A driver has been fined for not paying a Clean Air Zone charge - despite being refunded when he tried to do so.
Sean Alabaster, 53, travelled to Birmingham from his home in Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent, to have work carried out on his car in December and paid the standard fee of £8 for entering the city's Clean Air Zone.
But he was shocked when he received a fine two weeks later claiming he had never paid.
Mr Alabaster spent a day in Birmingham on December 13 to get work done on his Mercedes Benz C-class.
He paid the £8 charge while he was still at the garage, and thought nothing of it until he received a fine through the post two weeks later.
After querying the fine with a national helpdesk, Mr Alabaster was told that he was refunded for the payment shortly after paying it.
Mr Alabaster, who is originally from Newport, said: "The garage that I visited was about 200 yards inside the Clean Air Zone. I paid the fee while I was at the garage.
"I've tried calling and registering a complaint with Birmingham City Council and I am appealing the fine.
"It's just incredibly frustrating. I have made every effort I can to pay the fine.
"They have the Commonwealth Games there soon. What's going to happen with that?"
Mr Alabaster said he has tried to contact Birmingham City Council numerous times since receiving the fine on January 4, but has had no response.
He must now choose whether to continue with the appeal process or pay the £60 fine before January 18, when it will double.
The Clean Air Zone was introduced to tackle poor air quality in the city in 2021.
Birmingham City Council said they cannot comment on individual cases.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “The council are aware of this case and are responding. If a driver feels they have received a PCN unfairly, they have a right to respond.”
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