Request ID: FOI-0253-2324 Date published: 12 June 2023
You asked
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Specifically, I am interested in obtaining information regarding how much money bailiff companies profit from unpaid ULEZ charges.
I understand that Transport for London (TfL) works with bailiff companies to collect unpaid ULEZ charges, and I am interested in learning more about the financial relationship between TfL and these companies. Therefore, I would like to request the following information:
1. The total amount of unpaid ULEZ charges that have been referred to bailiff companies for collection over the past 12 months.
2. The names of the bailiff companies that TfL works with to collect unpaid ULEZ charges.
3. The total amount of money paid to each bailiff company by TfL for the collection of unpaid ULEZ charges over the past 12 months.
4. The total amount of money collected by each bailiff company from unpaid ULEZ charges over the past 12 months.
5. The percentage of the total amount of money collected by each bailiff company from unpaid ULEZ charges that they retain as profit.
6. Any other relevant financial information regarding the relationship between TfL and the bailiff companies that collect unpaid ULEZ charges.
I would appreciate it if you could provide me with the requested information in electronic format within 20 working days of the receipt of this letter, as per the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0253-2324
Thank you for your request received on 26 April 2023 asking for information about unpaid Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:
1. The total amount of unpaid ULEZ charges that have been referred to bailiff companies for collection over the past 12 months.
When we issue a ULEZ penalty the recipient has the right to challenge the penalty by submitting a representation to us. Alternatively they have 14 days to pay at the reduced rate of £90 or 28 days to pay at the full rate of £180. If no payment or representation is received a Charge Certificate is issued increasing the penalty to £270. If the penalty remains unpaid the debt is registered with the Northampton County Court and an Order for Recovery is issued. If the balance remains unpaid a warrant is issued to our contracted Enforcement Agents. This process is similar for all of our road user charging schemes. Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 1,013,446 warrants were issued to our contracted Enforcement Agents. Please note that an individual may be issued multiple warrants if their PCNs remain unpaid, the 1,013,446 warrants that were issued relate to 108,116 unique vehicle registration marks. Our compliance data from March 2023 shows that around 60% of non-compliant vehicles pay the daily charge, with a further 30% not chargeable. Around 9% of non-compliant vehicles will be issued a PCN for non-payment of the charge. Non-chargeable vehicles include those that benefit from an extended grace period, including community transport minibuses and disabled tax class vehicles, vehicles that benefit from one of the limited number of exemptions or discounts, vehicles that were detected on a diversion route, and vehicles for which no enforcement action could be taken based on available data. A further breakdown of average ULEZ charges is available in the factsheets published on our website:
3. The total amount of money paid to each bailiff company by TfL for the collection of unpaid ULEZ charges over the past 12 months.
We do not pay our contracted Enforcement Agents for the collection of penalties.
4. The total amount of money collected by each bailiff company from unpaid ULEZ charges over the past 12 months
When our contracted Enforcement Agents collect penalties on our behalf they remit the penalty amount to us and retain any additional fees they collect.
Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 the following amounts were remitted to us for penalty charge notice (PCN) amounts
5. The percentage of the total amount of money collected by each bailiff company from unpaid ULEZ charges that they retain as profit.
When our contract Enforcement Agents collect penalties on our behalf they charge additional fees for collection. The fees are set out in legislation and charged by the Enforcement Agents as a supplement to the amount owed for the penalty. The standard fee structure is set out in the Taking Control of Goods Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1/made).
We do not record the information on what percentage of money collected by the Enforcement Agents is fees and penalty amounts.
6. Any other relevant financial information regarding the relationship between TfL and the bailiff companies that collect unpaid ULEZ charges
n/a If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
