London Congestion Charge

[countrykid]

Sorry long question! To anyone who regularly drives in London, this will probably sound strange but..... I need some help re the Congestion Charge. This weekend I had to go to London for a trade show at Battersea Evolution - within Battersea Park. I travelled down on Sunday and used my Sat-Nav Navman S30 but have no idea how to set to avoid toll roads etc. I admit that the signs showing you are about to enter a Congestion Charge (CC) zone are clear, and I know I travelled within the zone that day but am aware that weekends are exempt from charges. Today I travelled back, but cannot be 100% sure that I did not stray into the CC zone. With so much to concentrate on in a very busy city, and concious not to put a single wheel into a bus lane for fear of being caught on camera and fined etc (you hear all kinds of stories about that), my eyes were everywhere. With such sophistication, I thought I could go online today to the Transport for London website and punch in my car reg to find out if I had been within the zone - but not a chance. I phoned to ask if it was possible to find this out but was told no as thyey had no access to such data, either I pay the �8 fee "to be on the safe side" or take a chance and hope I hadn't been in it, otherwise I would get a bill through the post for �120 for non-payment. What kind of extortion is that?!!! Looks like I will have to pay the �8 just for peace of mind, and help fill the government coffers to enable MPs husbands to watch the occasional adult movie etc!! Any comments welcomed

[stelladrinka]

I feel for you as it's a pain in the backside. If you left Battersea and headed north then you definitely went in to it, unless you crossed the river via Lambeth bridge and went straight up Park Lane which is the only free through fare in the zone. To avoid the �60 fine (if paid within 2 weeks) I'd say swallow the 8 quid. If it was for work, can you not claim it back as an expense?

[countrykid]

Thanks for your reply. I had already decided to bite the bullet before seeing your answer, and paid the �8. I probably will claim it from work, but its the principal of the CC that annoyed me, and how there is no way to cross check. By the way, when I spoke to the call centre, they told me that if I did not pay on the day, and i later got a penalty notice, the "fine" would be �120 not �60. Isn't it amazing how programmes like BBC Watchdog would castigate some businesses for the mildest of things, yet this kind of "Scam" seems to be simply accepted by them and everyone.