Dartford crossing

[wilsonofthewizard]

Nobody seems to have mentioned DARTSAVE.
I registered my 2 cars with them 3 years ago and I have only been over the crossing or through the tunnel twice.
Each time I go through/over DARTSAVE pay for me and I reimburse DARTSAVE within 3 weeks.Simple.
Google DARTSAVE and find out for yourselves.

 

[bigalw35]

Unless there is a diversion - which does happen.

Beware, I had to pop into Dagenham shortly after getting the moho to have a new piece of exhaust sorted, a week or so later I received a letter from the lez people warning me that if I went in the zone again it would be a £200.00 per day fine.

We live just a couple of miles east of the tunnel, so we get what they term as “the local resident scheme”, I have to pay them £10.00 in August and that gets me 50 trips/passes (0.20 p/crossing) and the moho is only £2.00, whereas a car is currently £2.50

 

[pappajohn]

No charge if you have a blue badge AND your vehicle is road tax exempt.
They don't make it easy.

 

[buttons]

Shit...I just realised I forgot to pay for my crossing last Wednesday

Oh dear.....

 

[ironduck]

I was 8 hours late and was still fined

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[Rumour and Innuendo]

Not looking for argument on here but this thread seems to have bought out the pitchfork brigade. As a group, we are already "misunderstood" and reading this thread, I don't have to wonder why. We have motorhomes and campervans that cost many thousands in most cases. We are clever enough to have accrued the capital or method of payment to buy these things, but not clever enough to remember to pay the Dart Charge?

The rules are the rules! If you are travelling around the M25 and use the crossing, it is up to you to pay the charge. Trying to pretend you didn't know about it or you didn't know where to pay or that old chestnut "I forgot" just doesn't cut it! There are at least 12 signs with information on them as you approach from the north. At each junction close to the crossing there are signs telling you that you need to pay and where to look.

To say that you were concentrating on driving is also just a little silly. Are people really saying they don't every read road signs because they are driving? Although that would tie in with the low standards of driving we see every day. And as for trying to say you were too busy or had too much going on? Priceless! Are you too busy to eat? too busy to fuel up? Too busy to to plan the holiday or trip? Although a family emergency may be some mitigation.

I am sure that there are people who come on holiday who don't know and or don't speak the language, but when we travel to Europe in the old bus we don't expect then to supply signs in English! We make sure we know the signs or look them up. And for us English speakers, what is so difficult to understand about the signs that say "Dart Charge. Find us online and pay by midnight tomorrow"?

By all means it is worth trying to get out of paying the fines, but those bleating on here? You know about it, just pay it!

 

[Northernraider]

Not looking for argument on here but this thread seems to have bought out the pitchfork brigade. As a group, we are already "misunderstood" and reading this thread, I don't have to wonder why. We have motorhomes and campervans that cost many thousands in most cases. We are clever enough to have accrued the capital or method of payment to buy these things, but not clever enough to remember to pay the Dart Charge?

The rules are the rules! If you are travelling around the M25 and use the crossing, it is up to you to pay the charge. Trying to pretend you didn't know about it or you didn't know where to pay or that old chestnut "I forgot" just doesn't cut it! There are at least 12 signs with information on them as you approach from the north. At each junction close to the crossing there are signs telling you that you need to pay and where to look.

To say that you were concentrating on driving is also just a little silly. Are people really saying they don't every read road signs because they are driving? Although that would tie in with the low standards of driving we see every day. And as for trying to say you were too busy or had too much going on? Priceless! Are you too busy to eat? too busy to fuel up? Too busy to to plan the holiday or trip? Although a family emergency may be some mitigation.

I am sure that there are people who come on holiday who don't know and or don't speak the language, but when we travel to Europe in the old bus we don't expect then to supply signs in English! We make sure we know the signs or look them up. And for us English speakers, what is so difficult to understand about the signs that say "Dart Charge. Find us online and pay by midnight tomorrow"?

By all means it is worth trying to get out of paying the fines, but those bleating on here? You know about it, just pay it!

