London Bus Driver Battles £270 TfL Fine Over Alleged Congestion Charge Error
A furious driver from Hackney has been embroiled in a contentious dispute with Transport for London after receiving a £270 Congestion Charge fine, which he claims was issued while his car was parked outside his home. David Hoar, a 56-year-old London bus driver, described the penalty as "absolute nonsense" and alleges that TfL mixed up his journey details with another trip for which he had already paid the charge.
Shock Letter and Escalating Fines
Last Wednesday, February 4, Hoar was stunned to find a letter detailing a hefty fixed penalty notice in his letterbox on Northwold Road in Clapton. According to TfL, Hoar failed to pay the £15 Congestion Charge for driving in Central London, subsequently ignoring initial fines of £90 and £180, leading to the full £270 demand. However, Hoar insists he was left "frustrated and angry" because TfL confused the date in question with a separate journey on December 23, for which he had properly paid the £15 fee.
Disputed Evidence and Timeline
Hoar vehemently denies being in Central London at 7:30 am on December 2, as TfL claims. "I hardly use my car, and I’d never drive into Central London at that time," he told reporters. "My car was outside my house at this time. The only time I’d ever driven into the congestion charge was on 23rd December." On that date, he explained, a diversion on Pentonville Road forced his vehicle into the zone, prompting him to pay the charge after consulting with TfL by phone for safety.
Hoar argues that the evidence provided by TfL—a CCTV image of his Nissan Almere on Grays Inn Road without a date—supports his case. He notes that the car's headlights and dark setting in the image match his mid-to-late afternoon drive on December 23 to visit his aunt in Twickenham, further indicating a mix-up.
Personal Struggles and Communication Breakdown
Compounding the issue, Hoar has been signed off from work with depression since his mother's death in October, and he says this fine has only worsened his grief. "I'm so angry," he added. "There's no way to speak or communicate with the people who issued the fine. How could I have challenged the initial £180 fine if I never received the letter in the first place? They’re just after the money, that’s all they’re interested in."
Resolution After Media Intervention
Following a media request for comment, TfL wrote to Hoar to confirm the cancellation of the £270 fine. A spokesperson for the transport authority stated: "While our records show that it was Mr Hoar’s vehicle within the congestion charge zone on December 2, we understand that this was the result of a diversion that was in place, so we have cancelled the PCN." This case highlights ongoing concerns about TfL's fine enforcement and communication processes, sparking debate over fairness and accuracy in congestion charge penalties.
