Free Traffic Legal Advice

I received a ULEZ fine, letter dated 04/06/2026 and unfortunately I have until today to pay half, which is still a lot of money. I am sorry but I have been on holiday and need to decide how to respond today. My plan is to now plead financial hardship (true, I don't have £90 right now) and pay in installments (hopefully) unless there are any mitigating circumstances I can use to appeal?

In all honesty, I live in West Yorkshire and had to drive to North London and back the same day when I was ill with a chest infection of some sort (I could evidence this with my GP appointment last week).  I think this didn't help me remember to pay (illness, stress, tiredness) but don't know if that is a good enough reason.

Contravention date: 30/05/2026

Location: Cricklewood Bottom. Time: 13.51

Penalty Charge Norice issue date: 04/06/2026

Issuer: Major of London

I attach the front letter as a photo here: https://imgpile.com/p/WHcr9X7

Thank you in advance.

Ah thanks very much. It says 14 days of the date of the notice (today) but then does say by 22nd June (Monday)

Posted 4 June.
Served 8 June, Day 1.
IMO, the discount must be paid no later than the last day of 14-day period which is 21 June. (I dislike the term 'until' X because for some X is included but for others it's excluded.'Not later than' is more precise).

As far as your account goes, your reasons are not statutory defences, they are mitigating circumstances which, if push comes to shove, an adjudicator cannot consider.

Pl post the rest of the PCN.

Further to the above, I have spoken to ULEZ customer services and I have until tonight to appeal and then get 14 more days to pay the £90 if they reject it. That will help as I get paid on Friday and they don't allow you to pay in installments any more.

I will get my GP appointment evidence, which I had before I became aware of the ULEZ charge. However, as @tincombe says, is claiming illness, tiredness and stress not going to work at all? Thank you.

Posted 4 June.
Served 8 June, Day 1.
IMO, the discount must be paid no later than the last day of 14-day period which is 21 June. (I dislike the term 'until' X because for some X is included but for others it's excluded.'Not later than' is more precise).

As far as your account goes, your reasons are not statutory defences, they are mitigating circumstances which, if push comes to shove, an adjudicator cannot consider.

Pl post the rest of the PCN.

The best way to approach this is to emphasise you are a total stranger to London and was not aware of the ULEZ. In addition to this, you were not in a state of goodhealth that contributed to you missing the ULEZ signs, and the PCN was the first you know you had committed an offence.  There is no way they will accept staged payments, this has never been an option, but will almost certainly re-offer the discount.

By means of an update, my mitigating circumstances were predictably not upheld so I think I have no option but to pay the discounted £90. It is still a lot of money but I phoned them and it seems there are no longer any payment plans available, the financial difficulties aspect of their letter amounts to it going to a debt recovery agency and the consequences to one's credit file.
I did also give evidence of other ailments but they have considered it to not have a bearing on this, perhaps for the reason above that they are not compelled to waiver it on this basis.
Thank you for everyone's help with this. I post to say thank you but also for reference re: the outcome.

If you didn't pay it would eventually be enforced by a firm of bailiffs but it would not affect your credit. The worst that usually happens is they clamp or seize your car.

Thanks

Quote from: RossCo on July 08, 2026, 10:41:20 pm

Quote from: stamfordman on July 08, 2026, 09:12:09 pm

If you didn't pay it would eventually be enforced by a firm of bailiffs but it would not affect your credit. The worst that usually happens is they clamp or seize your car.

Thanks

Indeed, yes. It is not possible to receive a CCJ in the process which was carefully written in law to make it impossible.

As I live in West Yorkshire, if I ignored it do I still risk bailiffs and car clamping? Thanks