Oh dear

 

[Hils and Glenns]

We've done the Dartford tunnel 3 times. And talked about how easy it would be to forget to pay. The last time we used it we did forget. We just got busy with family stuff and it went right out of my head. Suddenly remembered about 10 days later and phoned them.Nice bloke said there was nothing he could do I would just have to wait for my penalty notice, but that I may just get a warning.
When it came it was just a warning and I was charged £2.50. Do you think phoning up makes a difference?

 

[Northernraider]

We've done the Dartford tunnel 3 times. And talked about how easy it would be to forget to pay. The last time we used it we did forget. We just got busy with family stuff and it went right out of my head. Suddenly remembered about 10 days later and phoned them.Nice bloke said there was nothing he could do I would just have to wait for my penalty notice, but that I may just get a warning.
When it came it was just a warning and I was charged £2.50. Do you think phoning up makes a difference?

That's what happened to me in the end , except the helpful bloke I got an unhelpful woman.

But letter was just a reminder warning and paid 2.50 and it sorted

 

[Rumour and Innuendo]

Oh dear

Yep! The sort of response I would have expected.

Instead of that comment, why not read what I typed and dispute something?

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[Northernraider]

Yep! The sort of response I would have expected.

Instead of that comment, why not read what I typed and dispute something?

Why bother you are obviously perfect and never ever do anything wrong or make mistakes

You are better than all of us mere mortals

 

[Zigisla]

Yep! The sort of response I would have expected.

Instead of that comment, why not read what I typed and dispute something?

As you didn't want to start an argument, there seems pretty much nothing else but the response @Northernraider made above. You were very condescending to many motorhomers stating that those who forget things are not clever. I would like you to point out in the 95 previous posts above yours where anyone stated they shouldn't pay or even didn't want to pay. I think they are all happy to pay, but given longer and to be able to pay late over the phone rather than a "NO dispute the fine when the letter arrives". Complete waste of time and money sending out letters and then letting you off anyway..

 

[Northernraider]

As you didn't want to start an argument, there seems pretty much nothing else but the response @Northernraider made above. You were very condescending to many motorhomers stating that those who forget things are not clever. I would like you to point out in the 95 previous posts above yours where anyone stated they shouldn't pay or even didn't want to pay. I think they are all happy to pay, but given longer and to be able to pay late over the phone rather than a "NO dispute the fine when the letter arrives". Complete waste of time and money sending out letters and then letting you off anyway..

Exactly

That's what I said when I phoned them to pay , waste of time and money sending out letters. Probably costs as much as the fee.

And folk who claim they never do or make mistakes in life I think are either liars or lead very sheltered boring lives.

I'm glad I make mistakes and screw things up....often the funniest things I've done

 

[Puddleduck]

That "C" in the circle might be taken as a congestion zone by someone who didn't know - mind they would probably be correct as with toll booths or without it's a pain to get through.

It's a while since we did it but I remember (maybe mis-remember) going north that we came off one motorway and onto the M25 which was crawling along at about 5mph but it wasn't far at all to the crossing. We were blocked in by lorries which were solid in the inside lane so no chance of reading any signs by the side of the road before the crossing. After the tunnel it was similar with trucks nose to tail in the inside lane so no chance of reading signs at the side of the road after the tunnels either. I don't know if the signs are also on overhead gantries because as we'd paid on advance I took no notice of stuff that didn't affect us - too busy trying to not get knocked or knock anyone else and I was busy with sat nag so as not to miss our exit - and then the M11 was shut so I had to re-route to the A1. I know Martin checked with me that we had paid on the way south and I said I'd paid for the return trip.

I'd hate to have to do the M25 / Dartford Crossing on a regular basis.

 

[gus-lopez]

Set the account to Auto Top Up so its up to Dart Charge to claim the funds which would seem sensible for someone doing circa 40+ crossings a week.

I gave up trying to help them. His business partner had 14 fail to pay fines during the time I was over last year . so not only haven't we topped up the account but he couldn't even remember to pay after crossing

No disrespect but I find it rather worrying you didn’t even know you were going over the bridge or notice a sign particularly so in bad conditions, it’s big enough.

I cossed the Millau bridge one night & had no idea I was even on it even though I was expecting it . It was only the lights below that alerted me that I was on it

but not clever enough to remember to pay the Dart Charge?

I went out this morning to deposit the glass in the recycling bin. It is 50m before the traffic lights 1,5km away. As usual I found myself at the light s still with the recycling.

