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

AdrianC

steedoc wrote: »

Of course, if you are planning a trip to London it would be sensible to check out the rules, but maybe the trip is unplanned or you enter the Congestion Zone by mistake

Riiiight.

farmerboy

steedoc wrote: »

and b). There is no precedent in any other area of motoring or life where such payment windows are 24 hrs. This is an arbitrarily short time frame imposed only by TFL

Don't go over/through the Dartford crossing or the new Runcorn bridge then as both these need paying for by 2359 on the following day or you'll be fined


Also in most other area's of life/motoring you have to pay up front

Aylesbury_Duck

steedoc wrote: »

I agree, it's not unreasonable to ask people to pay in a timely manner, but you can't expect first time users of the system to know they have only 24 hours to make a payment. Especially when there is nothing indicating this on the signs.

Why not? Driving into the very centre of London is rarely a spontaneous act so what's wrong with expecting people to do a little research beforehand or even immediately afterwards?

steedoc wrote: »

Of course, if you are planning a trip to London it would be sensible to check out the rules, but maybe the trip is unplanned or you enter the Congestion Zone by mistake, and in that case it the rules should be obvious, and the rules should make sense.

See above.

steedoc wrote: »

It is TFL who has the burden of responsibility when imposing power over motorists who have PAID THEIR ROAD TAX, and who are free citizens of this country, to make sure the rules are displayed and they are reasonable.

Have they really? What is this "road tax" you mention?

steedoc wrote: »

Why does a 24hr timeframe seem inherently reasonable to you? Why not make it 12 hours? Or 6 hrs? The fact is, there is no precedent for a use now, pay later system like this.

Because 24 hours gives plenty of time to check once you've accidentally or spontaneously driven past the big signs and the coloured markings on the road and wondered what they are and how they might affect you.

steedoc wrote: »

And this is just daylight robbery for naive people who live in the provinces. It's state sanctioned highway robbery.

Slightly hysterical. The scheme has been around for 16 years. I'd be hard pushed to find anyone who might drive right into the very heart of the city and doesn't know of the scheme. The zone is so tiny you really are very unlikely to go into it with all the other options available.

I've hired cars in various European cities and it's part of the travel planning to understand what restrictions, tolls and fees are needed in each city. In a second language. Is it really too much to expect an English speaker "from the provinces" to do a little checking before or straight after their trip?

brianposter

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

What attitude? It's not unreasonable to expect people to pay the charge relatively quickly on a scheme that's been around for years. How dare London enforce the rules in a timely manner!

So if I travel to say, Sunderland, will the rail operator let me pay for my ticket three days after arrival and the hotel let me pay for my stay three days after I leave?

It really isn't difficult.

You appear to illustrate my point. It really isnt difficult for those that know how everything functions, but for someone from elsewhere who has a one-off reason to visit the congestion zone the penalty is ridculously high and the payment system pointlessly awkward.
As I said, it is a question of attitude.

System

steedoc wrote: »

I agree, it's not unreasonable to ask people to pay in a timely manner, but you can't expect first time users of the system to know they have only 24 hours to make a payment. Especially when there is nothing indicating this on the signs.

If you know you're going to go into the CC zone or you have been in it and you're not sure about payment you get on the internet and do a quick search and then you know. You can't say you don't know you had to pay because there are "CC Have you Paid" signs all over the place.

What's next, being let off drink driving because you are a new driver, it was your first time drink driving and there wasn't a sign telling you not to?

Why does a 24hr timeframe seem inherently reasonable to you? Why not make it 12 hours? Or 6 hrs? The fact is, there is no precedent for a use now, pay later system like this.

Dartford Crossing? Merseytoll? The Congestion Charge has been in place for SIXTEEN YEARS. It isn't their fault you couldn't be bothered to do some basic research.

brianposter

Tarambor wrote: »

The Congestion Charge has been in place for SIXTEEN YEARS. It isn't their fault you couldn't be bothered to do some basic research.

Has this ridiculous charging system been in place for sixteen years ? That would certainly seem to qualify the relevant administration as a bunch of self-centred idiots.

Aylesbury_Duck

brianposter wrote: »

Has this ridiculous charging system been in place for sixteen years ? That would certainly seem to qualify the relevant administration as a bunch of self-centred idiots.

On the contrary. It works rather well. It will need to continue to adapt to keep pace with new trends but it has been a success.

If it keeps you and others away from driving into London, it's doing its job.

John_G_Jones

steedoc wrote: »

Dear Forum,


There is no good reason they shouldn't make the window 2 or 3 days, and have clearly established this tiny unreasonable window to maximise revenue from penalties.

Of course there’s a reason, this way makes them more money.

And while you have some sympathy you really should have checked the rules once you realised you’d entered the zone.

Other things to watch out for in London are entering a bus lane, parking in a borough where the restrictions are only mentioned as you enter, and stopping on a red route.

You’ve got your facts wrong by the way, you can certainly pay 30 hours after you enter.

John_G_Jones

brianposter wrote: »

Well I agree with the OP - 24 hours is simply stupid.
And then they wonder why people from the rest of the country voted for Brexit.

It’s not 24 hours, he invented that but to try to justify his outrage but it’s not true.

Actually, it may not be an invention, he may just be terrible with numbers.

John_G_Jones

steedoc wrote: »

and b). There is no precedent in any other area of motoring or life where such payment windows are 24 hrs. This is an arbitrarily short time frame imposed only by TFL

Why do you keep mentioning 24 hours? It’s not.