U-WHAT?
I was forced to scrap my sports car for only £250 as it wasn’t ULEZ-compliant – then TfL told me it had made a mistake
The woman was even chased by baliffs
A DRIVER has been forced to scrap their sports car for £250 as it wasn't ULEZ compliant - only for TfL to say it had made a mistake.
Tracy Doherty, 60, has been left fuming as she now says she cannot afford to buy another car.
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She mainly used her Renault Megane Sport Alize to drive from her home in Bexley to visit her 80-year-old mother in Woolwich.
Doherty said she repeatedly shared documents proving her car passed ULEZ requirements only for TfL to ignore them.
She told MailOnline: "I must have submitted them about 15 times including the certificate of conformity. But every time they said send us the NOx which is on the certificate.
"I gave it to them again and again and again."
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Facing a car that wasn't ULEZ compliant she faced a £12.50 daily charge as well as potential fines.
She said she received letters from bailiffs for unpaid ULEZ fines of £559.
So, she decided to scrap the car - only receiving for £250.
But a fortnight later she was sent a letter by TfL saying they had accepted her car as being compliant after looking through her documents.
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"I've had that car 20 years. It was clean as a whistle. I need that car. I could have kept my car. I fought so hard for it. But it's a joke."
Doherty is furious at the situation as she now can't afford to buy another motor and the bailiffs continue to chase her.
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The letter from TfL to Tracey apologised for the delay in their reply.
It said: "Please be advised that we have investigated your complaint and all documents that you have sent to us and we can confirm that your vehicle, registration W126YNK has been approved as compliant based on the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) values being in parameters.
"This means you do not have to pay the ULEZ charge to travel in the zone. Our vehicle compliance register has been updated accordingly."
A TfL spokesperson said: “We are extremely sorry for the way Mrs Doherty’s case was handled and for any distress caused, as her vehicle should have been recognised as compliant.
"We are assessing what went wrong and recognise that there has been some confusion with the registration process. This will be corrected.
“We will refund any outstanding penalty charges and are in contact with the customer about potential remedies.”
ULEZ charge: What is it and where does it cover in London?
LONDON'S controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone policy was introduced in 2019 help improve air quality in the capital.
Though the charges, which apply to older, less environmentally-efficient vehicles, originally covered a small area in the very centre of London, they have since expanded greatly.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, initially covered the Congestion Charge zone in central London, from the eastern edge of Hyde Park out to around Aldgate.
In October 2021, this changed and expanded to cover all parts of London within the North and South Circular roads.
Plans to greatly expand the ULEZ were ruled lawful by the High Court at the end of July 2023.
The expansion, which covers all Greater London boroughs was then put in place from August 29, 2023.
The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year - excluding Christmas Day on December 25.
Older vehicles that don't meet tight emissions standards have to pay £12.50 every day they are used within the ULEZ.
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