Outstanding congestion charge payments owed by overseas embassies in London have surpassed £160 million, increasing from £152 million in September 2024. Embassies argue that the charge should be considered a tax and claim exemption from it under the 1961 Vienna Convention. Transport for London disputes this and cannot directly sue embassies for recovery of debts, relying instead on the government to take action. Despite annual letters urging payment, these diplomatic missions have ignored the charge obligations since its implementation in 2003. TfL will continue to publish updates on the debt every six months.
The congestion charge payments owed by overseas embassies in London have reached over £160 million for the first time, rising from £152 million in September 2024.
Transport for London disputes the embassies' claims that the congestion charge is a tax, emphasizing that they maintain a list of outstanding debts visited every six months.
TfL is unable to sue embassies for recovery of the debts, relying instead on the central government to take action against international missions.
Despite annual encouragement letters from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, embassies have consistently ignored the requests for payment since the congestion charge's introduction in 2003.
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