TFL are upping fine after we paid it - on time - but they refunded without telling us!

preraphie

My hubby was captured with front wheels in a yellow box - fair and square - so when the TFL fine came through I paid it immediately (and have the online photo receipt to prove). About a month later another demand came so I checked the receipt and the bank statement too make sure the money had gone through - which it had so didn't think anything about it until another demand (vastly inflated) was received in December.  We immediately found a number to ring and was informed that, yes we had paid, but they had REFUNDED it as it was sent to the company car owner and needed to be sent to the registered keeper (car is a company vehicle).  WHAT, they refunded a fine paid against the penalty charge number for the correct car?!  Does it matter who pays a fine, as long as it is paid, plus there was nowhere on the online fine payment system to enter anything other than the charge number and car reg.  In good faith the fine was paid and receipt to prove.
I then checked my statements and yes, indeed a refund was made one month later! 
Of course, we were told to put this in writing and send by registered post.  We are not disputing the original payment - we paid it then and want to pay it now.  What we are disputing is the inflated cost of the fine due to them refunding the money (after holding it for one month!).  Having just received another demand with no mention of our letter which appealed the greater amount and asked, to do as we did back in September and pay the original fine fair and square, would like to have some advice as what to do next please.  Thank you.

Coupon-mad

Do what they say and also complain to your MP and ask them to write to TFL on your behalf to see sense.

preraphie

Hi, thanks for your response - we are still waiting to hear from TFL.  All we have done is asked them to allow us to pay the original fine which we had done without issue in the first place and had that money in in their account for 31 days.  Is there anyone else with a suggestion other than write to MP - I'm sure they have more important things to be doing at the moment.

Coupon-mad

You'd be surprised.  I didn't say that lightly.

Here is just one poster taking their 'PCN' dispute to their MP to support their complaint, which is perfectly normal and can work in many cases, as it adds clout:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78927821/#Comment_78927821

Parking and penalties are on the Government and parliamentary agenda right now and MPs have bulging case files from constituents about such matters:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tfl-drivers-fines-roads-b975894.html?amp

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/parking-code-enforcement-framework

The second link is about private parking unfair practice, which many MPs say is the most common casework they hear about.

I realise yours is not a PPC case but if you were imagining that MPs deal only with 'greater things' I think you'd be mistaken.

preraphie

After many letters of complaint back and forth, we had to take the issue to the Ombudsman where a decision was found in our favour!  And even though the Ombudsman upheld the complaint and confirmed that we should only pay the original fine, TFL were unwavering in their response ie: they had to do what the Ombudsman said but they still didn't agree.  Fellow motorists take note, they will try everything in their power to take as much money as they can.  Persistence is key! In our case a mere 8 months!