Unsure Whether We've Been Through Congestion Charge Zone?

[David87]

Long story short, one of my members of staff today had to drive into London in one of my company's cars (to an area most definitely outside the Congestion Charge Zone), but got spectacularly lost and doesn't know whether they've been through the chargeable area or not. They literally have no idea which bits of London they've been to, other than that they didn't see Big Ben. Yes, they're an idiot.

Anyway, looking online, I can only see options to pay the charge or pay a penalty - there doesn't seem to be a facility to check whether you've been through it or not? Anyone know something I don't? Many thanks.

Time to invest in GPS tracking!

[blaineuk]

If I think I have been into into a charge area I just pay, cheaper than a fine.

[Iva Barchetta]

They may have been hopelessly lost but every road into the zone has signs and BIG Cs marked on the road surface.

[Mojooo]

There is no facility bu the signs on the floor are pretty blatant

But maybe missable if you are lost and focussing on the road/traffic. still pretty blatant mind

[spookly]

Iva Barchetta said:

They may have been hopelessly lost but every road into the zone has signs and BIG Cs marked on the road surface.

Is that because you're a Big C if you don't realise you've been through it?

[TooMany2cvs]

Iva Barchetta said:

They may have been hopelessly lost but every road into the zone has signs and BIG Cs marked on the road surface.

This. It is IMPOSSIBLE to miss whether you've entered or not, unless you are quite simply the least observant road user on the face of the planet.

[QBee]

Can you ring up to pay.....and ask if there is a charge to pay?
0343 222 2222

Edited by QBee on Thursday 28th July 21:24

[TooMany2cvs]

QBee said:

Can you ring up to pay.....and ask if there is a charge to pay?

"Hello, I know I've been in the area, but I'm wondering if your cameras spotted me, or if I can get away with not paying..."

[98elise]

TooMany2cvs said:

Iva Barchetta said:

They may have been hopelessly lost but every road into the zone has signs and BIG Cs marked on the road surface.

This. It is IMPOSSIBLE to miss whether you've entered or not, unless you are quite simply the least observant road user on the face of the planet.

I would say its quite possible to miss the signs. In a famous ovservation test at Harvard University people were asked to watch a video of people passing basket ball to each other and to count the passes. During the video somone dressed as a gorilla walks into shot and thumps its chest and walks off. Half the observers did not recall the gorilla.

If you are not lexpecting to see a C painted on the road, then its entirely possible not to see it.

[supersport]

98elise said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Iva Barchetta said:

They may have been hopelessly lost but every road into the zone has signs and BIG Cs marked on the road surface.

This. It is IMPOSSIBLE to miss whether you've entered or not, unless you are quite simply the least observant road user on the face of the planet.

I would say its quite possible to miss the signs. In a famous ovservation test at Harvard University people were asked to watch a video of people passing basket ball to each other and to count the passes. During the video somone dressed as a gorilla walks into shot and thumps its chest and walks off. Half the observers did not recall the gorilla.

If you are not lexpecting to see a C painted on the road, then its entirely possible not to see it.

Having never driven in the tax zone and not living darn sarth I imagine that it might be possible to not know what they are. But never having seen the signs I don't know if that is reasonable or not.

A couple of years ago I took my car to a seat belt specialist in that London, not too far from where I used to work, so was familiar with the area. There were all these signs for an environmental zone, but I had no idea if they applied to me or not or what they were for. Clearly I looked them when home. If the congestion zone is similar I could understand not knowing what they meant.

[megaphone]

They might tell you if you call them. To be on the safe side I'd just pay it, it's only £11.50. Although it's £14.00 if paid the next day. Take it out of his wages.

[TooMany2cvs]

98elise said:

If you are not lexpecting to see a C painted on the road, then its entirely possible not to see it.

If you're not expecting to see a (C) painted almost the entire width of each lane, paired with signs at the side of the road and on all the direction signs, after passing umpteen signs warning you, then you probably ought to let your guide dog drive.

After all, it's not quite the same as if you didn't see a gorilla walking along the pavement because you were focussing on road hazards, is it?

[David87]

Gave them a call and they said there was no way of them being able to see whether a vehicle had entered the Zone or not. It was either pay the fee or wait for a fine. Brilliant.

[megaphone]

David87 said:

Gave them a call and they said there was no way of them being able to see whether a vehicle had entered the Zone or not. It was either pay the fee or wait for a fine. Brilliant.

Are you going to take it out of their wages? Was it girl?

[Monkeylegend]

TooMany2cvs said:

If you're not expecting to see a (C) painted almost the entire width of each lane, paired with signs at the side of the road and on all the direction signs, after passing umpteen signs warning you, then you probably ought to let your guide dog drive.

After all, it's not quite the same as if you didn't see a gorilla walking along the pavement because you were focussing on road hazards, is it?

Typical condescending response from you Mr Smartasre.

If the guy was lost it is quite easy to get pressurised by impatient drivers up your backside and miss a road marking. Traffic in London waits for no one.

I spent 12 years driving in and around London and still got lost and strayed into the CC area a couple of times without realising it. Easily done, but then again most are not perfect like 2M2CVS.

I did see a Gorilla in Regents park once though.

I would pay and not take a chance on a fine personally, but it depends how lucky you feel.

[David87]

No, I won't be taking it out of their wages and yes, it is a girl. It's pretty silly that you can't check whether the vehicle has entered the Zone or not, though, so I'll just pay the £14 and be done with it.

Thanks for your help.

[Monkeylegend]

David87 said:

No, I won't be taking it out of their wages and yes, it is a girl. It's pretty silly that you can't check whether the vehicle has entered the Zone or not, though, so I'll just pay the £14 and be done with it.

Thanks for your help.

Ask the question when you ring up to pay, I have found the operators to be quite helpful in the past. I would phone rather than do it online.

[downthepub]

If she's got an Android telephone, is Location Tracking ("Your Timeline" in Google Maps) switched on? Dunno if there's a iPhone equivalent, but might be worth a look.

[parabolica]

You'll find out soon enough - they don't hang about sending out the penalty notices. My dad drove into the congestion zone one day (he was visiting me, lives in Aberdeen), drove home to Aberdeen the next day and the day after he received the letter from TFL giving him the good news.

[onedsla]

It's annoying that they won't tell you if you've entered.

I used to regularly drive into the zone to meet up with some people at around 18:15pm. One day traffic was lighter than usual and I entered within a second or two of 18:00 (watch time) compared to the usual 18:05ish. I ended up paying rather than risk the fine.

They must have this information, but have decided to keep this bonus revenue stream.