London drivers - help needed with congestion charge penalty - can I contest it?

[IlanaK]

I live in central london and rarely use my car,but once a week I drive out to my business (a nursery) out in Essex. I use a route that takes me along Euston Rd which is on the edge of the congestion zone and is not chargable. ANyway, I was just coming up to Kings Cross, through the one way system, and I heard a noise and turned to see ds2 projectile vomiting all over himself and the car. I could not pull over on Euston Rd - it is a red route - so I turned onto the nearest side road and pulled over. I had to take him out of the car, change him, try to wipe down the car seat etc. Then I loaded him back in, pulled back onto Euston Rd (I was only a few feet away from it on the side rd) and went home.

Toady I got a penalty notice of £50 as apparantly that road I pulled onto is part of the congestion zone. I want to contest it, but it clearly says there are only 6 reasons which you can contest it and not realising that you turned onto a congestion zone road becuase your child is sick is not one of them!

Can I contest it or is it my fault for not checking later about that road (last thing on my mind with vomiting ds)?

I think you get an option which says other, and then a space for you to give your reason.

But is it a valid reason? Or is it still my fault?

Write it in, they usually respond very quickly....your reason sounds fine to me.

Thanks Fuzzywuzzy. I have just looked closer at the form and instructions and there is no "other". There are only 6 reasons to contest and they all related to either not being in a C zone or not being the person responisble for the car, or having sold it etc. There is no option for extenuating circumstances or anything. Seems really unfair to me.

Arghhh just had a look at the online form, the form is different for the disputes and refund form.

Is there not a contact number or email you could send???

Nope and they are very clear that you can only write in with the form for disputes and you must tick one of the boxes - none of which apply to me.

Seems so unfair. I would never go in the C zone - only pulled over to clear up the sick!

IlanaK we tried to contest on the grounds that we were sent into the zone by one street (same as you!) by police on a roadblock. Our appeal was rejected. We would need the police officer's number to verify apparently. They don't give an inch.

Ok, thanks. Seems like I will just have to pay up. Seems totally unfair really - what was I meant to do under the circumstances?