Congestion charge autopay - sold car but still paying....

[Fordo]

Hi all, just after a little advice from those who are a bit more clued up than me.

I sold a car a few month back, and i used to have an autopay setup for the London congestion charge. Hands up, my mistake, i totally forgot to log in and cancel the autopay on that car.

Ive logged in recently and realised that i've been paying for someone else in my old car, who's been going in and out of the zone ever since. Quite a sizeable amount too.

I've called TFL - and they say theres nothing that can be done.

Is that really the case? I know i made the mistake in not deregistering the car on TFL's autopay website, but it still feels unfair and unjust. I was hoping they could refund me, and bill the current owner. Unfortunately i cant contact the new owner myself, as it was car was part ex through a dealer, so i have no clue who the current owner is.

Any advice would be appreciated

[deckster]

My non-expert opinion: TFL have done nothing wrong and they are under no obligation to refund you anything. You might be able to contact the new owner, if you can find out who it is, and ask them to pretty please pay you back. I wouldn't rate your chances in court.

[mcflurry]

Can you ask the garage to help contacting the new owner?
(unless they auctioned it)

[vikingaero]

Chances are the new owner has been paying too and TfL are getting double bubble.

[sospan]

Are you able to cancel the car on TFL database? Will the fact that you are now not the keeper/owner prevent this? Will closing your account for paying TFL be the simple option?
Have TFL given any other idea of how you can stop payments for that car?
Has DVLA database been updated re new owner?
Get back to TFL to stop more payments. Chasing the new owner is up to them for future payments. Try negotiating with TFL for even a partial return. You might get lucky!

[pincher]

TfL won’t care who owns the car, just as long as they get their money (at least once).

I have five cars on my DartCharge account but I don’t own all of them.

I think you’ll just have to suck it up.

[Ussrcossack]

vikingaero said:

Chances are the new owner has been paying too and TfL are getting double bubble.

I'd go with that.

Although your fault, I'd be pushing a bit harder.

This is the same TFL who will refund the Oyster card deposit, so tell em that

Or if not write the the Lord mayor

[Fordo]

Thanks for the advice chaps - i totally know its my fault, but i still feel like TFL should be a bit more helpful. We don't live in a totalitarian government after all - I believe companies, and government, should be helpful where possible in the event of a mistake.

I'll have another bash at calling them

[Type R Tom]

My Dad had the opposite with Dart, bought a car from a dealer but couldn't get the car transferred to his name despite trying several times so the old owner ended up covering the charges until they realized and canceled it.

[Beetnik]

Type R Tom said:

My Dad had the opposite with Dart, bought a car from a dealer but couldn't get the car transferred to his name despite trying several times so the old owner ended up covering the charges until they realized and canceled it.

I don't suppose the previous keeper is listed as "Fordo" by any chance?

[deckster]

Type R Tom said:

My Dad had the opposite with Dart, bought a car from a dealer but couldn't get the car transferred to his name despite trying several times so the old owner ended up covering the charges until they realized and canceled it.

To be fair to the new owner, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if this is what has happened here.

"Hello, can I register my new car for congestion charge"
"No, it's already registered"
"Ah right, that'll be the old owner, can you take him off and change it to me"
"No, can't do that. The old owner will have to ring us"
"But I don't know who that is"
"Can't help then you mate"

[Chris32345]

deckster said:

To be fair to the new owner, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if this is what has happened here.

"Hello, can I register my new car for congestion charge"
"No, it's already registered"
"Ah right, that'll be the old owner, can you take him off and change it to me"
"No, can't do that. The old owner will have to ring us"
"But I don't know who that is"
"Can't help then you mate"

Seems like your typical government IT system tbh
Sorry our system dosnt allow us to do that

[Fordo]

deckster said:

To be fair to the new owner, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if this is what has happened here.

"Hello, can I register my new car for congestion charge"
"No, it's already registered"
"Ah right, that'll be the old owner, can you take him off and change it to me"
"No, can't do that. The old owner will have to ring us"
"But I don't know who that is"
"Can't help then you mate"

That sounds exactly like tfl!

[vikingaero]

Back in Ye Olde Days when the Congestion Charge was introduced, people were writing complaints to newspapers (remember those!) saying that they were concerned that they may have strayed into the CC Zone, so could they check and see if they needed to pay. Nope was the helpful answer - you pay or gamble on a fine. Others were diverted by The Police as a result of road closures and accidents into the charge zone and again CC London didn't care.

[megaphone]

Go on OP, tell us how much.

[twister]

Type R Tom said:

My Dad had the opposite with Dart, bought a car from a dealer but couldn't get the car transferred to his name despite trying several times so the old owner ended up covering the charges until they realized and canceled it.

Things must have changed in the past 3 years - I had the same problem when I tried to register my last car, and was told by Dart they could transfer the car onto my account if I sent them a copy of the new V5 5 showing me as the registered keeper.