Are people really saying they don't every read road signs because they are driving?

I only bother with any when the sat nav alerts me that I might be doing something soon.

we don't expect then to supply signs in English!

If they aren't ,or spanish, then I have no idea what they say unless they are the picture type.

We make sure we know the signs or look them up.

They should be the universal picture type. If the French wish to put up tat you need a french dictionary for then I'm out.

what is so difficult to understand about the signs that say "Dart Charge. Find us online and pay by midnight tomorrow"?

The difficulty is that I have forgotten shortly after passing it as I'm trying to traverse multiple lanes to get to the exit that the sat nav tells me I need . I can't even remember a password that I set up a moment ago I can only remember things that have any interest to me .

Yep! The sort of response I would have expected.

Instead of that comment, why not read what I typed and dispute something?

I have complied with your request.

I'm off to Alicante in a mo. I will circumnavigate Murcia & change motorways all on auto pilot as I've done it so regularly & will be oblivious to any signs , even new ones . Have you never driven anywhere then when you have arrived you cannot remember a section of the journey ?

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[Northernraider]

Have you never driven anywhere then when you have arrived you cannot remember a section of the journey ?

This is actually very normal. I remember a training course I was on once and the instructer spent a good while going on about how at rush hour and commuter busy periods approx 80% of the vehicles on the road were a good part of the time being driven on autopilot

 

[Ivory55]

This is actually very normal. I remember a training course I was on once and the instructer spent a good while going on about how at rush hour and commuter busy periods approx 80% of the vehicles on the road were a good part of the time being driven on autopilot

One of the reasons I like A roads it keeps you alert more than motor way. Ie changing gear , different speed etc.

 

[DJA]

I note your comments @Rumour and Innuendo but do you have some sympathy for some friends of ours.

They had used the Dartford Tunnel for years paying at the barrier. They were not aware that the Booths had been removed and so when they used the crossing on their way to Spain they were stumped. Surely they have not stopped charging.

By your comments you would expect them to act on the Signs however the problem is they have no computers, and never have, neither have they a Smart Phone thus they have no access to the Internet which they noted on the signs. Don't think they display the Dart Charge phone number on the signs because how do you write it down whilst negotiating the traffic, probably worse than using a phone whilst driving. Neither do the signs mention that you can pay at a Payzone Shop. How do you find where a Payzone shop is near where you are . Do you know your local one. You can of course find out where the shops are on the internet.

Forgetting to pay was the least of their problems.

 

[Spriddler]

6 (unread) pages seem an awful lot for such a simple thing. I only use the crossing half a dozen times a year and pay a one-off toll online by debit card just before or just after I've used the crossing. Takes about 2 mins. Sorted.

 

[Puddleduck]

6 (unread) pages seem an awful lot for such a simple thing. I only use the crossing half a dozen times a year and pay a one-off toll online by debit card just before or just after I've used the crossing. Takes about 2 mins. Sorted.

I've used it twice (once each way) in over 20 years and had it not been for this forum would not have had a clue as to how to pay.

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[Spriddler]

I've used it twice (once each way) in over 20 years and had it not been for this forum would not have had a clue as to how to pay.

You just Google: 'Dartford Crossing' and go straight to the toll payment website page.

 

[Northernraider]

One of the reasons I like A roads it keeps you alert more than motor way. Ie changing gear , different speed etc.

Yep me too

 

[Puddleduck]

You just Google: 'Dartford Crossing' and go straight to the toll payment website page.

Yes it is easy IF and ONLY IF you know in advance you need to do this - or you have a method by which you can get onto the web when you are travelling after making the crossing. Many people don't have smart phones, I don't anymore.

The removal of the toll booths wasn't exactly news up here and I have let people know that they need to pay on line or at a paypoint.

Our nearest paypoint is 8 miles in the wrong direction for anything, I tried to use it today and the service line to it has been down for 12 days. The next nearest is miles away. There is an emergency system in place for people to top up electric and gas cards but not for anything else.

Would you google every single bridge you had to cross if you were to tour Scotland just in case there was something you needed to do?

