Transport for London - Congestion Charging!!

up4thecup

I recently had to go to London on business, I had an appointment in the morning at Watford then one in the afternoon in Clapham.

Being from Birmingham, and never drove through London before, I just put the postcodes into my Sat Nav on the day and set off.

A few days after the trip I received a Penalty Charge Notice saying I now owe £60 for travelling down Baker Street which is apparantly in the Congestion Zone.

Now first things first.. I had no idea I was meant to pre-register for driving through London. I've never had to do it before anywhere else and am so suprised this has came through. I called them immediately to explain and the person on the phone said I had to write a letter to appeal. I asked if it was likely it would be revoked but they said they doubt it as it's not one of the six official or acceptable reasons for appealing!!

I can't really afford £60 at the mo, and am gutted about this. It's hard enough travelling through London traffic trying to follow a Sat Nav without having to worry about congestion charging! The first thing I heard about this was when I received this 'penalty'.

Anyone else had a similar situation? How did you do? and more importantly (for me!) - do you think they will re-consider the appeal?

Cheers all!

brazilianwax

up4thecup wrote: »

I can't really afford £60 at the mo, and am gutted about this. It's hard enough travelling through London traffic trying to follow a Sat Nav without having to worry about congestion charging! The first thing I heard about this was when I received this 'penalty'.

The giant 'C's on the road and the hundreds of c-charge signs before you hit the zone weren't a clue? Driving in London ain't easy, but they do warn you before you hit the zone. (Only if you see the signs though - one of the many reasons [STRIKE]tw[/STRIKE]satnav should be banned. )

I doubt you'll get out of it. Perhaps you should sell the [STRIKE]tw[/STRIKE]satnav and pay the fine.

up4thecup

brazilianwax wrote: »

I doubt you'll get out of it. Perhaps you should sell the [strike]tw[/strike]satnav and pay the fine.

It's not mine I borrowed it

brazilianwax

up4thecup wrote: »

It's not mine I borrowed it

Hmmmmm. Think twice next time?

Doozergirl

Unfortunately ignorance isn't a defence. It is a pain from those not from London; geninely how do they know what a C means? I'm from London and still lived there when the CC was introduced. Now when I visit it sends me into cold sweats. Even if I know I've driven the outskirts I will check my route afterwards on the CC London website.

I got a fine for them due to a ridiculous glitch on their website - even when you are right they will stand in your way at every turn. I won at appeal but after a massive fight and sleepless nights as they continued to threaten me.

brazilianwax

Doozergirl wrote: »

Unfortunately ignorance isn't a defence. It is a pain from those not from London; geninely how do they know what a C means? I'm from London and still lived there when the CC was introduced. Now when I visit it sends me into cold sweats. Even if I know I've driven the outskirts I will check my route afterwards on the CC London website.

The definition is on the giant roadsigns. I'm not from London (just work there at the moment) and it seems quite clear to me!

(there was probably an option on the [STRIKE]tw[/STRIKE]satnav to avoid it too)

Doozergirl

I know what the signs look like.

Is it genuinely that clear? If you actually didn't know the CC existed for example - what does a big C mean? If you're from abroad it could be anything.

You here nothing about the CC outside London - I heard nothing of the extension outside of London, only inside. Didn't know you had an extra day to pay now until I got very drunk and forgot once and got up at 6am the next day to call them, fully prepared for a fine.

There are no signs anywhere that tell you how to pay - why no telephone numbers on the signs at least? It wouldn't have cost any more to put the number on the sign. I've stayed in hotels with no mention of it in the folders - thought I might find the number there once.

They don't make it easy.

Enfieldian

My TomTom tells me if my route includes a toll charge... (Congestion Charge, Dartford Toll etc....) Has done since I took it out of the box.

Neil_B

I'll give some satnav users the benefit of the doubt. Clearly many have suffered the imposition of these devices at Xmas! i'll assume you neither wanted nor needed them!

I wouldn't use one - and can't get to grips with why anyone needs to? With LAs varying restrictions along roads and at various junctions frequently, there is a real danger of a satnav CAUSING you to ignore a prohibition.
I've heard a fair few people who say they drove the wrong way up streets, through contra-flow bus lanes, through signs restricting type of vehicles etc. - all because the satnav told them to!

As for OP - not knowing you have to "pre-register"? you don't, you just pay the charge if you enter the zone.

chances of a succesful appeal against CC PCN >>

As here, with no case, NIL.

Normally, with a strong case, minimal (compared to other contraventions).
-

lesley1960

You can also pay the day after at a cost of £10