Avoid payment fraud

Unofficial websites or applications may offer to help you make your payment, but may not be secure, safe or reliable. We do not authorise other websites or applications to provide this service to you on our behalf.

Oxfordshire County Council cannot accept a claim of a payment having been made that has not been made through its official system, so please be careful.

If you are unable to pay online, you can ring our customer service team on 01865 519800. Our telephone lines are open 8.30am - 5pm, Monday - Thursday and 8.30am - 4pm Friday. They are closed on weekends and bank holidays.

Spotting scam sites

A fake site or application might pop up as an advert on social media or when you search on the internet to pay the temporary congestion charge. It might:

• Describe itself as something like ‘the official’ site or have a name or internet address that sounds right
• Promote a discount offer or special deal. The Oxford temporary congestion charge is £5 maximum per day and only applies if you pass through one or more of the charge points by a car during the hours they operate. It’s a straight charge with no offers such as bulk-buy discount bundles, and no ‘handling fees’.
• Charge you for a time period when the charge does not actually apply, or a ‘full city pass’ when your journey will not actually pass a charge point. Our website has an interactive map where you can check if your journey would be affected by the temporary congestion charge.

These sites do not operate with approval from Oxfordshire County Council and could take your money and/or your details without making the payment you are trying to make.  

A Penalty Charge Notice from your local authority is valid and the fine still applies even if you have made the payment on a different site. Always pay a PCN from Oxfordshire County Council through our official website or via the automated telephone line. 

All the correct details are listed on our website and will be detailed on the PCN you receive.

Protecting you from unofficial sites

• If you think you have been scammed, you can report it to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040.
• Contact your bank if you suspect you have been a victim of financial fraud.
• Age UK runs a telephone support service (for older people and carers): 01865 411288.
• Report suspicious emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk
• Forward scam text messages to 7726 – it is free.

To learn more about different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others, visit ;www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk and complete the free online training.