Portsmouth-based family furniture retailer Material Things has urged other businesses to be aware of fraudulent driver activity following a four-month battle to clear its name after being fined wrongly by TFL (Transport for London).
The issue first came to the attention of Matt Gingell, Sales Director, back in October 2025 when the business received a letter from TFL outlining multiple ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) fines up to £2,000.
However, after investigating the issue internally, Matt discovered from the image on the fine that the vehicle captured was not in any association with the company. It became apparent that Material Things had become a victim of fraud after a London driver used the furniture shop’s name.
“It was back in October when we got the letter which was dated 30 September 2025 and we scrambled around trying to find out whose van it was but when we saw the image on the fine, we knew it wasn’t ours – it looked like a maintenance van because it had reflective signs on it,” Matt told Big Furniture Group.
“It’s the most unbelievable miscarriage of justice. It’s really ridiculous because we were expected to pay for those fines which ran into £2,000.”
Matt contacted the DVLA, TFL and Hampshire Police for advice, as well as contesting the fines, which initially were rejected by TFL during December 2025.
Despite the rejection, Matt continued to contest the fines and was set to go to a postal hearing tribunal, scheduled to take place this month, to present its evidence.
However, TFL has now dropped the case after recently informing the business via a letter confirming “no further action will be taken” after assessing the evidence provided.
“It’s been a crazy four months for us – and stressful. It’s crazy that someone was able to put their car in our name and then rack up all these fines but we don’t own it”, Matt added.
“When we reached out to the DVLA, they were brilliant. The same can’t be said for TFL. I phoned them the moment we got these fines and said it has never belonged to us and that we have never previously owned it and that somebody has just put it in our name – it’s nothing to do with us.
“Somebody with an ounce of common sense has now looked at our case and decided not to pursue it but it took four months of battling with them to get to that point, which is scary.
“I’m relieved and angry. I almost wanted it to go to a tribunal to show them how ridiculous it was. I’m glad it’s over and I want to use my case as a warning for others to be vigilant on similar issues such as this.”
