Congestion Charging!!!

[admincharge]

Hi,

Last year (April) my wife was told that a second opinion was required by a doctor based near the totten court hospital in London. Being country dwellers our knowledge of London is a bit thin but made our way in on the A40. Obviously we became lost and late with no street map... so asked a local cabbie to guide us in the remaining 150yds. At this point we crept in to the Congestion Zone but were unaware of the trap TOL had set.

7-10 days later we received a bill for £50 along with a picture of the front of my car. I called TOL to complain that if i didn't know that i had entered the zone how was i to pay the £5 on the day or £8 next day fee.

Anyway.... long story short... i appealed and lost and appealed again to an independent body and lost again. Each time they replied to my appeal with "there's a big C in red on the floor"

Also... during the 2nd appeal we moved home and never received a response even though DVLA and TOL were advised of my new address... the BAILIFF!!!! fees now bring my £50 fine to a total of £478.32????????

Anyone else had dealings with Congestion Charging???

[johnnyrotton]

The worlds gone bloody mad...

[nogard23]

Is the "big red C" there to remind you who's idea it was?

[karen654321]

Hiya im really sorry to hear about your trouble.. We had a similiar incident last year... Only ever been to London a handful of times we were taking our son as an emergency to great ormond street hospital for sick children. To be honest nothing was further from our mind than congestion charge.. Of course we got the letter stating we hadnt paid i appealed.. They never got the letter... The bill went up i appealed again. sent it recorded this time.. Guess what? The letter never got there.. So i emailed every 2 days wanting details about me appeal.. Nothing had ever been receieved.. Ive now paid the 150 congestion fee and on the first stage of complaints.. Not sure how im going to get on.. Even got a letter from the hospital to say we were there as an emergency.. I know there are obviously people who dont and wont pay. But i feel in times likes this the fee should be waived..
Will keep you posted

karen

[seadart]

I was caught by a camera going over one of the many bridges across the Thames. I had bought a CC at the local garage before I set out when the photo came I checked my receipt from the garage and they had typed my reg in wrong. I phone them straight away and was told "You only get one chance on this, it's up to you to check your reg when buying the CC, if it happens again you will be charged with no appeal"

I go to London quite regular and now I always check my receipt!

[maverick101]

hi,

have you paid the bailiff?

do you know that TfL recevied your second appeal letter? (that appeal will never win; not knowing you had to buy a charge is not grounds to not buy one I'm afraid), however, if the letter you sent to them was recevied and they sent it to your old address then you might have grounds here, because TfL would have then made an error on the PCN.

PAying the bailiff makes things harder, because not all bailiff charges are refundable; it depends on circumstance.