London Congestion Charge

dag_2

It was 18.10pm we couldn't avoid it there was no where to stop or turn off.

You know - if you'd been stuck in a traffic jam that delayed you 20 minutes, you'd have escaped. Congestion charging only applies from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

This is also why it pays to have an up-to-date London street atlas - but if you only go to London once, the new atlas might be more expensive than the congestion charge.

I don't rate your chances of getting compensation from the hotel - but even so, you'd be well advised to pay the charge sooner than later. Don't delay just because you think you might have a compensation claim which hasn't been paid yet - and put it down to experience.

King_David_2

With the greatest respect to Poppy9, this is Britain.

It's just going to cost you more money and time sending things to Tony Blair and Ken Livingstone. Neither of them will see them - some penpusher in an office might read it and send it somewhere else so it'll be ages, if ever, before you get any sort of response.

I've never been to London in a car because it's such a waste of time. With the state of public transport I wonder whether I'll ever go there again (I live in the West Midlands).

I'm more likely to go to Heathrow Airport and get a flight out of the country than go into London.

That's how much I love this place :-/

Poppy9

Cost me nothing to email Mr Blair and co a copy of my letter. I have emailed him before via the parlamentary website and I always get a lovely reply on beautiful headed notepaper which feels like it costs £10 a sheet! I may not get anywhere but at least I am not taking it lying down. If everyone did something instead of just moaning and coughing up silently things might change.

Without protest Women would still not have the vote. Protest brought about an end to the Poll tax. Even the WI got in on the act with Mr B (you know the slow handclap at the WI conference which Mr B spoke).

I have sent a cheque but marked the form that I am paying under protest and pending appeal outcome. I also pointed out that I object to them threatening me with Bailiffs and a £5000 penalty with the initial notice. A judge just wiped out a couples £380k debt on an initial £5k loan as he said it was xtortionate and that was only 76x greater than the original loan. A £5000 penalty on a £5 payment is 1000x.

Poppy9

Anyone know if there is a time limit on Appeals?

I appealed back in Oct 2004. Rang a couple of months ago to be told the appeal was in a queue and had not yet been dealt with. I have still heard nothing.

Baz-Bee

As long as it is in the system just wait. there is a huge backlog of dealing with motorist's appeals in London.


I have only just read this thread as it has come to the top again from last November. Whilst I do not agree with the congestion charge, I cannot agree with the comments regarding signing of it. You will pass advisory signs on every main route in to london advisng how far you are from the boundary. At the boundary there are huge signs advising you are about to enter the Charging Zone. If people cannot see these then they should not be driving. Also you will see the cameras monitoring every road that enters the zone, including cul-de-sacs only a 20 metres or so in length.

Your problem was the bum advice given my the hotel staff. In fact I am surprised that they did not have a leaflet avaialble explaining how the scheme operates. Pay up to 10pm on day at standard £8 (£5 when you were in London Rate) or between 10pm and midnight the charge increases to £10 (that stayed the same!). Afetr that you get hit by a Penalty Charge Notice (it is not a criminal offence but a civil one, so you have not committed a crime). After midnight a £100 Penalty Charge Notice is issued which is reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. If it remains unpaid after 28 days is increases to £150!

Like any other statute, by-law or regulation it is our responsibilty to ensure we are aware of them. Ignorance is no excuse. I do feel a tad sorry for you though Poppy as you were clearly misled by the hotel staff. I feel you will be very lucky to win any appeal. BTW, did you contact the hotel and ask for any compo from them and an explanation as to why their staff are giving guests erroneous and costly information?

Poppy9

I know what you mean about signs and we knew we were going into central London but the website said they were located outside the zone and I even phoned to check. Therefore when I saw signs saying zone in x miles I assumed we were near the hotel or took a side road off. We followed their website map to the letter. If you don't know the area telling you x is in 1 mile is no use if you don't know which way you are going. As I have said previously - didn't mind paying, made decent effort to find out about the charge before travelling etc.

The hotel did apologise and offer us a discounted rate of £50 B&B for a family room at our convenience. They also said they would offer training to their staff and update their website to say although they are located outside the zone you may have to drive through it to reach the hotel.

Also when I had a copy of LT appeal evidence last year it was wrong. They stated that my vehicle had been in the zone and I had paid a charge for a few days prior. As both oh and me are public servants who have to clock in and out of work it was easy for me to demonstrate to the appeals people with offical confirmation from our employers that we were both in work at that time. Also under the DP and Freedom of Information act I asked for a details of the CC used to pay the earlier charge. Funny they won't reply to me on that score, again I passed this to the appeals people. Clear fabrication of evidence is a criminal offence and legal advice has told me to persue once the appeal hearing has taken place even if I win the appeal.

Jit_2

I received a fine through the post not that long ago and appealed on the grounds that I wasn't driving the car at the time.

I drove up to London to assist at a school giving lectures, I left my car and car keys at a friends flat.

On the penalty notice I received it stated I was in the congestion charge zone at around 1pm, when in fact I was at the school.

The school kindly sent me a letter stating my attendance at the time of the incident, which I sent off with the appeal.

I was sent a letter back asking for further proof such as a crime ref number and police station I had reported the car being "borrowed" to.

As I was unaware of the car being borrowed until I received the penalty notice through the post I had not reported the offense and there for could not provide the information they wanted, in return they declined my appeal and said as the car was registered under my name is was my responsibility.

Is this true? I have proved I wasn't driving the car so do I have to pay?

Crabman

Jit wrote: »

I received a fine through the post not that long ago and appealed on the grounds that I wasn't driving the car at the time.

I drove up to London to assist at a school giving lectures, I left my car and car keys at a friends flat.

On the penalty notice I received it stated I was in the congestion charge zone at around 1pm, when in fact I was at the school.

The school kindly sent me a letter stating my attendance at the time of the incident, which I sent off with the appeal.

I was sent a letter back asking for further proof such as a crime ref number and police station I had reported the car being "borrowed" to.

As I was unaware of the car being borrowed until I received the penalty notice through the post I had not reported the offense and there for could not provide the information they wanted, in return they declined my appeal and said as the car was registered under my name is was my responsibility.

Is this true? I have proved I wasn't driving the car so do I have to pay?

Welcome to MSE - I think you may have more luck if you post this on Pepipoo - they are pretty good on these sorts of issues.

You could also post a thread on our Parking Fines board although given the stage in the appeals process I think Pepipoo will be your best bet. Good luck!

movilogo

The trick is never to go near London in a car.

A more practice advice is to travel by car to London but avoid central zone.

Park you car outside zone 3-4 (still free or reaonably priced parking available) and then take public transport.

Oyster fares are not too bad.