 

[Ivory55]

Yes it is easy IF and ONLY IF you know in advance you need to do this - or you have a method by which you can get onto the web when you are travelling after making the crossing. Many people don't have smart phones, I don't anymore.

The removal of the toll booths wasn't exactly news up here and I have let people know that they need to pay on line or at a paypoint.

Our nearest paypoint is 8 miles in the wrong direction for anything, I tried to use it today and the service line to it has been down for 12 days. The next nearest is miles away. There is an emergency system in place for people to top up electric and gas cards but not for anything else.

Would you google every single bridge you had to cross if you were to tour Scotland just in case there was something you needed to do?

If I was lucky enough to live in Scotland I would not come as far south as the dartford crossing take it from me it’s nicer up there.

 

[Puddleduck]

If I was lucky enough to live in Scotland I would not come as far south as the dartford crossing take it from me it’s nicer up there.

Nor me from choice

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[Dusty_Rhoades]

The hint is on the sign...….. the charges only apply between 06:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs the rest of the time its free !

 

[Spriddler]

Would you google every single bridge you had to cross if you were to tour Scotland just in case there was something you needed to do?

Certainly not! My GPS and map planning would highlight it. After all the hoo-haa on here and in the media I'm surprised that the Crossing being chargeable isn't known to almost everyone. It reached the beach bum OP from Devon who only asked how to pay, hence my original reply (which was intended to be taken as helping rather than provoking confrontation).

 

[Rumour and Innuendo]

As you didn't want to start an argument, there seems pretty much nothing else but the response @Northernraider made above. You were very condescending to many motorhomers stating that those who forget things are not clever. I would like you to point out in the 95 previous posts above yours where anyone stated they shouldn't pay or even didn't want to pay. I think they are all happy to pay, but given longer and to be able to pay late over the phone rather than a "NO dispute the fine when the letter arrives". Complete waste of time and money sending out letters and then letting you off anyway..

So where did I say that those who forget things aren't clever? I said that those with the ability to buy or finance a motorhome are clever enough not to forget!

As for the whole you didn't want an argument.. That has never stopped people on this forum commenting before and I at least expected a discussion. I guess that there is no argument to what I typed. Otherwise someone would have taken me to task. I can see all kinds of excuses on here, but at the end of the day it is the drivers responsibility to follow the rules. If it say 24 hours, no matter how unfair you think it is, they are the rules and by using the crossing, you agree with it.

And I am sorry, I really don't believe people who say they have no way of using the internet. How do they book crossings? And if they are doing that, I would guess they look at the route. Google and many other mapping programs actually tell you there is a toll on the route! Sat Nav tells you when you have a toll.

As for me being perfect @Northernraider, sorry to disappoint but far from it. I was caught doing 96 MPH in my Jag. I have driven the wrong way up one way streets (twice) and may other stupid things, all my own fault. I lit some powder from half a dozen bangers inside a matchbox that caused me severe burns to one hand. But I also can be sensible too. Like not going anywhere near the LEZ. If I was diverted, nothing would make me go into London. I also made sure I wouldn't forget the tolls. I have a Dartford Crossing account so I don't forget that and a tag for france. No way would I risk spending £200 for a £2 crossing. But good luck with the appeal.

 

[peterc10]

And I am sorry, I really don't believe people who say they have no way of using the internet. How do they book crossings? And if they are doing that, I would guess they look at the route. Google and many other mapping programs actually tell you there is a toll on the route! Sat Nav tells you when you have a toll.

This is going to surprise you, so hold onto your hat ..............

People were still able to book up or buy all sorts of things way back when the internet was still no more than a glint in Tim Berners-Lee's eye. They used to do it by telephone (attached by a cable to a wall) or even using a letter with a cheque in it.

Equally people used to find there way to places using something called a map. I know this is hard for you, so I will explain. That is like Google on your screen, but shown on on paper. In the 1980s I used to use one to drag a caravan all the way down to the south of France and find a campsite I had booked by letter. That is after catching the ferry that I booked over the phone.

 

[Spriddler]

You can pay a one-off charge far in advance by post with a cheque, postal order, or by phone using a debit/credit card.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...._Dart_Charge_Pre_Pay_for_a_Crossing_form.pdf

Scroll to bottom of above page to see:

Just sayin' - if it helps the OP to pay without using the internet.

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