One Londoner has been hit with over £95,000 in fines. These penalties were imposed due to issues with the city’s new auto pay ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) system. The one person ended up with an incredible 200 PCNs for unpaid charges, over £11,000 worth of fines. The true mess started when their auto pay account was shut down in December, setting off the cascade of fees and charges.
The person had set up an auto pay account for their non-Ulez-compliant van. When the account got suspended, they started receiving PCNs. Even when the person attempted to rectify the scenario, this person was met with numerous challenges. Another significant problem was a misspelled last name on the account, which led Transport for London (TfL) to classify them as a “third party.” This incorrect classification thus led to the dismissal of their appeals against the imposed fines.
In that month, the person contacted TfL customer service, in a call that was recorded. They needed direction on what an attainable payment plan would look like. Instead, they were faced with ambiguity and contradictory information, leaving them unsure about the options available to them.
To compound their anguish, the person is now charged for 70 new fines after losing appeals. Even though they have already paid £11,445 in fines, they still owe £1,400. TfL eventually did restore their account, but only after changing the spelling of their surname, creating a whole new set of challenges.
Upon being alerted to the person’s poor mental health TfL revoked all remaining PCNs. A spokesperson from TfL stated, “We will always try and support people who are struggling to pay penalty charges.” In a brief press release, they acknowledged that they had settled with the person. This settlement determined how much would be paid to settle the issue.
TfL’s moves have mitigated much of the concern related to perpetual borrowing. The person is still left in a very tight financial spot due to the hefty fines they’ve already racked up. The suspension of their auto pay account in December continues to pose hurdles for them. These problems still loom large on their introduction to Ulez charges.