TFL Got My Number Plate Wrong - AGAIN

[bad company]

A while ago I got charged for driving into the Congestion Charge part of London. I knew I hadn’t been there that day so requested their evidence. They sent the photo of the van below which was somehow mistaken for my BMW even though the registration numbers were totally different. Eventually they returned my £’s.

Yesterday it happened again so I had my bank recall and cancel the direct debit. TFL aren’t happy. It’s not a lot of money but . . . . . . .

[D4MJT]

I've just had the same yesterday, I live in Northumberland and haven't been to London for about a year.

They've charged me £12.50 for driving my 2012 BMW 520d Touring through A236 Croydon Road, and sent me photos of a 2004 VW Golf

Sigh.

[Southerner]

Is there any requirement to respond? I’d be inclined to let them take you to court for it, frankly.

[bad company]

D4MJT said:

I've just had the same yesterday, I live in Northumberland and haven't been to London for about a year.

They've charged me £12.50 for driving my 2012 BMW 520d Touring through A236 Croydon Road, and sent me photos of a 2004 VW Golf

Sigh.

This time they’re relying on this image which looks nothing like my red TVR. I cancelled the direct debit as otherwise they’d also be charging for ULEZ as the TVR isn’t compliant.

[vikingaero]

Shirley TfL should be able to put a marker on the account/number plate for a manual check?

[garypotter]

Biggest bunch of crooks

[Lotus17racer]

You are not alone; happens to me all the time. Maybe 20% of the charges I get are for the wrong car. So far, I have had all the appeals accepted (they can hardly not!) and money refunded. IT not 'fit for purpose' but they don't seem to car because it only benefits them for the guys who don't spot it.

[RazerSauber]

vikingaero said:

Shirley TfL should be able to put a marker on the account/number plate for a manual check?

That would be about half of all cars going through their system by the looks of things

[Mandat]

vikingaero said:

Shirley TfL should be able to put a marker on the account/number plate for a manual check?

No need. The road users are doing the manual check for them.

And if some incorrect charges slip through the net, then it's extra income for TfL with no additional outlay for admin costs.

Win-win for TfL.

[bad company]

Mandat said:

vikingaero said:

Shirley TfL should be able to put a marker on the account/number plate for a manual check?

No need. The road users are doing the manual check for them.

And if some incorrect charges slip through the net, then it's extra income for TfL with no additional outlay for admin costs.

Win-win for TfL.

That’s why I recalled then cancelled my direct debit. They’re claiming that I owe them money which I don’t.

I use autopay in case I go into the congestion zone in error. Not sure if I’ll reinstate it when this is resolved.

[Mandat]

I use autopay because I regularly drive into the CC zone using 2 different cars, and autopay is an easy & convenient way to avoid having to remember to pay individually each time.

So far I've not had any erroneous charges on my account, but there was a period a few years ago when one of my cars was not being charged at all, despite driving into the CC zone.

That car was non-ULEZ so even though the ULEZ charge was being taken the CC charge was not. It must have been a gremlin in the TfL system, and since changing the non-ULEZ car for a new one, I have been charged correctly since then.

[Guyr]

I've had a few charges go through on Autopay that weren't my car (different car and the same 5 letters/numbers as mine if the camera doesn't properly capture the extra 2 digits on the other car).

I just clicked dispute on each one and got refunded, no issue.

After having done this about 6 times I haven't had more recently, so maybe my account has been flagged for some extra checks before they issue them.