US Embassy Refuses to Pay £14.6m London Congestion Charge Bill

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The US embassy in London has accrued £14.6 million in unpaid congestion charge fees, contributing to a total debt of £143.5 million owed by various embassies since the charge's inception in 2003. The figures, published by Transport for London (TfL), highlight the ongoing issue of diplomatic missions refusing to pay the congestion charge, a fee designed to reduce traffic in central London.

 

The US embassy tops the list with its substantial unpaid fees, followed by the Japanese embassy, which owes £10.1 million, and India's high commission, with a debt of £8.6 million. At the other end of the spectrum, the embassy of the Republic of Togo has the smallest debt, amounting to just £40. The congestion charge requires a £15 daily fee for vehicles driving within a specified area of central London during designated hours. The aim is to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution. While most embassies comply with the charge, a notable minority continue to resist payment, citing diplomatic exemptions.

 

TfL maintains that the congestion charge is a service fee, not a tax, and therefore not subject to diplomatic immunity. "We and the UK government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it," TfL stated. They have emphasized that while most embassies comply, persistent non-compliance from some missions has necessitated further action, including appeals to diplomatic channels and potential escalation to the International Court of Justice.

 

The US embassy has consistently argued that the congestion charge constitutes a tax from which diplomats are exempt under international law, specifically the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. A spokesperson for the US embassy reiterated this stance: "Our long-standing position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London." The issue of unpaid congestion charges by diplomatic missions has been ongoing for years. In February 2020, then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab disclosed that officials had contacted several diplomatic missions and international organizations to urge payment of outstanding fees, including the congestion charge, parking fines, and business rates.

 

Credit: Sky News 2024-05-22

 

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[Tug]

Seems to me the Brit’s are getting creative with garnering that revenue ehh?lol 

[Chomper Higgot]

Those pesky  colonists, never have liked paying their taxes to the crown.

 

 

[CanadaSam]

I can see why these embassies don't pay.

 

This is actually a toll to "reduce congestion" on the roads.

 

However, by and large, embassies use their vehicle to do their job, which is the reason they exist in foreign lands.

 

There is really no way to reduce vehicle use by embassies, I would assume. 

 

So logically, this "toll" should not apply to them.

[Pla Simon]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Seems to me the Brit’s are getting creative with garnering that revenue ehh?lol 

 

Not really - this model was adopted from Singapore.

 

I would imagine most of that figure is non payment levies - between 5-11 times the actual tariff.

 

Probably to grow exponentially, thanks to the conceited, vindictive little <deleted> in office.

[stoner]

the charges were incurred on foreign lands. 

[JonnyF]

More embarrassment for Khan and his authoritarian, nasty policies aimed at restricting movement of the people. 

 

Everyone should refuse to pay this ridiculous charge, not only the embassies. 

 

Meanwhile Khan takes a convoy of V8 Jaguars to walk his dogs. Typical virtue signalling, hypocritical lefist.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9915019/Sadiq-Khan-spotted-using-cavalcade-cars-drive-4-5-miles-walk-dog.html

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

More embarrassment for Khan and his authoritarian, nasty policies aimed at restricting movement of the people. 

 

Everyone should refuse to pay this ridiculous charge, not only the embassies. 

 

Meanwhile Khan takes a convoy of V8 Jaguars to walk his dogs. Typical virtue signalling, hypocritical lefist.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9915019/Sadiq-Khan-spotted-using-cavalcade-cars-drive-4-5-miles-walk-dog.html

 

 

The People of a London don’t seem to agree with your constant pejorative views (I wonder what’s behind that) of the Mayor they elected for the third time with an increased majority.

[mfd101]

If that's the US Embassy in the top photo, it should have to pay a huge fine for ugliness. Completely unsuited to its built environment.

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

The People of a London don’t seem to agree with your constant pejorative views (I wonder what’s behind that) of the Mayor they elected for the third time with an increased majority.

 

London has a large number of leftists and Muslims so it is no surprise they vote for a Muslim who happens to be a leftist hypocritical liar. They clearly approve of his anti-semitic/pro-palestine/pro-LGBT/authoritarian policing and pro-EU virtue signalling. 

 

I am delighted they got the Mayor they deserve.

 

I wonder why you would support such anti-semitic, authoritarian policing? It's a real mystery to me 😄.

[stoner]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The People of a London don’t seem to agree with your constant pejorative views (I wonder what’s behind that) of the Mayor they elected for the third time with an increased majority.

 

the population of london is reflective of khan being voted in again. simply facts and what it is. nothing other than that.  

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

London has a large number of leftists and Muslims so it is no surprise they vote for a Muslim who happens to be a leftist hypocritical liar. They clearly approve of his anti-semitic/pro-palestine/pro-LGBT/authoritarian policing and pro-EU virtue signalling. 

 

I am delighted they got the Mayor they deserve.

 

I wonder why you would support such anti-semitic, authoritarian policing? It's a real mystery to me 😄.

There is no ‘Anti-Semitic authoritarian policing to support, it doesn’t exist.

 

It’s an allegation based on a doctored video produced by an antagonistic activist.

 

London has the Mayor Londoners voted for.

 

 

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There is no ‘Anti-Semitic authoritarian policing to support, it doesn’t exist.

 

Yes there is, they have even been forced into apologizing for it.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/london-police-apologize-threatening-arrest-openly-jewish-man-palestini-rcna148676

 

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

London has the Mayor Londoners voted for.

 

 

 

Captain Obvious enlightens us once more 😄.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

the population of london is reflective of khan being voted in again. simply facts and what it is. nothing other than that.  

