Operators have been warned against using unofficial websites for one-off London congestion charge payments as some charge a high premium for their service and others have been known not to actually carry out payments.
The warning from Transport for London (TfL) follows a recent ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which found that one site, paylondoncongestion.co.uk, was “likely to lead consumers to believe that the web page was an official method of paying the London congestion charge and was affiliated with TfL”. The ASA’s investigation upheld three complaints relating to this site misrepresenting a link with TfL and not making clear the fees it levied.
Unofficial online payment channels have been known to charge vehicle owners as much as £6 on top of the normal congestion charge (£10) for their service. Some claim they offer extra services for customers such as email confirmations and a dedicated phone helpline but TfL itself offers such services for free, it stressed.
In some cases, unofficial sites have also failed to pay the charge on behalf of customers, resulting in vehicle owners being issued with a penalty charge notice (PCN), it added.
TfL has advised vehicle owners seeking to make a one-off payment for the charge online only to use its official website. Individual vehicle operators and fleets can also set up discounted automated monthly payments based on direct debit, or pay by phone (0343 222 2222).
