PCN for tourist Help!

[lubileejubilee]

Hi, more looking for advice than AIBU but I appreciate all feedback.

Yesterday I received a PCN for failing to pay a daily clean air charge when I visited Birmingham at the end of May.

Thing is (and for fear of looking like a complete idiot) I was completely oblivious that clean air charges even existed! I didn't see any signs on my drive into the city, and having googled them know don't think I would have even realised what they meant at the time (or if they applied to myself).

I was visiting from Scotland and live over 200 miles from Birmingham. They don't have clean air charges here or in any cities near me so I was completely naive to this.

Had I received a letter reminding me I was eligible for these charges I would have immediately paid but instead I've come home to a potential £120 fine, and further learned I should expect another £120 fine for when i left the city (I was staying over the weekend and only used my car when i arrived/left).

To rub salt into my wounds I googled the govt site for clean air charges in cities and my car is exempt from all with exception to Birmingham (which is gutting as I'd toyed with visiting Bristol instead that weekend 🙄).

Just wondering if anyone has experience with challenging these PCN particularly as I'm genuinely naive to them, live far away from anywhere that does and would absolutely be willing to retrospectively pay the daily charges for my time spent there.

Thanks in advance.

Cocobeau I think it's personally reasonable excuse not to understand the signs especially as they aren't consistent and change in design/background/colour etc. If you drove through a town and you saw a square purple sign with a '30' in it, it would be confusing. You'd think it had something to do with your speed but would question it's not a red circle sign with white background? I doubt before you left for said town you'd have googled 'signs/rules/laws associated with town X for me to be aware of.'

Looking online there have been many people that have successfully appealed for the exact reasons I've stated. If their clarity was idiot proof these would not have been successful.

There was quite a lot of publicity, I knew about them and googled whether I have to pay a few months ago, I don't live in the midlands either

motogirl there's been pretty limited national media coverage when this was launched in the middle of a global pandemic. Any publicity escaped mine (and many others attentions) no doubt drowned out by the constant covid19 coverage.

All you can do is write a grovelling apology.
Don't comment on the quality or quantity of signs, or criticise the council. Be factual, that you didn't know the zone existed and didn't realise the zone applied to you, etc.
Ask that as a one off they waive the fees, if you pay the original charge.

I drove into a similar zone around Heathrow and saw the signs, no idea what they meant. The first thing I did when I parked up was Google it. Perhaps it is worth being a bit more proactive in future and if you don't understand something you see on the road, ask or search online. It may be an expensive lesson.