Request ID: FOI-1299-2425 Date published: 14 August 2024
You asked
Because TFLs systems lag the DVLA systems by many weeks, In this period, TFL incorrectly charge vehicles ULEZ to vehicles that have been taxed as historic vehicles. This historic tax class is exempt of ULEZ. In my experience, when disputing these charges, TFL refuse to accept this fact and do not process a refund. Therefore I would like to understand how many people are affected and I would like TFL to provide details and data under FOI request to the following questions -
1/ Since the expansion of the ULEZ zone, how many ULEZ charges have been disputed because it was stated the vehicle was classed as historic
2/ In these circumstances how many of these individual charges were actually refunded by TFL?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1299-2425
Thank you for your request received on 22 July 2024 asking for information about disputed Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. To establish whether a vehicle is compliant with or exempt from the ULEZ we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA. Vehicles that are classified by the Government as classic cars with a historic vehicle tax class are exempt from the ULEZ.
We receive updates from the DVLA on a four-weekly basis, ensuring we have the latest data on vehicle compliance available. However, there may sometimes be customers who have swapped private number plates or changed their vehicle tax class who find that their new vehicle is not included in the latest update and will unfortunately be registered as non-compliant until the following update a month later. We are working on ways to increase this frequency.
In cases where a vehicle is on Auto Pay and charges are applied to an account after the DVLA has been updated, but before our record has been amended to reflect the change, we will refund the charges. The refund will be subject to us receiving proof of the date which the tax class was updated and the vehicle becoming exempt. This also applies to charges which are paid manually.
When we issue a charge refund, we do not record specifically the reason of refund and therefore we do not hold the information requested. To establish this information, we would need to access every refund request. We are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that this part of your request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources. The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and may help address your concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and as there is already a large amount of data already published on the ULEZ, on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
However if you have experienced difficulties obtaining a refund in these circumstances, you can contact our Road User Charging team at [email protected] and they will be happy to assist you.
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
