Help! Congestion charge unpaid- just got enforcement notice!

[Decongestioncharge]

I have just received a letter from enforcement agents for unpaid congestion charge.

i haven’t received anything from tfl until now. Apparently it happened in September, but had no idea or I would have paid.

is there any way to reduce the charge ? It’s £355 and I can’t afford it!

Challenge it. I got one from Birmingham when it first came in, DH was in our second car and we both parked ce really, no signs and nothing in the car park even to flag there was even such a thing as these new charges. We were let off, apparent they'd had loads of complaints it wasn't signposted - fine if you're local as you'd know but we were visiting and had no idea

There’s no doubt I went in but I never saw a sign saying we were in congestion zone

You not seeing a sign isn't the same as you having no culpability for paying the charge.

Bit like if I drive in London congestion zone then claim I didn't see a sign

I know that. But proper signage is a requirement. I drive in London a lot and really alert to it so am surprised I never saw it.

ill need to pay a fine but wondered if anyone knew if they’ll reduce it slightly

It won’t help now but are you not registered for TFL autopay?

No - I always avoid the congestion zone, so never need to pay it ( or at least I thought I never did)

Ahh sorry. No other advice I’m afraid but definitely set it up. It was free when I last looked.

Did the big red C on the road not give it away? How much signage do you need?!

Is your vehicle registered to your current address? There would have been other Notices sent to you prior to it increasing to £355.

I was caught a while ago by a camera that had been rotated by people who go out to damage them. Do you have the photo? I managed to prove I was driving on a road outside the zone.

My God is this even a thing?
Glad you managed to overturn it (or turn it around) - pardon the pun 😁

Yes it is, there's an appeals process and you can do a SAR to get evidence. I'd suggest contacting TfL to ask when the PCN was issued first of all, good luck

Ask TfL for proof of previous correspondence.

I have the autopay thing set up just in case we accidentally drive into the zone, because we do a lot of skirting around the edges and there are several places where it’s impossible to avoid if you accidentally take a wrong turn. And the signage is appalling due to neighbouring authorities refusing to host the signage.

Being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, it can be quite easy to miss actual road signs.

But that's not the issue here, tfl haven't sent out the original notice or a reminder. The OP has been sent enforcement notice from a 3rd party for a massive penalty which is unfair.

@Decongestioncharge give tfl a ring and see if they can help you.

This will probably be a right faff but good luck!

If you did not receive the original penalty charge on the TFL website search “statutory declaration, congestion charge” submit one of those to explain this is your first notification of the offence - I am not sure what they do but assume this allows some to be reset and start again. Hopefully this will help you..

When my elderly neighbour somehow missed the signage and drove in Birmingham then went on a 2 month holiday to see her DD in Australia and got back to letter telling her about it but she'd missed the date to pay so the fine had increased they refused to reduce her fine. She had to pay it to avoid even further escalation. Can you put it on your credit card and sign up so if just in case you go into the zone on a future occasion you just get the smaller fine?