Been reading the backroom for ages. Excellent information and conversations but never have I posted as the knowledge of others exceeds mine greatly.
Anyway....
I paid the congestion charge by internet last Friday (the 13th!) and drove through the zone thinking nothing of it and feeling good that I had remembered to pay in advance for a change. Only I typed the registration incorrectly on the internet form and paid for T121 instead of T212.
I received both the PCN and the receipt in the post today. I spoke to the call centre staff but they were useless, as expected. They even told me to pay and then ask for my money back to avoid getting the fine "upgraded"! Can't see that happening.
Anyway the question is whether making a typo is good grounds for appeal and what you think my chances are? I am appealing anyway as I feel it is against natural justice to fine me. After all it is only money!
Andrew
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You have valid grounds for an appeal as you have paid the "Charge" See:
tinyurl.com/2med9
On that go to Home and at the bottom is a contact number for an address to send the appeal if that details is not on the Notice.
Presumably they got your address from your internet form, which helps your case, as vehicle VRM would show someone else as keeper??????
DVD
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I remember the days when this was a pleasant country to live in....who would ever have thought we would be having this conversation in 2004? (Apart from George Orwell)
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ST - I take it you didn't know that George Orwell is the pseudonym of a 20th century novelist called Blair.
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>>>> Presumably they got your address from your internet form, which helpsyour case, as vehicle VRM would show someone else as keeper?????? DVD
DVD,
The notice will have been issued to the reg.owners address, taken from DVLA records, not from an incorrect payment form. Therefore, Androo (assuming he is reg owner) would get notice anyway. The only way for Androo to tie in his payment is to quote the ref number given by TFL when the payment is made.
If, however,, there happens to be a car with the reg number that he gave then he has got a real problem. At the moment he is dependent on the goodwill of TFL and since their job is to make money for Ken, Androo may not be given any credit for an honest mistake.
Sooty Tailpipes, really!!!
Guilt on accusation was good enough for Government Witchfinders in the Middle Ages to burn people. Surely you understand that it is perfectly reasonbable that this Government transport policy should treat motorists in the same way!
Get with the project.
I will now remove my tongue from my cheek and wait for anguished squealing from the usual suspects.
Reagrds
Vercin
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If you speak to the call centre again, try and get put through to the Customer RELATIONS department: if this really exists, the people within it seem a bit more willing to actually try to help you.
But whoever you speak to, if you haven't got one already, try as hard as possible to be issued with a Customer Number.
Seems if you don't have this, any communications, especially phone conversations, are likely to disappear into the aether, resulting in you starting back at square one next time you call.
It took me 5 months to get a petty matter sorted out, including them sending me out one letter, which I never received, which when later read out to me over the phone contained a statement about a payment amount which was patently UNTRUE. Their attitude seemed to be one of "Well that's what it says here (shrug). You can't expect US to go and check our own accounts - we wash out hands of it until such time as YOU can prove otherwise."
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a statement about a payment amount which was patently UNTRUE.
Just for the record, this was nothing to do with me!
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Hi,
Dwight Van Driver mentions that you should be able to appeal against the fine because it has been paid. Thing is, while this is true, it was not payed for your vehicle. The tracking cameras go by reg - as far as they are concerned T121 has not payed the charge - if you see what i mean.
I would still appeal on these grounds though, and write a very groveling letter, explaining the error and how it was a silly mistake etc etc. I'd be tempted to enclose a COPY of your receipt (if it shows the Reg no. you payed for, and your address) and of your V5 showing the correct reg no. and your address.. this may pull on their heartstrings enough.
However, if T212 was driving in central london on the same day - you got no chance. Best you can hope for in this situation would be a refund of your fiver due to double payment ( assuming T212 did pay that is!!!)
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Vercin
Which is why I asked the question. How did they get his address and particulars from a duff VRM. Surely it would have gone to the owner of that vehicle. Unless, CC Control played about with the number to get one to fit the make of vehicle? The only other route as I presumed was from something submitted to pay as stated.
As to the success of an appeal then
"Nothing ventured nothing gained"
"Never hit a bloke when he is down" (as a certain Plod is about to find out from todays news.
DVD
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Which is why I asked the question. How did they get his address and particulars from a duff VRM. As to the success of an appeal then "Nothing ventured nothing gained" "Never hit a bloke when he is down" (as a certain Plod is about to find out from todays news. DVD
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Hiya DVD,
I read Androo's post as a payment on a duff VRM. I.E. he just accidently paid a charge for a car VRM that may or may not exist.
TFL issued the penalty notice to the correct VRM having got the details of the car from the photographs (not his payment) and matched it to the correct DVLA data, his duff VRM on the payment does not, I think, come into this process.
I agree the nothing ventured nothing gained, however, the press (I believe the London Evening Standard) has run stories concerning the appeals process where management, allegedly, encourage staff to issue penalty notices and be damned. So I dont hold out much hope unless Androo goes all the way!
And I've just seen the footage on Channel 4 news re Manchesters finest. At first glance I am reminded of lesser version of the Rodney King incident in LA!
I hope that clarifies my my post, If not do not hesitate to correct me.
Regards
Vercin
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Thanks for the responses. I have written on the PCN representation section that I made a mistake. Will let everyone know what happens, if and when I get a response.
I think I am unlucky enough to have made the mistake but lucky enough to be able to afford the difference between £40 and £80.. If I pay without trying I will feel bad about myself for not trying. If I pay more afterwards I will feel bad about TfL instead. Not that the extra won't be missed.
Andrew
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And the good news is... I was let off !! The nice letter says that I should be more careful typing (true) and they even apologised for the inconvenience (not sure why as it was my fault).
Most entertainingly they warn me that I can't use this excuse later so I must watch the keys. Funnily enough I remember the first insurance certificate for this car was wrong with T121 instead of T212. Had to get that changed so I know I am not the only one.
Thanks for the moral support.
Andrew
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DVD, you're usually a bit sharper than this.
I got a PCN after I sold my car but the DVLA hadn't yet updated the details. It's nothing to do with the form; there may well be a car whose charge Androo has paid, but it's the car with the good plate that was spotted in the zone as not having paid.
Ultimately they are likely to say that it's your own choice to pay for any car and your responsibility to make sure that you pay for your own, therefore no refund would be possible. This is especially the case as the numbers are only 9 apart (I think, I can't see the thread of course) - it would be quite plausible for a delivery fleet to own both of those plates and all inbetween.
They're not even allowed to give you your money back if you don't use the charge when you've paid so I think this fine is pretty much bang to rights. Is it fair? Not really but that's not the point unless you fancy a long fight and lots of lawyers' fees.
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David
I now see said the blind man as the bloke with no legs walked away.
DVD
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