Congestion Charge Shocker for Northern Lass!

JoJoArmani

As mentioned I had a shock to get a ticket for £60 for entering the London congestion charge zone thing.

I knew it existed but had no idea how it actually worked.

Went to visit my Grandma on the way back from a wedding and followed Mr sat nav into the city center. I did ask MR sat nav to avoid toll roads but obviously we went wrong somewhere...

I naively thought I'd get a letter asking me to pay the relevant daily charge.

I had no clue I'd get a £60 fine for not paying in advance!

I know ignorance is no defense but can I argue this at all? I was traveling with 3 kids (2 of whom are under 2)... can I say I was in a rush to get to my destination to feed them or something... which is not a complete lie?:o

Goodness me! Never again! :mad: I survived the traffic and nightmare roads but I failed to survive the congestion charge....

Quentin

You let down the north with this!

There are signs explaining it all for northerners as you enter the charge area. (Just like the signs in Blackburn which tell you you are in no parking area, and you get a letter there if you still park!)

Pay it or make an appeal, but don't delay too much either way - they escalate the charge quickly if you don't do anything. (It will be £120 after just 14 days)

gner_ex

Go to http://www.pepipoo.com - it may be that there is some irregularity with your paperwork.

JoJoArmani

Quentin wrote: »

You let down the north with this!

There are signs explaining it all for northerners as you enter the charge area. (Just like the signs in Blackburn which tell you you are in no parking area, and you get a letter there if you still park!)

Pay it or make an appeal, but don't delay too much either way - they escalate the charge quickly if you don't do anything. (It will be £120 after just 14 days)

Yes there are signs... but the signs don't actually tell you anything useful like how or where you can pay in advance.

Well, I have learnt my lesson... hope someone else can benefit from my inexperience and not make the same mistake by reading this post.

Off I go to pay the £60 that I can't afford....

tinkerbell84

The congestion charge isn't a toll road, so sat nav would not avoid it.

Anyone travelling near London by car should look up how it works really. As you say, costly mistake.

Happychappy

JoJoArmani wrote: »

As mentioned I had a shock to get a ticket for £60 for entering the London congestion charge zone thing.
..

Jo Jo

Surely you saw the signs ? they are translated for Northern lasses

Congestion charges