Transport for London (24 016 043)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 29 Jan 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about two Penalty Charge Notices because the Authority will reduce both fines.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, complains about two Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) he received after his partner drove her child to London for medical treatment.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and his partner, and by the Authority. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X’s partner drove to London to take her child for medical treatment. She had to drive due to train strikes and forgot to pay the daily charge of £12.50 to drive in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The Authority issued two PCNs for £180 each.
- Mr X appealed to the tribunal. The tribunal rejected the appeal and said he should pay £180 for each fine. Mr X paid the full fine for each PCN.
- In response to my enquiries, the Authority said it would reduce each PCN to £12.50 and refund £167.50 for each PCN, as a gesture of goodwill.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because the Authority will reduce each PCN even though there is no suggestion of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman