Free Traffic Legal Advice

firstly how do you know it isn't compliant?
did you attempt to pay by other means?

OP, I think you're arguing this the wrong way.

As regards the first PCN(as regards contravention date):

You drove into the ULEZ zone;
You checked whether a charge was due by logging in to the online method specified on TfL's website - https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-payments - but each time this would not allow payment. You allowed a sufficient period of time to elapse after each event to allow the payment system to recognise your charge before attempting to pay;
You interpreted the lack of a demand for the charge as being evidence that your vehicle was exempt for whatever reason - it's not your burden to second-guess.

As regards the second and third PCNs, you repeated the process - perhaps the exemption was temporary- and each time a charge was not demanded.

What more is a motorist expected to do?



Having said this, I don't know what messages were conveyed by your screenshots, but we'll find out when you post them.

Thanks for replies so far.
I didn't try any other methods to pay. I don't know any other way. I probably travel insie the M25 five or 6 times a year and have previously paid this way.
Screenshots now attached, with box i need to tick greyed out and not selectable

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Yes the last two characters should be a double letter O.

Mixing up the letter and number is common as they are the same font on numberplates. TFL does say:
"Be careful not to mix up the letters 'I' and 'O' with the numbers '1' and '0'."

In some cases this is a trivial error, such as if you'd paid for the wrong vehicle. But here there is no payment so TFL can say you should check knowing the car is not exempt (it's a 2012 diesel).

If indeed TFl says the car is not found that ought to be a red flag but their message should really spell it out that it could be a 0/O digit mix up. 

By the way your MOT has just expired.

Thanks for replies guys.
So my error 0 instead of O.
It didnt highlight the error when entering reg no, or ever tell me it was wrong.
And never mentioned in any of the numerous comns ive had from them.
Guess ill.pay up

I tried entering OP's mis-spelled reg, and attempting to pay.

There is a warning message "Be careful not to mix up the letters 'I' and 'O' with the numbers '1' and '0'."

1)  OP says that "Twice it said my car is exempt"...

I didn't get any indication that the vehicle was exempt. I got this message:

We may not hold emissions details for this vehicle
Check your number plate is correct. We're not sure this vehicle meets emissions standards. This could be because:

It's a new vehicle - these tend to meet emissions standards. However, older vehicles manufactured before 2006 (petrol) and 2017 (diesel) generally do not meet emissions standards
There's a recent change of number plate
It's been registered as off the road (SORN)

We'll show you results for what you need to pay today, based on your vehicle being considered new. If your vehicle is not new you may get different results - without notice - when our records are updated. You should check what you need to pay each time you travel.

2)  OP says that "The box you tick to pay the ULEZ charge was greyed out"

On the contrary, I had the same experience as OP's screenshots, which was the opposite. It is the exempt box [Free] which is greyed out. The box to pay charge can be ticked. 

3) OP says "and I was unable to pay"

I was able to continue to put charge in basket, so seems like I would have been able to pay. If I so chose. 

------------------------------------

It seems to me that if the OP knew the car was not exempt, and intended to pay,  then they could have paid the charge using website.

No doubt would have been sent a PCN via the correct reg. number route.  Payment would have been a defence. 

So inability to pay via website is not a factor.


On other hand ff the OP did not know know whether the car was exempt. Then cannot assert that they were informed car was exempt as defence.



Only hope is to plead ignorance, and hope for mitigation.