I continue to be amazed at the entrenched position of the TfL office in sensibly considering appeals against PCN issues, where common sense and fairness come into play. I wonder whether or not the appeals ARE genuinely considered at all, or in fact it causes great expense in paperwork to "uphold an appeal?"

A large number of people I know have made appeals against PCN's and I must confess that simply forgetting to pay is a pretty "thin" excuse. OR I did until this happened to me recently.

I had urgent need to deliver my daughter to Victoria Station and being advised that there was a "single" route in that avoided the congestion zone we set off!" Bugger, took wrong turn and think I have entered zone. No Problem I will pay on my return home.

Got about four miles from home and neighbour calls, you have had a burglar on your premises in your garage, we have scared him off, garage a shambles! So I get home, yep shambles. Purchase a new alarm make garage safe as it is the store for my business kit..Go to Police and report it. Go to be exhausted.

Wife really stressed out (90% of failed burgalars RETURN and have another go) Alarm Light goes on and off all night no sleep.

Fit new alarm following day back to Police go to bed. Awake to the awesome thought that I hadn't paid the Congestion Charge, rang into the centre at 8.03am they won't take a payment I am a DAY LATE!

Advised to wait to see if I get a PCN and then make a representation. Did same with ALL the evidence and Police incident number.

In the stress of the situation it was overlooked. I made the call to offer to pay, there was never any intent NOT TO. In dealing with a genuine emergency at home and a very anxious wife I had overlook to pay it, recognised it and attempted to make the payment required

APPEAL REJECTED!

I can't help but believe that the system assumes that reasonable and honest people are just lying to avoid paying. Why do we have to put up with a GOTCHA mentality.Why have an Appeals process in the first place? I would dearly like to know what constitues a successful appeal agains PCN due to an emergency. I suppose "dying" would be a potential candidate for success?

I am now considering challenging this decision all the way as the whole affair just fails to attract any element of common sense and fairness at all. It just doesn't PAY to honest and caring in this country, nobody will ever reciprocate.