TFL Got My Number Plate Wrong - AGAIN
TFL Got My Number Plate Wrong - AGAIN
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bad company

Original Poster:

20,922 posts

283 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
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

1,290 posts

175 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
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 laugh

Sigh.

Southerner

2,184 posts

69 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Is there any requirement to respond? I’d be inclined to let them take you to court for it, frankly.

bad company

Original Poster:

20,922 posts

283 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
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 laugh

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

11,973 posts

186 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Shirley TfL should be able to put a marker on the account/number plate for a manual check?

garypotter

1,941 posts

167 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Biggest bunch of crooks

Lotus17racer

22 posts

75 months

Wednesday 14th May
quotequote all
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

2,778 posts

77 months

Wednesday 14th May
quotequote all
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

4,316 posts

255 months

Wednesday 14th May
quotequote all
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

Original Poster:

20,922 posts

283 months

Wednesday 14th May
quotequote all
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

4,316 posts

255 months

Wednesday 14th May
quotequote all
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

2,471 posts

299 months

Thursday 15th May
quotequote all
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.

bad company

Original Poster:

20,922 posts

283 months

Tuesday 2nd September
quotequote all
Unbelievably it’s happened again, once again on the A3.

Don’t know whether to go through the hassle of disputing it again or just let them run round in circles trying to collect.


Southerner

2,184 posts

69 months

Tuesday 2nd September
quotequote all
I suppose there’s a risk of them taking potentially damaging action for non payment before they realise they’ve cocked up (again), which would be difficult for you to undo?

bad company

Original Poster:

20,922 posts

283 months

Tuesday 2nd September
quotequote all
Southerner said:
I suppose there’s a risk of them taking potentially damaging action for non payment before they realise they’ve cocked up (again), which would be difficult for you to undo?
What could they do? I’d happily defend my case in the County Court but doubt they’d be daft enough to go that far.

The most annoying thing is it seems to be happening with the same camera in a part of London I never go to.