ULEZ Penalty but I wasn't there?!

RhiC87

Hi, I am hoping someone can help. I received a ULEZ penalty notice in the post today. It states I was on Homerton Rd on the 18th Feb at 10.15am (picture of my car/number plate included). Thing is I have never driven to London and definitely couldn't have been there on the 18th as I was home shopping/prepping for my sons birthday. I live in South Wales so not close to London either. What do I do, how do I go about proving this isn't correct?! 

400ixl

Is it clear from the photo it is mistaken Identity (as in the plate was incorrectly read by the ANPR)? Any distinguishing marks such as dealer stickers or numberplate text?

You can appeal at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/challenge-a-penalty-charge-notice

RhiC87

The number plate is correct and it looks like my car. I don't have any stickers or anything on the back to distinguish but there is a name of a garage on my number plate but isn't shown in the photo. I had my car that day and drove locally so not really sure where to go from here? 

400ixl

The way I would approach it if it were me.

You can take a picture of your car showing the car from the same framing as the one they have sent you showing there is a name on the number plate and then a more close up of the plate.

If the number plate is clearly the same as far as the registration goes and not at all possible to be a misread then you need to inform the police there is a possible cloning and get a reference number from them. Show them both sets of pictures.

Do you have anything that would have an image of your car in Wales on that day? Maybe something like a ring doorbell footage.

Once you have the pictures plus other evidence and reported possible cloning to get the reference number, use the link above to appeal with your evidence.

RhiC87

Thank you, great advice. Will get onto the police tomorrow now and file a report and go from there. 

Krakkkers

Or your car is the clone?
How long have you had it.

RhiC87

Gosh I hope not, had it about a year now, I have the V5 and got it from a garage. 

facade

RhiC87 said:

Gosh I hope not, had it about a year now, I have the V5 and got it from a garage. 

You can get it checked, but the most likely explanation is that someone has used the photos that were online from when it was advertised for sale to clone your registration for their car. 

They don't do it to run up a load of fines & penalty charges, but to avoid having to pay for insurance, tax & MOT.

As soon as they realise they are clocking up penalty charges they will change the registration again because they know that as soon as you get the fines you will complain about a clone and the registration will be marked for Police to stop it.

Inform the Police and carry your driving licence V5c and insurance in the car for a few weeks as the Police will stop you to check if you are the clone (they won't stop the clone as the clone will have a different number by now)

You should be able to get the tickets cancelled with evidence of cloning as 400ixl posted.

400ixl

Don't carry the V5C in the car and leave it in there when you are not with it as if the car gets stolen it can be used to aid the sale of the vehicle. Take a scan / photo of the V5C and keep it on your phone if needed.

The stop order will likely be regional and as it is a long way from South Wales to London it is unlikely you will get pulled over.