Paid congestion charge for first day but forgot to pay day 2

[saxon]

The wife and I went to London for a concert and parked the car in an underground car park for around 24 hours. She paid the congestion charge for London as we were driving in. We forgot to pay however on the second day and drove out.

Now hit by the £80 charge notice and wondering if the fact we paid on day 1 and thought it covered us for our 24 hour visit is likely to be suitable defense?

Saxon

[Panamax]

Defence against what?

An unpaid day costs £80 when they come after you - that's the way it works. Sadly it's a case of "just pay up". Not least because it'll almost certainly cost you a whole lot more if you delay.

[Panamax]

If you decide to try to make a "representation" be aware that some of the common reasons why TfL typically reject a representation include:

• Forgot to pay the Congestion Charge
• Attempted to pay the Congestion Charge but failed
• Unaware had entered the Congestion Charging zone
• Unaware of the Congestion Charging Scheme
• Not the driver of the vehicle
• Entered the Congestion Charging zone in error
• Did not know how to pay
• Thought that the vehicle/driver was exempt from the Congestion Charge

[jondude]

Ken Livingstone said back yonder when he created the congestion zone that it needed to be confusing/difficult to use so as to trap people and allow therefore fines. He said it could never be run without people being fined.

Did at least admire his honesty.

If it still is run on that mentality, it's unlikely your reasons will be accepted but why not try?

[babelfish]

jondude said:

Ken Livingstone said back yonder when he created the congestion zone that it needed to be confusing/difficult to use so as to trap people and allow therefore fines. He said it could never be run without people being fined.

Do you have a source for that please.

[jondude]

babelfish said:

jondude said:

Ken Livingstone said back yonder when he created the congestion zone that it needed to be confusing/difficult to use so as to trap people and allow therefore fines. He said it could never be run without people being fined.

Do you have a source for that please.

Not beyond memory. Was a live interview on the box but ages ago now as he was still the mayor then. Do remember it as he came across honest at least.

I think it was in the early days when thousands were getting fined overturned and complaints rolling in about difficulties paying or understanding when to pay etc.

He joked that it was deliberately confusing after a direct question that it was, then said of course a new system would have areas to improve but yes, it was also reliant upon income from fines to cover set up and running costs.

[CanAm]

jondude said:

Not beyond memory. Was a live interview on the box but ages ago now as he was still the mayor then. Do remember it as he came across honest at least.

I think it was in the early days when thousands were getting fined overturned and complaints rolling in about difficulties paying or understanding when to pay etc.

He joked that it was deliberately confusing after a direct question that it was, then said of course a new system would have areas to improve but yes, it was also reliant upon income from fines to cover set up and running costs.

Rather different to the Dartford crossing people. Having forgotten to pay in time due to my own stupidity I was waiting for the fine to arrive. When it did, there was the usual discount for prompt payment, and a separate letter saying something like, “As this seems to be the first time you’ve used the crossing, if you pay the toll online within x days we’ll call it quits.”

[croyde]

jondude said:

Not beyond memory. Was a live interview on the box but ages ago now as he was still the mayor then. Do remember it as he came across honest at least.

I think it was in the early days when thousands were getting fined overturned and complaints rolling in about difficulties paying or understanding when to pay etc.

He joked that it was deliberately confusing after a direct question that it was, then said of course a new system would have areas to improve but yes, it was also reliant upon income from fines to cover set up and running costs.

I got a letter from my then MP Khan telling me that Wandsworth Councils Poll Tax was so low due to the money coming in from parking permits and fines after I wrote to complain about the Nazi style parking wardens.

It was in the days of paper so sadly I no longer have it after several moves.

[speedyman]

I got fined for leaving the congestion zone at 7:01 after being called out for a job during the night when the zone does not operate. I thought I'd made it out as the 7:00 o'clock news started on the car radio. It's just another tax.