US tops 'congestion charge debt'
POSTED BY: citizen
UPDATED: Thursday, May 4, 2006 22:43
VIEWED: 5753
PAGE 1 of 6
Quote:
US diplomatic staff in London have run up unpaid congestion charge fees of £271,000 in the past six months, new figures have revealed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4960308.stm
No wonder you guys are the richest nation in the world...
Tighter than a ducks butt
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Various UN missions owe the city of New York millions in unpaid parking tickets.
Must be nice to be a diplomat.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I heard about this on PBS a month or more ago. They seemed to think that Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, isn't too keen on Bush/Blair or the Iraq war, and was just using this as an excuse to get the boot in.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
You realise that Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, is a Labour Party member...
But anyway. US embassies in other countries pay congestion charges without making a fuss.
British embassy staff in the US pays toll road charges (which is what the Congestion charge in London IS).
So the mayor of London expecting the US embassies staff to pay their dues is obviously all about the Iraq war 
.
I'll ask one question, if British embassy staff refused to pay toll road charges, would you assume anyone who told them to do so were doing it because of the Iraq war?
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Because you do not know this, there is a little treaty between the US government and the British government called the SOFA or Status of Forces Act. In accordance with this Act, the US forces and Embassy in UK - do not have to pay those charges. There was much discussion between both governments when the charges came into effect.
Just so you know, US forces also don't have to pay council tax.
Where do I get my information - oh just personal knowlegde of over 7 years living in London, as a member of the US forces under the SOFA act as well as working in the office conducting the discussions.
You will also note that the US is NOT the only country whose Embassy staff does not pay the charge.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFillion:
You will also note that the US is NOT the only country whose Embassy staff does not pay the charge.
I'm well aware, The US owes the most and the majority of Embassies do pay. However, as you would say, the fact that other Embassies don't pay is entirely irrelevant. But if you want to draw parallels between the US and Nigeria or the Sudan, that's your bag.
Quote:
there is a little treaty between the US government and the British government called the SOFA or Status of Forces Act.
Doesn't apply here. Also I'm pretty sure it's an Agreement, not an Act.
Quote:
Just so you know, US forces also don't have to pay council tax.
US forces or Embassy staff don't have to pay tax, they do have to pay tolls on toll road, just like British Embassy staff do. That's what the congestion charges are, a toll on toll roads. The American Embassy says it's a tax so they get out of paying it, the British Government says its a toll, because you know, it's a toll.
But if you want to let of British Embassy staff in America ever paying tolls on toll roads, no problem I'm sure our two governments can come to an arrangement.
So this point is... irrelevant.
Quote:
Where do I get my information - oh just personal knowlegde of over 7 years living in London, as a member of the US forces under the SOFA act as well as working in the office conducting the discussions.
Where do I get my information - oh just personal knowledge of over 24 years living in London, also working for the British Government and MOD.
Also knowing that the London congestion charge is a toll and embassies have never been exempt from paying toll charges, no matter whose embassy that may be.
But anyway how come US Embassies are happy to pay similar charges in Singapore, Oslo and Norway but not London? What makes London so special to get this special treatment?
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
You are right in reference to "Act" I meant agreement and was thinking of NATO Act when I was typing.
However, regardless of the semantics, the charge is a tax. A toll would be paid both ways, it isn't - you only have to pay to come INTO the congestion charge designated area, not out of it.
It is a tax, calling it a toll doesn't change that.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
There's a Toll on the Severn Bridge that is paid only when traveling to Wales, not when leaving it.
It is a toll, paid on selected roads. The fact is it doesn't matter if your coming or going, you pay the toll if you drive down those selected roads.
If it was a Tax every road in the Greater London area would be so taxed, surely?
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
"If it was a Tax every road in the Greater London area would be so taxed, surely?"
Huh? I am sorry that makes no sense.
The toll on the Severn is for the upkeep of the bridge. Tolls are a charge for the use of the road.
The congestion charge was introduced in February 2003, and was designed to reduce the number of cars clogging central London's streets. Much like the tax on cigarettes is hoped to deter people from smoking.
Its a tax.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME