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BVRLA praises listening TfL
Page 10
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A MEETING DESIGNED to defuse a row over congestion charging seems to have paid dividends, with the director general of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) praising the "listening ear" of Transport for London (TfL).
The two sides met following the BVRL A's hard-hitting campaign which accused TIL of an "unfair and unauthorised approach to congestion charge penalties attracted by operators of leased and hired vehicles" (CM 9 February 2006).
Hire firms are charged if one of their vehicles goes into the charging zone without paying: they then face a struggle to transfer liability to the hirer of the vehicle.
The association was also concerned that TfL made it impossible for drivers to appeal against charges of non-payment with the possibility of lowered or repealed fines.
BVRLA director general John Lewis admits there is still a long way to go but says progress has been made: "I think it's fair to say that I was very pleased that TfL approached us with a listening ear and there was some degree of willingness to resolve our differences."
Lewis says that the main aim, for both BVRLA and TfL. is to make sure the congestion charge is paid in order to avoid the lengthy and costly fines and appeals procedure. To that end, BVRLA members will be reminding customers about the congestion charge both before and after a vehicle is hired.
"We aren't simply throwing a hand grenade at TfL," Lewis explains. "We'll certainly be working at ways of prompting our members about the routine payment of the charge."