Request ID: FOI-1744-2425 Date published: 09 September 2024
You asked
I would like to enquire about cases in the last 12 months that have made representations against a PCN when it was believed that full payment had been made to travel in London, but later found to be through a fraudulent third party.
Please could you provide figures for how many such cases made representations, and how many of these were successful in having the PCN cancelled.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1744-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27th August 2024 asking for information about the Congestion Charging scheme. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Congestion Charge: I would like to enquire about cases in the last 12 months that have made representations against a PCN when it was believed that full payment had been made to travel in London, but later found to be through a fraudulent third party. Please could you provide figures for how many such cases made representations, and how many of these were successful in having the PCN cancelled.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
We are aware of the existence of some unofficial websites which accept payments of our Road User Charging scheme charges, usually at a higher rate. These are not affiliated in any way to TfL. Unfortunately, internet search engines do not always suggest the official TfL Pay to Drive web page at the top of their search results. This means that people may be offered a link to an unofficial payment site. TfL does promote its official website through Google and the wider campaign to raise awareness of our Road User Charging schemes. We encourage all motorists to use the official TfL site (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/pay-to-drive-in-london) and have no association with third party organisations that process charges. There is advice on the official website for customers and we work proactively with search engine companies such as Google, as well as with Advertising Standards and Trading Standards, to remove them entirely from the internet.
We have specific business rules in place which allows for the cancellation of a penalty when it is evidenced that the charge was purchased via a third party website. If no evidence is provided to confirm a payment was made the representation is rejected.
For Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for journeys between 01/09/2023 to 31/08/2024 inclusive, we have received 442 representations on the grounds that the charge was paid through an unauthorised site. Of these, 235 were accepted and the PCN cancelled, and 207 were rejected.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
