Register when the test case is over. Warn them also that you are likely to be seeking compensation for these wrongful data entries. Full and final settlement Have you previously accepted a partial repayment of your bank charges in full settlement? You will still be able to claim the rest of your money back after the Test case is decided. Get all your information back to 1995 and put in your claim now.