Free Traffic Legal Advice

Good evening,

I would be incredibly grateful for your help please- it has caused me a significant amount of anxiety to today receive a letter in the post from Bristow and Sutor requesting a payment of £710.

I thought it was a scam, but searched the TFL PCN website and it appears that on April 20th 2024 I accidentally entered a ULEZ zone on Wright Way, IVO Heathrow Airport. I had no idea that I had entered it or that my car was not ULEZ compliant, as I infrequently drive near London.

I was not aware that a PCN had been issued. I moved house in January 2024 and updated my driving licence with the DVLA, but I cannot find any email receipt to say that I also changed my V5C so I believe it may have escaped my attention- I am aware that it is a legal requirement to update it but alas, I apparently may not have done it. I had post-forwarding set up for 3 months from my old address, but the date of the offence was 11 days after this finished. I have since sold the car (May 2024) so can’t confirm what details the DVLA held easily. The first I knew of this offence was today.

I contacted TFL and stated that had I known the PCN had been issued that I would have paid it in full as it was a genuine mistake. They said that I need to contact the Traffic Enforcement Centre- I have perused their section on the gov.uk website, but don't feel much closer to an answer.

Is my best course of action to fill out a PE3 form? I have tried today but not had much luck with finding a solicitor.

I received the following letters today (8th Nov) to my current home address (as per my Driving Licence) in the post together in 1 envelope, and would be so grateful for any advice. I cannot afford £710. Thank you so much for taking a look. Kind regards 

*update* as per the comments below- I have just had it pointed out that this is for 2 separate PCN’s. I was away over midnight so must have picked up another on the way home. There is only reference to one PCN but when I go to the B&S website and put the case number in it shows another linked case.

Thank you, you’re right. i just checked on the B&S website- this is 2 separate PCN’s. I was away over midnight. There is no reference to the other PCN anywhere but when I view the total debt it gives the following references:

3301-9638100 -£355
3301-9638395 -£355

I cannot check the second one on the TFL website as they have not given me a reference for it.

You have been served with a Notice of Enforcement. I suggest you pay this one and this one alone if, as you say, only one was included and therefore served. This caps your liability because the next stage is that an enforcement agent could attend your house any time after 12 Nov.

However, they couldn't enforce a warrant if this was not made out in respect of your address, but you don't know whether this is the case. You could find out from B&S. If it's not, then enforcement against your goods(including any car you own situated on the property) could not be effected against your property but if you have a car on the highway then this is fair game for them.

But the underlying facts* seem to be that you failed to keep your V5C up to date such that when TfL enquired of DVLA they were given your previous address and all statutory notices were sent there and not captured by mail redirection. How often we see similar stories here.

The only way to deal with the PCN process, as opposed to enforcement of a warrant, is as you say to submit an out of time application to TEC. But given that the problem was of your making you would be unlikely to succeed.

*- you moved in April 2024. You sold your car in May, apparently still with an out of date V5C and yet the buyer didn't baulk or question, neither did you notice.

Thank you for taking the time to get back to me. Yes, I absolutely accept responsibility, the V5C was not updated, I have just had this confirmed by B&S. This was clearly an omission on my part and a very expensive lesson, to say the least.

On the BS website, when I go to pay the Notice of enforcement which has been issued in my name, it appears they have lumped both PCN's together under a single reference. I am taken to a payment window where I am shown that the total debt is £710 but I can enter a payment for any amount. I believe the warrant would be made out in respect of my address as they have now obtained my details from the DVLA, but will contact them to confirm.

Is my best bet to find a way to pay the £710 and be done with it?