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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know whether to pay the Congestion Charge or not?

67 replies

outdamspot · 30/05/2021 16:24

Yesterday I was driving around the edge of London's Congestion Charge zone when my SatNav fell off the window. While my passenger was grappling to put it back I got into the wrong lane and was forced to turn into a street that I think is part of the zone because I drove passed the signs. Once the satnav was fixed, we got back on track but I don't know at what point we left the zone - maybe 15-20 minutes later but it's hard to tell because I didn't see an obvious sign to say we were leaving it.

If I owe money then I'll pay up, but how can I be sure? The website allows you to enter a postcode to see if it's in the zone, but I don't know what the postcode was.

If I pay, but it turns out I don't owe anything, I don't suppose I'll get my money back, will I? But if I don't pay do I automatically get a fine? And if TfL's computer system can read my number plate, how come it can't check to see if I actually owe anything before it takes my money?

OP posts:
HaveringWavering · 31/05/2021 16:35

@Bluntness100

Op if you drove past a sign saying you were entering rhen you entered. I don’t understand why you’re confused. There are no pretend signs up.
There are “zone ahead” signs though and it’s easy just to see the big C and think you are entering it. There is no need to be so patronising.
Notmyfirstusername · 31/05/2021 16:42

As someone who once worked on the scheme, unfortunately you need to pay the charge as it wouldn’t be grounds for appeal. You may get lucky and have it cancelled due to a clerical error on their part, but I wouldn’t risk it, as PP said, those charges escalate pretty quickly.

Bluntness100 · 31/05/2021 16:46

There are “zone ahead” signs though and it’s easy just to see the big C and think you are entering it. There is no need to be so patronising

Ha! You’re the one accusing her of getting confused and not understanding what zone ahead means. Now that’s patronising,

Loving the irony 😂😂😂

Sometimesfraught82 · 31/05/2021 16:46

@Bluntness100

Op if you drove past a sign saying you were entering rhen you entered. I don’t understand why you’re confused. There are no pretend signs up.
They start sign posting about 8 miles in advance!
Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 31/05/2021 16:53

Pay it or you will be sent a fine.
I set up auto pay for our cars but didn't tick a box, and was sent a fine. It is quite difficult to speak to a human although eventually I got through to a nice one. Even though she could see what I had done I still had to pay the fine.

TulisaIsBrill · 31/05/2021 16:59

@Gladimnotcampinginthisweather

Pay it or you will be sent a fine. I set up auto pay for our cars but didn't tick a box, and was sent a fine. It is quite difficult to speak to a human although eventually I got through to a nice one. Even though she could see what I had done I still had to pay the fine.
This is where I get angry with the way things are done in this country. In Japan, you make a mistake and they assume it was honest and wave the fine. You would just pay for the initial charge. Here, pay up for your honest mistake and a fine on top.

It's pretty sickening. Nevertheless, for the OP, just pay and chalk it up to experience.

LadyMargaretBeauforte · 31/05/2021 17:37

"Oh to be as superior as you. We all bow down to your fabulous route planning and navigation skills. If only everyone's dad was a hackney cab driver then we wouldn't have such a mess on the roads".

It's not superior to plan a route before you start one, even with a sat nav, it's basic common sense. Others have said same. I do not think you need to have had a Dad on the cabs to know how to read maps, route plan ahead and generally have an idea of where you are going, before making a journey. Takes all of 5 mins.

You are right though, if others put a little more pre thought into their journeys we wouldn't have such mess on the roads. On that we can both agree.

Op was in congestion charge zone for up-to 20 mins. The charge is payable. Lucky OP had her 14 yr old child there to "grapple" with the sat nav and "use his phone" - (using Google Maps??? ) to sort an alternative route and direct her back on the right road.

Original poster
outdamspot · 31/05/2021 17:58

LadyM, you really do have a chip on your shoulder about this don't you? If you can't understand how pathetic, nasty and disproportionate you're being then there's really nothing more to say, other than to suggest you reflect on your empathy skills.

OP posts:
anothernewtop · 31/05/2021 18:00

@outdamspot

I've checked the website. It seems to be aimed at people who plan to drive into the zone, or know they've driven into the zone.

Eh?

So we could all just say 'sorry, I'm not paying i didn't plan it' Confused

Original poster
outdamspot · 31/05/2021 18:04

So we could all just say 'sorry, I'm not paying i didn't plan it

And a few people need to reflect on their comprehension skills too.

OP posts:
Sometimesfraught82 · 31/05/2021 18:05

Only on mumsnet!

Or perhaps primary aged siblings Grin

Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 31/05/2021 18:10

TulisalsBrill it is all part of discouraging you from driving into the capital. My dealings with them have been overwhelmingly unpleasant, which is why I was excited to a) speak to a person and b) get a nice one. However I assume they don't have much personal leeway and the assumption is always that the customer is in the wrong.
My experience of Dart Charge has been much more positive.

anothernewtop · 31/05/2021 18:15

@outdamspot

So we could all just say 'sorry, I'm not paying i didn't plan it

And a few people need to reflect on their comprehension skills too.

Maybe. Perhaps you could explain what you mean?

user1471447863 · 01/06/2021 16:07

@anothernewtop I understood what they meant as the site is setup to let you pay for having been in the zone or planning to go into the zone - It does not permit you to check whether you have been in or not and whether you have any outstanding previous day charges to pay.
This is something that would benefit the OP greatly as they were a bit unsure if they had or hadn't strayed into the zone.

anothernewtop · 01/06/2021 16:16

I * understood what they meant as the site is setup to let you pay for having been in the zone or planning to go into the zone - It does not permit you to check whether you have been in or not*

OP knows they were in the zone though? They drove past the sign and were in the zone for 15-20 mins.

Original poster
outdamspot · 01/06/2021 17:59

OP knows they were in the zone though? They drove past the sign and were in the zone for 15-20 mins.

I was pretty sure I passed the sign, but not 100%. I also didn't know whether the charge applies as soon as you pass the sign, or after spending a certain amount of time in the zone. The website doesn't make that very clear. When I put my registration number in I expected to be told "you entered the zone at time X and left at time Y so you owe Z" because that's what a reasonable person would expect it to do. But it's TfL, so it's a crappy, confusing system that doesn't cater well for the (probably very common) use case of somebody accidently driving into the zone for the first time in their lives and understandably having basic questions. It probably catches out a lot of people and earns a lot of money in fines. If I was expecting to make the same mistake frequently then it might be worth paying £10 per car per year for auto-pay, but I don't.

Thank you to all pp"s who helped me to understand the system a little better, or who empathised with my frustration. But it was a minor frustration in the grand scheme of things, and really doesn't warrant any more heckling from trolls.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 01/06/2021 18:10

The other week I accidentally went over a toll-charging bridge, I was in an unfamiliar area, got stuck in the wrong lane and couldn't get out. I didn't even know the bridge charged until I saw the sign saying I needed to login and pay. I immediately turned round and came back over the bridge. I logged in and paid when I got home. It wasn't worth the risk. Just pay it.

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