Dart Charge

Davecrawf

Davecrawf

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Just returned home from our 85 day France and Spain tour to discover that I owe Dart Charge £107.50. I forgot to make the payment of £2.50
I suppose this is all part of our motorhome fun!
 
Davecrawf said:
Just returned home from our 85 day France and Spain tour to discover that I owe Dart Charge £107.50. I forgot to make the payment of £2.50
I suppose this is all part of our motorhome fun!
Click to expand...
Is that a £105 fine related to the the number of days since you crossed without paying? Is there not an option to pay the fare and a lesser sum? It seems a trifle harsh.
 
Davecrawf said:
I have just called them and they were very helpful in telling how to make my payment. No let off.
Click to expand...
Oh sorry, they did me, but it wasn't long after.

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chaser said:
If you ring them and it's the first time,they will let you off.
Click to expand...
Yes did that, but as Chaser says you only get one-time let off and just pay the crossing charge. Surprisingly, when chatting to the Agent I spoke with, I found that the Call Centre is in Glasgow! Worth setting up an automated Debit for the Dart Crossing - no charge until you cross - and you can avoid further mishaps.

Recently on a trip north to Edinburgh, I used the Tyne Tunnel to avoid the major roadworks around the west side of Newcastle. With the excitement of a family birthday in Edinburgh, I forgot to pay before midnight the following day. There is no way of making a late payment or a contact telephone number. You just have to wait for the “Penalty Charge Notice” in the post (after the DVLA have disclosed your details to them - presumably for a fee) and pay-up within 14 days before the charge doubles. I will not be using the Tyne Tunnel again!
 
Davecrawf said:
Just returned home from our 85 day France and Spain tour to discover that I owe Dart Charge £107.50. I forgot to make the payment of £2.50
I suppose this is all part of our motorhome fun!
Click to expand...

I set up a PAYG account for the DART charging so I never now have to worry if I have paid or not as it does it automatically each time we cross. (y)
 
Millcourt said:
Yes did that, but as Chaser says you only get one-time let off and just pay the crossing charge. Surprisingly, when chatting to the Agent I spoke with, I found that the Call Centre is in Glasgow! Worth setting up an automated Debit for the Dart Crossing - no charge until you cross - and you can avoid further mishaps.

Recently on a trip north to Edinburgh, I used the Tyne Tunnel to avoid the major roadworks around the west side of Newcastle. With the excitement of a family birthday in Edinburgh, I forgot to pay before midnight the following day. There is no way of making a late payment or a contact telephone number. You just have to wait for the “Penalty Charge Notice” in the post (after the DVLA have disclosed your details to them - presumably for a fee) and pay-up within 14 days before the charge doubles. I will not be using the Tyne Tunnel again!
Click to expand...
Once upon a time, on holiday in Spain, got a parking ticket. Spoke to the traffic warden and they cancelled the ticket/ fine there and then. Such an attitude I have not experienced in the UK.

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Same happened to me, had a payment account set up but as we were overseas and did not use it for 12 months it was automatically cancelled.

Drove thorough the tunnel and back over the bridge on one day and came back 5 months later to two envelopes from them with two fines. Called them and asked what I could do and they advised that, as I had previously had an account, they would just charge me the £5 for each journey and drop the fine - happy days!

I now check my account is still valid the day before I cross over!!
 
Millcourt said:
Yes did that, but as Chaser says you only get one-time let off and just pay the crossing charge. Surprisingly, when chatting to the Agent I spoke with, I found that the Call Centre is in Glasgow! Worth setting up an automated Debit for the Dart Crossing - no charge until you cross - and you can avoid further mishaps.

Recently on a trip north to Edinburgh, I used the Tyne Tunnel to avoid the major roadworks around the west side of Newcastle. With the excitement of a family birthday in Edinburgh, I forgot to pay before midnight the following day. There is no way of making a late payment or a contact telephone number. You just have to wait for the “Penalty Charge Notice” in the post (after the DVLA have disclosed your details to them - presumably for a fee) and pay-up within 14 days before the charge doubles. I will not be using the Tyne Tunnel again!
Click to expand...
A repeat offender……..
 
