Free Traffic Legal Advice

I was scammed into a false payment of congestion charge in august by a TFL look a like page direct from google.  .  The fine was then sent to my old place. ( I had not updated my vehicle record, only my licence ) so the fine accrued a late penalty and I was outside the appeal window by the time I received it. 

I phoned TFL who said I could appeal still but I have recieved a letter saying it is turned down as it was outside the 28 day appeal window.  However, if I can offer mitigating evidence like I was in hospital, prison, the armed forces or holiday then they would reconsider.  Have I got any grounds to contest this?  I know I should have changed the address but I believed I had paid the charge and can prove that with a bank receipt. I have been the victimn of scammers and now punished doubly for it .  It’s a really tough time to be expected to pay £270 and only got the appeal refusal letter today although it’s dated 12th November  and says it must be paid in 14 days .  Pretty upset about it all but really don’t want to get a county court order …

Ugh !

Thanks for replying.
I reattach the images showing the appeal decision letter the right way round with the outstanding amount.  Also the transaction for the congestion charge which turned out to be a scammer.

I was renting my house out and had moved in with my partner and didn’t receive 2 letters until late October when the tenants moved out.  When I phoned TFL, I didn’t say I had moved out because I was concerned of another fine as I realised I hadn’t updated my vehicle details then .  So all TFL correspondence is going to the old address ( which is still my house ). I can’t seem to find the other 2 letters now and may have left them at the other house .  You can probably see I am in a panic about this now.  I don’t think I’ve recieved an order for recovery just 2 charge letters. 

The timeline is roughly
First letter was sent by TFL to my old address which was rented in late august.
Second was sent in September to same address.
When tenants moved out in October 24 I found both the letters.  I then made an appeal on the website Oct 26th and the letter I received today was the attached one saying that I wa soutside the appeal date.  I said that I had only received the notifications at the end of October as I had not been at the property.  I didn’t say I was renting it because I realised I hadn’t updated v5c . 
I have been unable to update v5c online so I have sent it through post this weekend.

I actually was at the property yesterday when the last letter arrived which was the one I’ve posted dated 12/11 as it
is currently empty and I am in process of redecoration .
Does that make sense ?

I don't follow from your first post:

only got the appeal refusal letter today although it’s dated 12th Oct ..

And

I then made an appeal on the website Oct 26th

At present your risk is that they'll add a further £10 if they register the penalty with the Traffic Enforcement Centre and then send you an Order for Recovery

Procedurally, you can pay or wait for the OfR which would give you the chance to consider whether you could submit a Statutory Declaration.

In time Statutory Declaration if filed with correct details cannot be refused.

Your credit file and CCJ is not affected - it is a decriminalised process which is separate from invoices/loan companies.

I made the submission online and didn’t receive a copy.-  I never received an initial PCN just the letters I’ve added here when the fine had escalated.and after the 28 day window .  This might be because  it was thrown out by tenants.