LDV Convoy 2004 LEZ Zone Penalty Charge help

darcy2009

Hello everyone, hope all is well and im looking for some help please.
Ive recieved a £1000 fine this morning from TFL but they would be happy to accept £500 if I pay in 14 days.
This is for my LDV Convoy Hi Top panel van reg HX04 making this a 2004 model with the Ford Transit 2.4 Duratorq engine 90ps, I have been driving this into London daily nearly since I bought it start of October this year.
Before I bought this van I had an identical LDV Convoy van that the reg was BX54 and was also a 2004 model, this van I drove into London daily also for over a year paying my congestion charge daily but as I was sure it was LEZ complient and never recieved a LEZ penalty charge on this vehicle.
My new LDV Convoy ive been driving into London is what ive just recieved a penalty charge for.
Im quite upset times are hard as it is and I remember scrapping my old 2000 reg van just before the LEZ zone was enforced and TFL stated on their website and on radio etc that your van had to be 2002 onwards, I have the transit engine in this one the same as my last Convoy so what are they up to?
Can anyone help me out with some ammo as I believe I shouldnt have to pay this fine down to there mistakes of not giving out proper infomation on the LEZ in the first place, there must be alot of Transits out there maybe getting the same penalty as me or anyone who can give me advice please do.

Many Thanks in advance
T

Iceweasel

Did you check by putting your registration number in here:

https://lowemissionzone.tfl.gov.uk/b/pb/lezComplianceProvideVRM.faces

darcy2009

Hi, I didnt know about this tfl checker untill today, I just tried my van in there and it comes up non complient, but other Ldv Convoy same van same engine and same year 2004 come up complient, im finding that strange, so I need to figure out why this van is non complient, if it is then I have to prove to TFL some how that is.

Iceweasel

Have you checked the emissions stats on your V5C and compared with the van which is compliant?

darcy2009

Hi,
The emission stats are not on either V5 or even on a third ldv convoy I had before that, its got the exhaust emissions section but no stats given.

Thanks

forgotmyname

You can have euro 3 and euro 4 emission vehicles in the same year.

Not sure on the van dates and changes but with the TDCI engine its possible to have a euro 3 vehicle on a 55 plate yet have euro 4 ones on a 04 plate.

What is the vans GVW? under 3.5 tons?

I clicked enter your vehicle type after 2002, and this came up.

You said your vehicle:

• runs on diesel
• weighs between 1.205 GVW and 3.5 tonnes GVW
• was registered as new on or after 1 January 2002

TfL classifies your vehicle as a larger van or other specialist diesel vehicle for LEZ purposes.


When was the van actually built though? Not registered but built?

darcy2009

Hi,
Well it was first registered 1/3/04 im not sure about the build date how would I find that out? is it anything to do with the engine number?.
My van is the hi top lwb 3.5t gvw which your correct about

bigjl

You need to check this with TFL as there are several issues with this system.

When it initially started it was only vehicles above 3.5t that were affected

But TFL are not very organised

I believe there have been issues with this before.

Even frontline NHS Ambulances are not exempt.

And the privates that sub contract on 999 calls in London have bought several Renault Master Ambulances that are ex NHS from other areas, specifically NWAS for some and EMAS for others.

I think you should appeal as your van is under 3.5t

Though i would double check as some LDV vans were actually 3.55t, Ambulances and i think also Police vans were affected this way.

Hopefully you can get this thing sorted.

From thr research i did a few years ago the Euro 3 or 4 part if less important that the GVW.

But TFL donlike to change things with little or no notice

bigjl

Had a quick check

The issue must be to do with how your van was registered with the dvla

As a 2004 van should be Euro 3 as an absolute minimum.

Some vans of the size of yours may well be Euro4 but i don't think the transit and ldv with the transit engine is one of them

The Sprinter with the 2.2 engine may well be Euro4

darcy2009

I also done the LEZ Checker on TFL, checked my van through the Check My Vehicle Type section, It says my van is complient so ive printed the page off to help me when I start sending letters, Its doesnt say anywhere on TFL that you have to use the Registration Checker for the LEZ, I hope I find out my van is LEZ Complient so I can send TFL a Fine.

forgotmyname

I would play it dumb. Ask them why your vehicle is not compliant.

Say its newer than 2002, Diesel and under 3500kg GVW so why is it not exempt.