Khan being voted in is a result of the numbers of votes he received, 43.8% of the ballot.

 

 

 

[stoner]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Khan being voted in is a result of the numbers of votes he received, 43.8% of the ballot.

 

 

 

 

and you think it's because of policy. 

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, stoner said:

 

and you think it is because of policy. 

Yes, and his past performance for London.

 

Now what do you think is the reason behind Khan receiving 43.8% of the vote?

 

[stoner]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes, and his past performance for London.

 

Now what do you think is the reason behind Khan receiving 43.8% of the vote?

 

 

demographics. now get on with it and call me a racist. or have a reasonable rational conversation. doubtful on the last part. 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Khan being voted in is a result of the numbers of votes he received, 43.8% of the ballot.

 

 

 

 

Just as Mugabe was elected to various positions as a result of the numbers of votes he received.

 

There are many other examples thoughout history of dangerous miscreants being elected to various positions. 

 

We can add Khan to the list. 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

demographics. now get on with it and call me a racist. or have a reasonable rational conversation. doubtful on the last part. 

So which demographic represents 43.8% of the population of London?

 

Or did voters from all sorts of backgrounds vote for Mayor Khan?!

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

Just as Mugabe was elected to various positions as a result of the numbers of votes he received.

 

There are many other examples thoughout history of dangerous miscreants being elected to various positions. 

 

We can add Khan to the list. 

Mugabe.

 

What on earth are you on about Jonny?

 

Equating Mayor Khan to Mugabe, or even dangerous miscreants, have you lost all sense of reality?

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Mugabe.

 

What on earth are you on about Jonny?

 

Equating Mayor Khan to Mugabe, or even dangerous miscreants, have you lost all sense of reality?

 

You have missed the point (deliberately I suspect).

 

Your only defense of Khan appears to be that he was elected by the people of London. I have provided an example (Mugabi, I have many others) to show that being elected does not make you a good, benevolent leader. Hence, your point is meaningless in the context of the conversation. 

[herfiehandbag]

I think we should look at this in perspective: I mean It is not as if the wife of a relatively low level CIA man had killed someone by dangerous driving, and then been spirited out of the country on a military flight claiming diplomatic immunity, now is It?

 

Err, umm, hold on a minute...

[stoner]

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So which demographic represents 43.8% of the population of London?

 

Or did voters from all sorts of backgrounds vote for Mayor Khan?!

 

ok. where did i say any demographic represented 43.8 percent. go on with your conversation then. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

You have missed the point (deliberately I suspect).

 

Your only defense of Khan appears to be that he was elected by the people of London. I have provided an example (Mugabi, I have many others) to show that being elected does not make you a good, benevolent leader. Hence, your point is meaningless in the context of the conversation. 

I didn’t miss your point Jonny.

 

You are equating Major Khan to Mugabe, because you’re not happy the people of London have selected the Mayor they wanted and the one you consistently make pejorative remarks against.

 

I do understand there’s something you really don’t like about Khan, I just haven’t yet figured out what that is.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

ok. where did i say any demographic represented 43.8 percent. go on with your conversation then. 

 

Well clearly if the mayor got 43.8% of the vote and there is no corresponding 43.8% demographic, then people from other demographics must have voted for Mayor Khan.

 

I trust you’ll accept that the above resort to clear logic fits with the ‘reasonable rational conversation’ you called for in this post, the rest of which I feel no need to address:

 

20 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

demographics. now get on with it and call me a racist. or have a reasonable rational conversation. doubtful on the last part. 

 

[stoner]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I trust you’ll accept that the above resort to clear logic fits with the ‘reasonable rational conversation’ you called for in this post, the rest of which I feel no need to address:

 

clear logic in your mind. many will disagree and you will fling all kinds of names as you always do. 

 

of course you feel no need to. shocker. 

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

I think we should look at this in perspective: I mean It is not as if the wife of a relatively low level CIA man had killed someone by dangerous driving, and then been spirited out of the country on a military flight claiming diplomatic immunity, now is It?

 

Err, umm, hold on a minute...

It’s a point that raises question.

 

How many of the vehicles owing the charges are driven by Embassy Staff on Embassy business?

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I didn’t miss your point Jonny.

 

Yes you did.

 

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

You are equating Major Khan to Mugabe, because you’re not happy the people of London have selected the Mayor they wanted and the one you consistently make pejorative remarks against.

 

No I am not equating the two. Khan is clearly not as bad as Mugabi, and I never implied that he was. This is a strawman from you, a classic troll move.

 

He is however, a hypoctritcal liar that has presided over two tier policing that arrests people for being openly Jewish in London. He involves himself in political issues that are not in his remit, such as Brexit. He restricts the movement of poorer people in London with Ulez while driving around in convoys of V8 Jags. I could give many more examples of his arrogance and incompetence. 

 

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

I do understand there’s something you really don’t like about Khan, I just haven’t yet figured out what that is.

 

 

 

Please read my previous paragraph for clarification. This paragraph kills two birds with one stone by also showing why you support him so strongly. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, stoner said:

 

clear logic in your mind. many will disagree and you will fling all kinds of names as you always do. 

 

of course you feel no need to. shocker. 

I have not flung any kind of names, not is it a something I do.

 

Thank you for your baseless accusation.

[JonnyF]

26 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

demographics. now get on with it and call me a racist. or have a reasonable rational conversation. doubtful on the last part. 

 

Classic move by Chomps. Run out arguments, imply racism without having the stones to actually say it.

 

Not only weak, but also cowardly.