London Congestion Charge

As a Blue Badge holder I am excempt from the Charge, when I found I was having to attend a Hospital within the Charge I applied for excemption. From downloading the form to getting an excemption letter took 10 days which I think is very good. Wasn't sure why a London Congestion Charge went to Worthing, but there we are!!

The London Congestion Charge is, essentially, if you drive a car into the centre. It's £8 if you pay on the same day, rising to a £60 penalty if you leave it and they contact you. Please be aware how poor and byzantine the London congestion charge is:

We were not sure if we'd driven in the congestion charge area or not, so registered online and tried to find out. YOU CAN'T FIND OUT IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE CHARGING ZONE OR NOT. No-one can tell you, online or on the 'phone. Your only choice is either: (1) To pay anyway, even though you probably don't owe anything, or (2) Wait for that £60 penalty charge, if it comes. This is just dreadful. Imagine how unfriendly this is for visitors to London.

Nigel

I'd like to warn anyone who's interested how poor this congestion charge system in London is.

(1) It's hard to tell if you've been in the congestion charging zone or not.

(2) So you'll pay if necessary, BUT THE SYSTEM CAN'T TELL YOU IF YOU OWE THEM MONEY OR NOT, pathetic.

(3) So if you don't pay, you'll find out when you get a punitive £60 penalty charge, instead of the £8 pay on the day charge which you were perfectly willing to pay in the first place.

(4) There's a £10 charge on refunds, so you can't get your money back, and you can't pay in advance for any day when you go into the congestion charge area.

We need to welcome people to London. What a Kafkaesque welcome!

Nigel