Builder survives £3,137 zone penalty for in the future slip

The colossal cost David Clark acquired was for contravening London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) throughout in the future when driving into Croydon, south of the capital, in April final 12 months.

Fortunately, after help from Crusader, the dire destiny he feared for his livelihood has now been averted and the penalty discover cancelled in a goodwill gesture by Transport for London (TfL) which runs the scheme.

Of course David is massively relieved with this consequence and has by no means disputed it was his mistake coming into the zone with out paying.

However questions stay over the method he skilled which he discovered most unfair.

At the time the proprietor of a Ford van, he lives in France however usually works in England the place he nonetheless has household.

The first he realised about his error was greater than eight months later in January this 12 months when he received the bombshell demand from EPCplc, TfL’s assortment associate.

“There was no photo evidence, why it took so long or a detailed breakdown of charges as to how they reached that sum. Had I known earlier, I would have settled immediately, but those delays gave me no chance and yet I was the one expected to pay,” reasoned David.

Just as worrying had been the pan-European communications themselves – letters variously had French and Swedish stamps and ordered him to pay the cost in euros (3,658) right into a German financial institution.

“It seemed so haphazard it made me think at first it was a scam, there seemed to be so many countries involved. I was very wary when I got in touch,” he provides.

After that he adopted EPC’s orders, sending an e mail however was informed he nonetheless needed to foot the total invoice. “By then I had sold the van for scrap but complied when they asked me to send a copy of the log book. Now I’ve got a final rejection and am desperate. My business could go under if I have to pay all this,” he informed Crusader.

A more in-depth take a look at one demand reveals in very small print that David had been despatched a discover in early November, so nonetheless months after the contravention.

Other sparse particulars point out the quantity was made up of a high-quality plus a hefty late cost cost.

Following our attraction to TfL it commented: “We have reviewed [the] case and used our discretion to cancel all fines.”

EPCplc has been contacted for remark.

[David’s name has been changed]