Woman's confusion over congestion fines

Woman's confusion over congestion fines

Mrs Chedgzoy has never been to London

A woman living in Herefordshire has received two fines for non-payment of London's congestion charge - even though she has never been to London.

The first fine arrived at Alison Chedgzoy's home in Bromyard on Monday morning - the second arrived on Tuesday.

Mrs Chedgzoy said: "When I got the first one I thought it was a joke, but now it is getting a bit frightening.

"At the time I got these fines, I was actually at work in the radiology department at Worcester hospital. I can prove that because an hours after the first supposed fine I was filling my car with diesel and the second day I was shopping within an hour of the time I was supposed to be in London.

If someone believes they have been sent a PCN incorrectly, then they should write to us and we will consider their case

Derek Turner, TfL

"My car can't travel that fast."

"If someone can send us a map of London to show us where she's been, we would be much obliged."

Transport for London (TfL), which is responsible for the congestion charge, said a "small number" of people had been wrongly sent fines.

Derek Turner, TfL managing director of Street Management, said: "One likely reason for this is human error on our part, with operatives mis-entering number plate details into the system.

"Improved quality control is being introduced to tackle this. If someone believes they have been sent a PCN (fine) incorrectly, then they should write to us and we will consider their case.

"We apologise for any errors or any shortcomings in customer service experienced by any individual and, working with our contractor Capita, we are resolving these teething problems as soon as possible."

TfL predict the scheme will raise £130m in its first year to fund improvements to public transport in London.