Thousands of London drivers are being caught in a bureaucratic nightmare as Transport for London's supposedly 'foolproof' ULEZ Auto Pay system is issuing penalty charges to motorists who have done everything right.
The £9,000 Shock
One stunned motorist, David Hough from Surrey, discovered his vehicle had been slapped with a staggering £9,000 in penalty charge notices despite having Auto Pay properly set up and sufficient funds in his account. "I felt sick to my stomach," Hough revealed. "The system I trusted to protect me from fines had completely failed."
Systemic Failures Exposed
An investigation by consumer champions has uncovered multiple flaws in TfL's automated payment infrastructure:
- Vehicles being incorrectly flagged as non-compliant despite meeting emissions standards
- Payment processing delays causing legitimate transactions to be recorded as late
- Inadequate error notifications leaving drivers unaware of system failures
- Appeals process described as "Kafkaesque" by affected motorists
"I've Lost All Trust"
Another victim, Sarah Jenkins from Kent, received nine penalty notices in a single day despite her electric vehicle being fully ULEZ-compliant. "The stress has been unbelievable," she said. "I've followed all the rules, yet I'm being treated like a criminal. I've lost all trust in the system."
TfL's Response
When confronted with the evidence, Transport for London acknowledged "technical issues" affecting a "small number" of Auto Pay accounts. A spokesperson stated: "We encourage any customers experiencing difficulties to contact us immediately so we can resolve their cases."
Protect Yourself from ULEZ Errors
Consumer experts recommend drivers take these protective measures:
- Regularly check your Auto Pay account - don't assume no news is good news
- Keep payment methods updated - expired cards are a common failure point
- Save all confirmation emails - digital paper trails are crucial for appeals
- Challenge errors immediately - don't wait for charges to escalate
The scale of the problem suggests this is more than just isolated glitches. As one affected driver put it: "When a system designed to make life easier starts making it harder, something has gone seriously wrong."
