Earlier this year I received a PCN from TFL for using the Blackwall Tunnel in one direction without paying in January 2026.
This was a genuine error as I was unaware a charge had been introduced and it had been a few years since I had used the tunnel.
I appealed on this basis, and that I believed there to be a grace period applicable, and also tried to offer a gesture of goodwill by signing up for Auto Pay to ensure it wouldn't happen again.
This was rejected, so I appealed again. This time I also included evidence that the sign posting on the approach route I took was either limited or non-existent and it was too easy for drivers to assume nothing had changed.
This was also rejected. They've given me 28 days to pay £180, with the threat of a 50% increase if I do not do so.
This all seems unreasonably punitive for what was a genuine error and it does seem designed to raise revenue from the unwary, but ignorance is no defence.
It seems will have no option but to pay up, but I will have to request to pay in instalments, although it seems this is not straight forward either.
Is there anything I've missed and have I run out of options?
