Congestion Charge 24hr window - please help break this down for me!

John_G_Jones

steedoc wrote: »

you're a bunch of keyboard warriors trying to defend the indefensible that's what you are. Now will someone please pay this? - it's just arrived today - I don't have the money

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jdpQ0GqXjxumb1KftBE7DCaDsBbCOSi5

Your trouble with numbers seems to cover telling the time too Steve.

brianposter

AdrianC wrote: »

Do let us know when you're planning to argue that one in court.

Were it my case I might well argue in court. My electricity supplier has recently had to pay out on the basis that they had provided an incorrectly programmed smart meter so I dont see TfL being particularly difficult.
Indeed I was even wondering how much it could cost TfL in refunds if somebody did take them to court

John_G_Jones

steedoc wrote: »

But there is NO GOOD REASON we should be forced to jump through hoops for these common thieves known as TFL. There is no ethical, technological or logical reason the window should be limited to 30hrs, as opposed to, say, three days. Which is ample time.

Of course there is. Give people three days and many would delay and then forget.
I don’t understand how you don’t get this.

Anyway, it’s the cost of a few rounds of drinks, put it down to experience, stop winding yourself up over it and move on.

zagubov

OP, I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I might be the one person here who's got some sympathy for you. Got to say that though I approve of the principle behind the congestion charge, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for me when I was teaching in inner London.

I had to face either at least a 90 minute car journey or a 20 minute walk plus four trains to get there. Then after a couple of years the congestion charge came along and added another £40 (at first!) on to my commute.

The bit that became really frustrating was when I was organised enough to pay upfront. If I found in the morning I had a flat battery or flat tyre or any other car problem and had to take my wife's car instead, I had to pay twice for each journey, and although I searched all the relevant websites I couldn't find any way to claim back the unused charges.

So then I realised that I had to pay every day at the end of the commute, and often I would have to run upstairs in a panic to start up the computer just before midnight so I could pay without penalties.

It wasn't just the cost of it, but the repetitiveness, frustration and sheer hassle made it worthwhile to take a pay cut and drive to a similar job out here in the 'burbs and nearer to home.

I'm happy out here in an affluent area due to my easier (and less bureaucratic) commute, but I could still have been happy to do my bit in the deprived area I used to work in if they hadn't made it so difficult for me to get there. Was it really beyond their power to make a better payment system? Or did they mange to save 10p on the software costs?

Rant over! :mad:

Barny1979

AdrianC wrote: »

Why do you have 14 days to pay a parking ticket at a reduced rate?
Why don't they just let you park there for 14 days without giving you a ticket...?

As it is statutory legislation.

https://www.patrol-uk.info/legislation/#1497524316024-8bd75eeb-30a5

Aylesbury_Duck

zagubov wrote: »

OP, I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I might be the one person here who's got some sympathy for you. Got to say that though I approve of the principle behind the congestion charge, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for me when I was teaching in inner London.

I had to face either at least a 90 minute car journey or a 20 minute walk plus four trains to get there. Then after a couple of years the congestion charge came along and added another £40 (at first!) on to my commute.

The bit that became really frustrating was when I was organised enough to pay upfront. If I found in the morning I had a flat battery or flat tyre or any other car problem and had to take my wife's car instead, I had to pay twice for each journey, and although I searched all the relevant websites I couldn't find any way to claim back the unused charges.

So then I realised that I had to pay every day at the end of the commute, and often I would have to run upstairs in a panic to start up the computer just before midnight so I could pay without penalties.

It wasn't just the cost of it, but the repetitiveness, frustration and sheer hassle made it worthwhile to take a pay cut and drive to a similar job out here in the 'burbs and nearer to home.

I'm happy out here in an affluent area due to my easier (and less bureaucratic) commute, but I could still have been happy to do my bit in the deprived area I used to work in if they hadn't made it so difficult for me to get there. Was it really beyond their power to make a better payment system? Or did they mange to save 10p on the software costs?

Rant over! :mad:

I completely understand your frustration and I agree that for regular commuters like you, especially those in essential service roles, there ought to have been a system to make payment hassle-free.

steedoc

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

I completely understand your frustration and I agree that for regular commuters like you, especially those in essential service roles, there ought to have been a system to make payment hassle-free.

Here's a thought, why not make the payment window 3 days? That would be less hassle... hm I think we're onto something here

Aylesbury_Duck

steedoc wrote: »

Here's a thought, why not make the payment window 3 days? That would be less hassle... hm I think we're onto something here

No, I was thinking of something akin to the Oystercard system for regular commuters. In fact, they have one, it's called Auto Pay, and full details are easily found on the website (it's good like that). I suspect it hadn't been launched when zagubov was commuting.

For one-off visitors like yourself, the current system is adequate.

brianposter

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

For one-off visitors like yourself, the current system is adequate.

And, in the real world, it doesnt even work when tested.

k3lvc

Entertainment at its best - I'm waiting for the OPs report of car parking in that area and how they tried to negotiate 3 days credit for payment :rotfl: