Our ref: FOI-2684-1617

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 30 March 2017 asking for information about Congestion Charging.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.

1.  How many requests for refunds on the ground of the Congestion Charge payer paying for the wrong day have been made in the last 5 years.

2. How many of those requests have been refused.

3.  On what grounds have those requests been refused.

TfL does not hold the information you have requested in these questions.  This is because we do not record incoming correspondence in such a way that would enable us to identify refund requests from customers over the last five years stating they have paid the Congestion Charge for the wrong date.  As explained below, there is no requirement for us to do so.

Information about the conditions and administration fees applicable to refunds or amendments to Congestion Charge payments is available on our website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/paying-the-congestion-charge/refunds-and-reimbursements. The information given on this page is in line with The Central London Congestion Charging Scheme - The Consolidated Scheme Order, the legislation which governs the Congestion Charging Scheme. The Scheme Order sets out that it is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to ensure the correct charge is paid for their vehicle. By paying the charge, customers are purchasing a licence from TfL for the use of their specified vehicle within the Congestion Charging Zone on their specified date or dates.

Applications for refunds can only be made in advance of the first day of travel within the zone.  Applications for amendments can only be made in advance of or on the first day of travel.  There is no provision within the Scheme Order for us to issue refunds for a single daily Congestion Charge or for us to issue any refund for unused dates in the past.

4.  What agenda and minute items, inquiries and reports have been made to investigate a reasonable amendment to rules governing such refunds to ensure that best practice of other service providers and vendors is followed in order to similarly provide refunds in the case of mistake by the Congestion Charge payer.  Please provide copies of such documents.

The provision to apply for an amendment to a Congestion Charge payment was one of a number of changes introduced by TfL following a variation to the Scheme Order which was confirmed by the Mayor on 9 December 2014.  In line with all changes to the Scheme Order, this variation was subject to full public consultation; copies of the consultation documents are available on our website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/congestion-charge.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London