3. Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
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Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
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Great forum BTW -
I have a ULEZ compliant leased vehicle (as confirmed by the TFL website), TFL have erroneously sent ULEZ PCNs that my lease company have automatically paid.

They emailed to tell me 6 weeks after the fact, which seems to be outside of a 28day period to challenge.

If I have a ULEZ compliant car that should never have had a PCN, is there a course of action here?

TIA

Bumper

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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #1 on: »
I presume the lease company are proposing to pass the cost of the PCNs onto you?

Do you have any idea why TFL may have issued PCNs if their system confirms your vehicle is compliant? If it's their error the best route may be to try and shame TFL into refunding the money somehow.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #2 on: »
Thanks for the reply.

The lease company just paid the fines, they will charge me £200 for the privilege, including their charges.

They had then let me know 6 weeks later.

I am hoping to contact both the lease company and TFL tomorrow, I was just looking if there is some recourse here?
I have a horrible feeling TFL will just say tough.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #3 on: »
What are the relevant clauses in yr contract with the lease co.about fines and penalties?
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #4 on: »
have you recently put a private reg on it?
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Quote from: andy_foster
Mick, you are a very, very bad man
Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #5 on: »
'have you recently put a private reg on it?

Is something we see often, but...

....Given the strict rules around number plates, that the OP isn't the registered keeper and that they didn't mention this..I hope not!


OP, IMO just take this in slow time. You presumably still have the car. So:

1. If you enter the zone again make sure you pay any charges, do not accumulate more PCNs to dispute;

2. Write to TfL and simply say that you have a car on lease and were assured by the lease company that it is ULEZ compliant as regards present rules. However, an issue has arisen and you need confirmation on this point therefore would they confirm whether VRM **** (give further details as necessary) is compliant for the purposes of ULEZ regulations.

By all means write to your lease company, note their belated notification, tell them that you believe TfL were in error by issuing the penalty charge notices and that as this affects your use of the car you are taking the matter up directly with TfL. Should they receive any further PCNs, then they should seek to transfer liability which is standard procedure provided for and explained in the PCN. You will keep them posted regarding progress.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #6 on: »
Thanks for your replies....

I have been making phone calls.

First to Lease company who told me to speak to TFL, then to TFL who said as it was the lease company who paid the PCN I can't challenge it without the lease company writing to them to deal with me.

 :'(

I asked hypothetically whether the charges could be challenged and they seemed to think they could....

So back to the lease company, and they are passing it to their claims team, so it is a waiting game.....

I have tried to pay any current charges for this weekend gone, but ironically the TFL website won't let me as it is exempt  >:(

I suppose, at least I haven't hit a "Computer says nah" scenario........yet

Finally, yes I put a private plate on about 6 weeks before, in cooperation with the Lease company, so I suspect TFL's db takes a while to update

Bumper
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #7 on: »
Quote
Finally, yes I put a private plate on about 6 weeks before, in cooperation with the Lease company, so I suspect TFL's db takes a while to update
In all likelihood, this is your problem, which is now much more difficult to resolve because the lease company paid the PCNs without telling you.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #8 on: »
Quote from: bumper31 on July 08, 2025, 12:56:08 pm

Finally, yes I put a private plate on about 6 weeks before, in cooperation with the Lease company, so I suspect TFL's db takes a while to update

That's the root cause. There is a time-lag within the DVLA between your private reg going live on the car and the emissions data being updated. And add to that the TFL database is only updated once every four weeks from the DVLA, for emissions data. And sometimes the emissions data doesn't update at all within the DVLA.

TFL have a manual registration process to deal with this. You will need the V5c with the new reg and either a letter from the vehicle manufacturer's homologation department stating the vehicle's Euro standard or a conformity certificate. Although they have been known to accept the original V5c instead since the VIN numbers should be identical.

Some manufacturers will charge for the certificate and some are FOC.

If the TFL online checker now says the car with the revised reg is compliant then it means the TFL database has been updated.

You could ask the Lease company for a letter authorising you to act on their behalf in respect of the ULEZ PCNs. You can then write to and demand that TFL refund the penalty charges on the grounds that the car was always exempt. TFL might also refuse and say it was up to you check on the ULEZ checker before you drove into the zone.
 
« Last Edit: July 08, 2025, 02:10:58 pm by Enceladus »
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #9 on: »
IMO, you don't complain, challenge or demand, you simply enquire.

I am a motorist; an issue has arisen regarding your VRM(*****, as can be seen it's a personalised plate albeit a leased car) and you would appreciate confirmation as to whether this is recognised as ULEZ compliant and when this classification became effective on the ULEZ database.

This is simply stage 1 in a several stage extra-procedural(as regards Road User procedures) process.

One step at a time.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #10 on: »
Is there a legal definition of a "motorist"? There's a driver, a registered keeper, the owner, a passenger. Not disputing what you're saying, but I asked his question a while ago and there was no reply forthcoming.
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Bus driving since 1973. My advice, if you have a PSV licence, destroy it when you get to 65 or you'll be forever in demand.
Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #11 on: »
I could be wrong, but my understanding is that this is purely dispute between you and the lease company, the TFL angle was closed off when TFL were paid.

I would be sorely tempted to write back to the lease company saying that if they chose to pay a ULEZ fine for an ULEZ compliant car, that's their problem not yours. If they want to take you to the small claims court and argue that you're responsible for their mistakes, they are welcome to try. A lot will depend on the exact wording of the contract you have with then though, so answering John UK's question above would be the first thing I'd recommend you do.

Encedalus does have a reasonable plan, and HCA has a good approach, but to my mind it's the lease company that needs to go down that route, not you.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2025, 06:28:22 pm by Grant Urismo »
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #12 on: »
I knew it was amprivate plate issue. I have a case ongoing atm for the same thing.

any representation to TFL will be met with a standard reply that they require a copy of all 4 pages of the original V5 and the new V5.
I've currently asked to raise a complaint re their the inadequate data checking system which requires me to provide evidence that I feel I shouldn't have to. they should re check DVLA data when an issue is raised. meanwhile they have taken 2 payments despite being aware the vehicle is compliant. oh and btw
they still haven't forwarded their complaint process since 30th June. Great!
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Quote from: andy_foster
Mick, you are a very, very bad man
Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #13 on: »
This isn't to do with routes being closed off or small claims proceedings, IMO it's simple:

Get TfL to confirm that VRM **** is on **** car whose details make it exempt from ULEZ. And then you go to TfL with the fact that they demanded a penalty in error which must be refunded etc...

One step at a time.
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Re: Leased vehicle ULEZ PCN
« Reply #14 on: »
Just to keep you all in the loop,

I have had a response to my appeal.

Basically they say I had 28 days to appeal, and unless I can prove there is a valid reason, such as medical or out of the country, as to why I didn't appeal in the 28days, the fine is paid and the matter is closed - an unsurprising technicality!

This is the hell I was expecting, I am hoping that I can get to speak to someone with a bit of common sense on Monday.

I went down the email appeals route, because I had to forward the letter of approval from my lease company.

Why someone doesn't look at this and the fact that the car has "always" been compliant should negate any fine, paid or otherwise?

Once again thanks for your comments

Edited after reading Mr Andersen's comments a little more closely
« Last Edit: August 08, 2025, 10:01:26 pm by bumper31 »
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