Question about London congestion charge..
25 June 2004, 01:11 PM
#1
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Question about London congestion charge..
I will be driving my car into London next week for one day but my office is literally 10 feet inside the boundary and I have to enter the congestion charge zone to go round the one way system - all of about 400 yards - to get to where I work.
Are they really going to charge me a fiver to drive round the one way system for 30 seconds and back out again?
Also how will they charge me, just send me a bill through the post or am I supposed to pay in advance?
Tempted to stick a cover over my plates as I drive round it and take the risk of old bill catching me which is highly unlikely
Are they really going to charge me a fiver to drive round the one way system for 30 seconds and back out again?
Also how will they charge me, just send me a bill through the post or am I supposed to pay in advance?
Tempted to stick a cover over my plates as I drive round it and take the risk of old bill catching me which is highly unlikely
25 June 2004, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
Are they really going to charge me a fiver to drive round the one way system for 30 seconds and back out again?
25 June 2004, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by imlach
Err...of course they are....the boundary is there for a reason....you cross it, you get charged. If there were exceptions, it'd be chaos.
25 June 2004, 01:21 PM
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LOL I could imlach but a days parking will be £25 in an NCP car park where I have a space for the day in my office underground car park for free - just that bast@rd Ken Livingstone is gonna charge me a fiver to get to it 10 yards inside the bloody zone
25 June 2004, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
LOL I could imlach but a days parking will be £25 in an NCP car park where I have a space for the day in my office underground car park for free - just that bast@rd Ken Livingstone is gonna charge me a fiver to get to it 10 yards inside the bloody zone
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25 June 2004, 01:32 PM
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look for the cameras that take the pictures of the number plate. They are on black poles and are easily visible. Some of them are quite far into the zone so it might worth chancing it.
If you do cover your plate though, make sure you wear a blalaclava, those CCTV cameras underneath the plate recognition ones aint there for fun y'know.
astraboy.
If you do cover your plate though, make sure you wear a blalaclava, those CCTV cameras underneath the plate recognition ones aint there for fun y'know.
astraboy.
25 June 2004, 01:35 PM
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FFS, just pay the £5. For a one off, it's not worth the potential hassle. A plod could easily see you cover up your plates or a member of the public see and report you etc. Stopping your car and getting out and covering your plates is certainly gonna draw attention, esp if you're in rush hour.
25 June 2004, 01:42 PM
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In fact what time does the congestion charge come into effect in the morning? I'm getting in before 7am so will I be affected anyway? And also if I leave at 4pm do they get you on the way out even if you didn't have to pay when you entered?
The road I am going down to get to my office is some tiny back street with a camera on it literally 10 yards from my office. Don't think any plod will be down that road before 7am on a Friday morning or any pedestrians for that matter Be a quick dash round the corner in the scoob with balaclava and straight into underground garage
The road I am going down to get to my office is some tiny back street with a camera on it literally 10 yards from my office. Don't think any plod will be down that road before 7am on a Friday morning or any pedestrians for that matter
Be a quick dash round the corner in the scoob with balaclava and straight into underground garage
25 June 2004, 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by angrynorth
That's bad news, there should be a minimum time limit for your time within the CC area.
What is different from these two examples in terms of congestion :
1) Driving to B2Z's office at 8am, and driving out at 8.01am.
2) Driving to B2Z's office at 8am, and driving out at 11am.
Both involve the same distances driven, same road use, just different amount of time where the car is NOT being used....
25 June 2004, 02:02 PM
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Hmmm, a bloke in a balaclava with covered numberplates driving a fast car. How many people seeing that, whatever time of day, wouldn't phone the police.
If you're really desparate to not pay the HUGE sum of five whole pounds then drive in before 7am and leave after 6.30pm and don't use it during the day.
If you're really desparate to not pay the HUGE sum of five whole pounds then drive in before 7am and leave after 6.30pm and don't use it during the day.
25 June 2004, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by angrynorth
So it wouldn't bother you then imlach?
Next time you use a parking meter for a one minute visit, make sure you stick a tenner in instead.
Next time you use a parking meter for a one minute visit, make sure you stick a tenner in instead.
You could argue you should get charged every time you cross the boundary to cover the true congestion (ab)users, but then that is unfairly penalising those at the edge, and doesn't charge those driving continuously within the zone....
So, I imagine the method they have put in place was considered the fairest for all.
25 June 2004, 02:19 PM
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Imlach I will not be creating any congestion though, I will be entering before the 7am deadline so thats that bit sorted, but as I understand they will still charge me when I drive out at 4pm.
I have no issue if I was driving into the congestion charge zone, around london and actually being in the zone for more than 10 seconds but the fact is I am going to be charged money for driving literally 10 yards and then will be out the zone - thats what I object to. Its not how much it is, its the ludicracy of the whole scheme and how its not thought through properly.
I have no issue if I was driving into the congestion charge zone, around london and actually being in the zone for more than 10 seconds but the fact is I am going to be charged money for driving literally 10 yards and then will be out the zone - thats what I object to. Its not how much it is, its the ludicracy of the whole scheme and how its not thought through properly.
25 June 2004, 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
I am going to be charged money for driving literally 10 yards and then will be out the zone - thats what I object to. Its not how much it is, its the ludicracy of the whole scheme and how its not thought through properly.
