!$?$?!? congestion zone

[anarchy-inc]

Earlier this week I had the misfortune of having to drive through the congestion zone in London. Because the trip was not planned, I did not have a chance to pay the charge before leaving and because of traffic (so much for reduced traffic because of the zone) and a late meeting, I didn't get home til very late. By the time I got to my computer to pay the charge, it was too late, the time was 0010. The website will not let you pay after midnight and you have no choice but to wait for the penalty charge notice. It arrived today and I'm furious!!!!! I know it's my responsibility to pay in time and all that but the whole thing just stinks. I'm really angry at being treated like a criminal for not paying by midnight. It's not like I was trying to avoid paying. On a more general note, I guess I'm more angry at the whole premise of the congestion zone, but that's a different story.

</rant>

 

[nickg]

Yup. Welcome to life under that **** Livingstone.
Forget trying to argue your case - you can't.
The fact is you drive a car, and are therefore vermin. In fact, if you ever had the "pleasure" of meeting Ken he would probably call you a Nazi. Nice chap. Great ambassador for the city.

The congestion charge has made no discernable difference whatsoever to traffic. It is simply a stealth tax on car drivers.
No doubt it also partly pays for Ken's £150K a year for life mayoral pension when he gets voted out.

 

[anarchy-inc]

I guess I know that I can't fight it but whether or not you agree with the principle of the zone is one thing (assuming that someone here will agree with it). The draconian penalty system is quite another.

 

[marcos]

Last week I had to pay the charge for 2 of my company vans. The stupid system would not recognise either of the reg Nos so I had to give them a call, Guess what? I couldn't get through to anyone so in the end I didn't pay the charge and I have written them a nasty letter stating my disaproval at this pathetic scheme that you can't even pay for now. I have so far recieved no communication from them and will certainly not be paying any fines that are incurred because of this.
This has never happened to me before but after speaking to a large shopfitting organisation I deal with it is becoming a problem with them too.

 

[mercedes lover]

I ****ing hate that **** red Ken, he's a piece of ****

 

[PJH]

Haven't been in London since the day before it started.
Don't like the idea of it at all.
I think they should give people 24Hrs to pay, not 'Pay before mid-night'.

At least people in Edinburgh got to vote on the subject.

Edit:- This BBC link says that crashes are down 5% and traffic down 15% since London introduced the charges. So that means things are getting worse.

 

[saorbust]

Good article in Autocar on the C Zone this week...

 

[Tan]

In fact, if you ever had the "pleasure" of meeting Ken he would probably call you a Nazi. Nice chap. Great ambassador for the city.

It really suprices me that he has not been sacked for that comment.

Many people in alot lower profile jobs have lost their jobs over far less serious comments.

 

[anarchy-inc]

It really suprices me that he has not been sacked for that comment.

Many people in alot lower profile jobs have lost their jobs over far less serious comments.

As much as I hate what he does, I have to agree with his right to say what he said and I'd defend to my death that right. I'm fed up with people who say that his comments were somehow anti-semetic.

 

[scotth_uk]

I like the c charge system, but agree that you should have a grace period to pay - similar to Melbourne where they allow you 48 hours.

 

[guydewdney]

As much as I hate what he does, I have to agree with his right to say what he said and I'd defend to my death that right. I'm fed up with people who say that his comments were somehow anti-semetic.

here here...

what you dont hear about is what the journalist was saying before hand.... ken said that the guy was acting like a camp guard - not saying that the reporter was a nazi...

fair play to him for sticking up for his thoughts...

but i wish he would just quantify his statement, and say somthing like "my comment was to that reporter, and was not meant to be anti-semetic in any way"... bloomin peeps with chips on their shoulders - what was that otehr one - where they wanted to put up a poster of pigs flying - someone complained it was anti-semetic?? what - so sainsburys is anti-semetic cos it sells bacon ferchrissakes...

</rant>
</thread hijack>
sorry...

 

[sparkyspost]

Not trying to wind any of you up further and point you in their direction or anything but...

