Congestion charge £60- Didn't even know of it?

bob_dob

Hi,
REALLY naive question here but my girlfriend recently thought she had travelled through London avoiding the congestion charge. She has just had the bill for £60 being as she didn't pay it sooner/on the day.
Is there no way of getting out of this being as she really did think she'd avoided it?
Thank you.

thelawnet

Lol.

The signs are hard to miss. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/congestion_charging/signs.html

How about next time she pays attention to where she's going, otherwise use public transport....

w211

Where exactly around the congestion charging area did she go?

If you don't know it, then some places such as the one-way system around Victoria and Tower Hill, you can go into it by mistake, also taking the wrong exit around Elephant & Castle and Old Street.

worried_jim

She could always write them a nice letter to see what happens.

s_b

worried_jim wrote: »

She could always write them a nice letter to see what happens.

yep you can only try and throw yourself at their mercy
its one of the reasons i megabused my last trip to the dump:D:D:D

spiro

thelawnet wrote: »

Lol.

The signs are hard to miss. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/congestion_charging/signs.html

How about next time she pays attention to where she's going, otherwise use public transport....

I have to agree the signs are hard to miss, plus it is enforced solely by cameras so they either photographed you or they didn't no grey areas.

Dont forget if you dont pay within 14 days you loose the 50% discount and it goes up to the full £120, after 28 days it increases by 50% to £180.

giraffe69

Assuming she did go through which seems likely then best to pay now to avoid more money and more aggravation later.

rev_henry

giraffe69 wrote: »

Assuming she did go through which seems likely then best to pay now to avoid more money and more aggravation later.

Probably this, but write a nice letter as well as paying, they can only say no.

Best to pay up then appeal so they don't start chasing you for ever increasing fines. Obviously this doesn't apply to PPC scammers for the avoidance of confusion!

bluesnake

This is easily done. Although there are signs around, and some worn away on road surfaces, there are (were) two main routes through london that are cc exempt, but should one take a wrong turn at traffic lights, or roundabout then £££

glider3560

bluesnake wrote: »

but should one take a wrong turn at traffic lights, or roundabout then £££

But if you take a wrong turn and pass a congestion charging sign (which are blindingly obvious), then everyone knows the best course of action is to pay the charge. £10 on the day or £12 the next day is be caught because the whole system is automated!

s_b

glider3560 wrote: »

But if you take a wrong turn and pass a congestion charging sign (which are blindingly obvious), then everyone knows the best course of action is to pay the charge. £10 on the day or £12 the next day is be caught because the whole system is automated!

well i didnt know but i am a country boy