Those on the boundary are always going to feel agrreived, but the boundary surely has to be somewhere....it can't be some fuzzy boundary that is moveable at will to suit certain individuals?
By driving WITHIN the boundary at 4pm, you are contributing to congestion surely? The masses are driving OUT of the zone at that time along with you......
25 June 2004, 02:26 PM
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If you won't be using your car while there, why not save yourself the hassle and get the Train down? Or fly if you live near a major airport?
Besides which, if you are travelling there for business, I would have thought that your company should have picked up the cost of the congestion charge anyway as a valid travelling expense?
Besides which, if you are travelling there for business, I would have thought that your company should have picked up the cost of the congestion charge anyway as a valid travelling expense?
25 June 2004, 02:29 PM
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Not if I am down an empty side street thats 10 yards from the boundary. If I had a camera here I could take a pic from the window, its laughable, there is no traffic at all and to drive from under my window to the boundary is going to cost me £5 which is what the joke is.
I would have done it with both a time limit addition where someone who is in the zone less than 5 minutes isn't charged and also the boundary has a 200 metre hashed area where you can prove that you do not travel beyond this 200 metre boundary and your place of work is within this boundary area you are not charged
I would have done it with both a time limit addition where someone who is in the zone less than 5 minutes isn't charged and also the boundary has a 200 metre hashed area where you can prove that you do not travel beyond this 200 metre boundary and your place of work is within this boundary area you are not charged
25 June 2004, 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
Not if I am down an empty side street thats 10 yards from the boundary. If I had a camera here I could take a pic from the window, its laughable, there is no traffic at all and to drive from under my window to the boundary is going to cost me £5 which is what the joke is.
I would have done it with both a time limit addition where someone who is in the zone less than 5 minutes isn't charged and also the boundary has a 200 metre hashed area where you can prove that you do not travel beyond this 200 metre boundary and your place of work is within this boundary area you are not charged
I would have done it with both a time limit addition where someone who is in the zone less than 5 minutes isn't charged and also the boundary has a 200 metre hashed area where you can prove that you do not travel beyond this 200 metre boundary and your place of work is within this boundary area you are not charged
A 200m hashed zone? So what about those whose office is 210m into the zone? Do you think they'd moan?
You said your office is 10 yards from the boundary, but you have to drive 300 yards in a one-way system....
Why not drive the wrong way down a one-way street then? If you're wanting to break rules, why not go the whole hog
25 June 2004, 02:34 PM
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Olly i'm using the car to come in on that day instead of my motorbike so that I can drive straight to Leeds from work instead of having to travel all the way home, get changed and then drive all the way back up and past London again.
If you could see the reality of what I am talking about you would actually understand that the building sits on the boundary with the cameras outside it. The entrance to the car park lays on the side of the building on a quiet side street which is half in the boundary and half out, ie you can drive the far end of this quiet road and not be in the zone and drive 10 yeards down it and all of a sudden you are in the zone.
Yes i'm making a fuss over nothing and yes I will pay the £5 no doubt but the fact is its a very stupid scheme in such instances as mine and others who work here. You are being charged money to be a tiny distance inside the zone where you wont be contributing to any congestion like if you continue driving past the building and further into the city.
If you could see the reality of what I am talking about you would actually understand that the building sits on the boundary with the cameras outside it. The entrance to the car park lays on the side of the building on a quiet side street which is half in the boundary and half out, ie you can drive the far end of this quiet road and not be in the zone and drive 10 yeards down it and all of a sudden you are in the zone.
Yes i'm making a fuss over nothing and yes I will pay the £5 no doubt but the fact is its a very stupid scheme in such instances as mine and others who work here. You are being charged money to be a tiny distance inside the zone where you wont be contributing to any congestion like if you continue driving past the building and further into the city.
25 June 2004, 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
You are being charged money to be a tiny distance inside the zone where you wont be contributing to any congestion like if you continue driving past the building and further into the city.
Someone's office is always going to lose out.....
25 June 2004, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
Olly i'm using the car to come in on that day instead of my motorbike so that I can drive straight to Leeds from work instead of having to travel all the way home, get changed and then drive all the way back up and past London again.
If you could see the reality of what I am talking about you would actually understand that the building sits on the boundary with the cameras outside it. The entrance to the car park lays on the side of the building on a quiet side street which is half in the boundary and half out, ie you can drive the far end of this quiet road and not be in the zone and drive 10 yeards down it and all of a sudden you are in the zone.
Yes i'm making a fuss over nothing and yes I will pay the £5 no doubt but the fact is its a very stupid scheme in such instances as mine and others who work here. You are being charged money to be a tiny distance inside the zone where you wont be contributing to any congestion like if you continue driving past the building and further into the city.
Yes i'm making a fuss over nothing and yes I will pay the £5 no doubt but the fact is its a very stupid scheme in such instances as mine and others who work here. You are being charged money to be a tiny distance inside the zone where you wont be contributing to any congestion like if you continue driving past the building and further into the city.
25 June 2004, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
I shall look at it in a whole new light, its only costing me £5 for secure parking as opposed to £25 in the NCP car park - bargain (should still be bloody free though you thieving ****** Ken 
)
(should still be bloody free though you thieving ****** Ken )