Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,

I recently visited friends who live south of London, and we travelled to them using the ‘Dartford Crossing’, paying the fee on the way over. We had once visited before and had to pay for the crossing, so we knew it existed and paid it as we crossed. It might sound parochial, but we rarely visit London, and this kind of thing puts us off To be honest, we are in Sheffield and don’t tend to be made aware of the charges in London. Perhaps we should conduct more research before visiting, but that would deter me further.

On our return on Saturday 14 June 2025, at 09:59, my sat nav took us through the Blackwall tunnel, and we commented that this avoided the charge for crossing, we genuinely didn’t see notices that we thought applied to the tunnel and we were concentrating hard on where to turn following Sat Nav.

Our car is on a business lease and is fully electric (in case that makes any difference), and the fine notice was sent to the lease company dated 20/6/25, arriving at the lease company 26/6/25, and they emailed it to us last week.

We have until 8/7/25 to pay a fine of £90.

If we had known there was a charge, we would have paid it as we went through.
If we had known after we used it, we would have paid the charge. I gather there is a 3-day notice period, but we didn’t revisit the scene of the contravention, nor did we have any inkling that we had not paid anything….


What, if anything, can we do?

Thanks
EyUp!

Thanks, I guess that either way, the fine will still stand at £90 and we can't pay whatever the fee should have been, in which case we just have to take the £90 on the chin and avoid any further admin charges, would you agree?

I would consider having a go at a representation if and when you get the PCN in your own name. I think that there is a chance that TFL might let you off for a first offence, since the charge is new, you're not from the area and so on. Doesn't apply to this case but I suspect that for the first month there were only warning notices, not payable PCNs. And the tunnel was previously free, until the Silvertown Tunnel opened.

I doubt if you can challenge the signs.

Were you going from the north side to the south or vice-versa?

You need to find out what the lease company will do. At what cost. Bu yes, it looks like £90 will still need to be paid.

Thanks All,

I was heading south to north in the tunnel, (having used the Dartford Crossing, travelling north to south, and we paid as we went over).

I've asked the lease company to contact TFL, but they are the registered keeper so they say I can't have the PCN put in my name but will speak to the team that deals with this, so I'll see what comes of it and appeal to the better nature of TFL....

Thanks again.

Usually they can, but they may not want to. Provided the lease/hire agreement is in order and you or the company have signed to say you're liable for any fines and charges. They probably get loads of PCNs and speeding tickets every week.

Since you have a copy of the PCN to the lease company it's ground 6 at the bottom of page 3.

And if the transfer of liability occurs and it ends up with your company or your employer as opposed to you personally  then you will need a letter of authority to act on their behalf.

You can also request a Letter of Authority from the lease company authorising you to act on the lease company's behalf.

I just wanted to thank you for your support and guidance on this, I have just logged in and can confirm that TFL have cancelled the charge!

Thanks again,
EyUp!


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I received the appropriate letter from the lease company and contacted TFL, which allowed me to put my representation in. According to the portal, they reviewed my representation and accepted it.