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Tradesman sent 3,000 identical receipts for C-charge payment
Evening Standard25 Mar 2008
Tradesman Graham Ellis had already been fined three times after forgetting to pay the congestion charge.
So he thought it prudent to request a receipt when he paid the toll over the internet before setting off to work in central London in his Toyota van.
But he was dumbfounded when the postman turned up with three plastic crates containing 3,000 identical receipts, each in its own addressed and franked envelope, confirming he had paid the £8 charge for Monday 10 March.
Mr Ellis, 37, a professional blind-fitter, from Swanley, Kent, said: "I was flabbergasted. But my children love opening them. They think it's Christmas - and they've got enough drawing paper to last them a lifetime."
A fortnight before, he had received 27 receipts for a single payment and then a few days later 500 for another one.
He called Transport for London to point out the error and ensure it didn't happen again and was told it had been caused by a computer glitch. Then came his latest delivery, which he estimates must have cost nearly £900 in postage.
Mr Ellis said: "I'm always worried about not paying the charge ... even when I have paid I suddenly think I haven't, but this is beyond a joke."
TfL said it had asked its contractor, Capita, to investigate.
Reader views (4)
I hope he plans to recycle them afterwards.
- Charlie, London, 26/03/2008 10:29
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Everyone that pays this congestion tax should ask for a receipt, Capita will be out of business within a month.
- David Armstrong, Essex, UK, 25/03/2008 20:25
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Presumably this is another example of Ken's green campaign for London?
- U Kinell, Camden, 25/03/2008 14:44
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Typical of the utter incompetence of the ruthless and ghastly TfL regime - Ken is forever preaching to us Londoners about "green issues" and how we should live our lives, whilst his crony organisations pollute our city and waste thousands of tons of paper!
TfL and Capita seem to be constantly making these serious mistakes, yet face no actions whatsoever.
It is out of control.
- Daniel Howard, London,UK, 25/03/2008 13:55
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