"C Charge firm makes £148Million profit"!
Capita, the company that administrates the c' charge, has seen its pre-tax profits raise 22% to £148M, as announced on Thurs.
They admitted that they would likely make an additional £38M if Red Ken extends their contract by a year till Feb 2009. This EXCLUDES! any likely windfall from an expansion of the zone westward.

Apparently the company is likely to make £280Millioin profit out of its 5 year contract with TfL.


For those of you with a view to contribute the consultation on the changes to the congestion charing will be closing on Monday.

To contribute you can email:
[email protected]
Or send a letter to:
Congestion Charging
PO BOX 44753
London
SW1H 0WQ



Cheers

Sparky

 

[anarchy-inc]

I like the c charge system, but agree that you should have a grace period to pay - similar to Melbourne where they allow you 48 hours.

Care to explain why you like it? everyone I've talked to that lives/works in London has said it really hasn't made a difference to the traffic but costs us all alot of money. What's to like?!?!

 

[del-b]

Anarchy-Inc

If you've got access to the internet, which obviously you have, you can pay the congestion charge online, it only takes 30 seconds, or go into your neatest corner shop and pay it, it takes 20 seconds. You have only yourself to blame for not paying it, so stop moaning.

 

[anarchy-inc]

Anarchy-Inc

If you've got access to the internet, which obviously you have, you can pay the congestion charge online, it only takes 30 seconds, or go into your neatest corner shop and pay it, it takes 20 seconds. You have only yourself to blame for not paying it, so stop moaning.

1) Read the original post and you'll see that I did try online but it was too late.
2) I don't live in London and so don't have a "corner shop" which accepts Czone payments.
3) I blame RedKen for this draconian payment system that gives no leeway to law abiding citizens the benefit of the doubt.

 

[del-b]

1) Read the original post and you'll see that I did try online but it was too late.
2) I don't live in London and so don't have a "corner shop" which accepts Czone payments.

1) I did read the original post, that's why I replied.
I had to go into London a few weeks ago on short notice and it took milliseconds to pay my £5 online before I went.
2) I don't live in in London, but from where I live, High Wycombe,which is 'nearish' to Bicester, there are PayPoint shops, which accept Czone payments, about every two miles on the way into London.

 

[scotth_uk]

Care to explain why you like it? everyone I've talked to that lives/works in London has said it really hasn't made a difference to the traffic but costs us all alot of money. What's to like?!?!

As posted elsewhere on similar topics previously, I have noticed an incredible drop in traffic on the east to west route through London. Based on that alone, I am happy to pay £5!

Whilst not putting your acquaintances in the same category, there are a lot of people who live/work in London who don't actually drive anywhere and feel that they are qualified to comment from the footpath on their walk to the tube station.

I have some Friends who live in Essex and work just inside the zone on the eastern side of town, and they feel a bit hard-done-by as if they need their wife to perhaps drop them something at work, it costs a fiver.

I don't really believe all the crap on TV about businesses feeling the pinch. People I know who run stores in the zone, have had no drop in custom since the launch. I don't deny that there is a problem for some, but I think that there are businesses doing poorly in general, who now conveniently have something else to blame for generic mis-management and pathetic customer service. I am yet to see a convincing interview on TV from any store owner about the issue.

As I have only been here for a few years, I don't have any long term history with Ken Livingstone, but find it funny so many brits hate the man. He cannot do anything right at all by many people. He could hand out cash on a street corner and someone would still complain.

Whilst his solutions may not suit everybody, they seem to be reasonable attempts to control what is a very large city. No one else seems to have any better ideas. Any attempt to raise money for public transport improvements, traffic control initiatives and encouraging green-transport (cycling, walking, etc) get a nod from me.

 

[scotth_uk]

You can even pay by text message on your mobile - it really is that easy to pay!

 

[anarchy-inc]

You can even pay by text message on your mobile - it really is that easy to pay!

You sound like a commercial!

 

[scotth_uk]

You sound like a commercial!

Yes, come to think of it I did!