Intrum Justitia Axed by City of London on Congestion Charge Collections

Ken Livingstone, London's mayor, has axed Europe's largest debt collection agency, Intrum Justitia, from its role in enforcing the congestion charge amid evidence that thousands of foreigners drive through the capital without paying.

Documents obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that foreign vehicles have incurred 65,534 penalty charges since the capital's £5 daily charge was introduced in February 2003 - but just 1,993 of the culprits bothered to pay up.

The shortfall means Transport for London (TfL) is owed £9.5m in overseas fines. Penalties reach £150 a car if motorists fail to pay for 28 days.

Intrum Justitia was supposed to build a Europe-wide enforcement network under a ground-breaking effort by TfL to ensure international compliance of its charge. But internal documents reveal TfL terminated its contract with Intrum Justitia in December.

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