Fulham Dave said:
Same happened to me, had a payment account set up but as we were overseas and did not use it for 12 months it was automatically cancelled.

Drove thorough the tunnel and back over the bridge on one day and came back 5 months later to two envelopes from them with two fines. Called them and asked what I could do and they advised that, as I had previously had an account, they would just charge me the £5 for each journey and drop the fine - happy days!

I now check my account is still valid the day before I cross over!!
Click to expand...
I believe that due to the pandemic at lot of people dropped off the payment system because they did not use the Dartford tunnel/bridge for over a year, so DART Charge increased the time to I think 24 months or to the card expiry date.

Even if you only use the Dartford crossing once in a blue moon, it's worth setting up an account and adding every vehicle that you or your immediate family own.

Once the London ULEZ zone is in place by the end of the year (the M25, the 130 mile London ring road), unless you live in the West Country, the Dartford crossing is the only logical route to the M20 and M2 and the Channel crossings at Dover and Folkestone.

As long as you check the account once a year or so to make sure it's still a valid card and number plates, the account can stay open indefinitely.

You can opt to get an email every time it's used, which is a good reminder (and reminds you that your second cousin that flogged the old car to, owes you a pint)
 
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Brains said:
I believe that due to the pandemic at lot of people dropped off the payment system because they did not use the Dartford tunnel/bridge for over a year, so DART Charge increased the time to I think 24 months or to the card expiry date.

Even if you only use the Dartford crossing once in a blue moon, it's worth setting up an account and adding every vehicle that you or your immediate family own.

Once the London ULEZ zone is in place by the end of the year (the M25, the 130 mile London ring road), unless you live in the West Country, the Dartford crossing is the only logical route to the M20 and M2 and the Channel crossings at Dover and Folkestone.

As long as you check the account once a year or so to make sure it's still a valid card and number plates, the account can stay open indefinitely.

You can opt to get an email every time it's used, which is a good reminder (and reminds you that your second cousin that flogged the old car to, owes you a pint)
Click to expand...

I have an account, as in my working days I crossed every fortnight or so, my account has a standing amount of £20 and is automatically topped-up when it falls below £10.
If the card expires, I get an email telling me it needs attention?

Has this facility changed? :unsure:

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Davecrawf said:
Once upon a time, on holiday in Spain, got a parking ticket. Spoke to the traffic warden and they cancelled the ticket/ fine there and then. Such an attitude I have not experienced in the UK.
Click to expand...

I have had near to that.

I had paid and was in time but it was on 10/11 and there was still another ticket on my car for 11/10 and on that I would have been out of time.
I pointed this out, but said he could not cancel a written ticket but would make a note about his mistake. I was sceptical, but sure enough the ticket was cancelled. Well done that man!
 
L' Hobo said:
I have an account, as in my working days I crossed every fortnight or so, my account has a standing amount of £20 and is automatically topped-up when it falls below £10.
If the card expires, I get an email telling me it needs attention?

Has this facility changed? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Yes.

You can have the account set up as either credit held on balance or as a 'pay as you go' account

You need to log into your account and check the settings.
There is an option to automatically get an email receipt every time you cross (I get this).

I don't think they warn you about card expiry.
I can see from my crossing history I've only used it 8 times since 2019, so once or twice a year.


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Fulham Dave said:
Same happened to me, had a payment account set up but as we were overseas and did not use it for 12 months it was automatically cancelled.

Drove thorough the tunnel and back over the bridge on one day and came back 5 months later to two envelopes from them with two fines. Called them and asked what I could do and they advised that, as I had previously had an account, they would just charge me the £5 for each journey and drop the fine - happy days!

I now check my account is still valid the day before I cross over!!
Click to expand...
Just awaiting a response from my extremely diplomatic appeal 🤞
 

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