Clean air charge from Birmingham city council

Georgiah406

Hi all,

I’ve received a clean air charge from Birmingham city council. I don’t dispute the charge, a toddler having a meltdown in the back seat made me miss a turning and drive right through a clean air zone without realising. I live in Stoke so didn’t even think to check for clean air zones before leaving! Lesson learnt. Anyway, the PCN only arrived on 30/08/2023. It was issued on 01/08/2023 meaning it’s supposedly taken 30 days to get to me! I’m now unable to pay the discounted charge of £60 online and it wants me to pay £120!!! This, I absolutely can’t afford. Is there anything I can do? Our post has been sporadic at best lately but would this be royal mails fault or the councils? No idea what to do! Thanks in advance for advice x

Coupon-mad

I'd pay it, then straight away:

Make a complaint and then (you have to exhaust the Authority's complaints procedure first) escalate it to the LA Ombudsman,

The point is that for traffic penalty charges they have a statutory duty to post them on the date the notice says, and you should put the Authority to proof that they did.  Sounds like they didn't.  

The Ombudsman costs you nothing but they can order a refund.