Dartford crossing

[Rumour and Innuendo]

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.

A very facetious reply! Fact remains that reply is not relevant to this post. (Although watch those who never use the internet come out of the woodwork.... On the internet!) This post is about people who ARE on the internet because they are on this site and reply to this post!!!

So take your childish jibes and actually pay attention!

 

[DJA]

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.

I hope you don't think I am misleading you about my Friends.

They have no computer or ever had one and if you put one in front of them would have no idea what to do with it. They are not married and one has not got any phone at all including not a Land Line at his property. The other has a Landline and has only recently got a Mobile to make calls and it has no internet facility on it. They booked their crossings etc via the Camping and Caravan Club by telephone getting their inforrmation about what was on offer from the Club magazine. All their journeys have been done with the aid of a map, no Sat Nav. When they have been with us they would follow as they didn't have to worry about where to go. Google means nothing to them and the maps don't give you any info re Tolls.

How would they know to avoid the Itchen Bridge Toll in Southampton where over 2.39m can be £25? The Sign is at the exit of the roundabout before the Toll Booth and shows a Lorry against the tariff.

Don't assume everyone has the information available to them as you have and neither should those who put the signs up for the likes of the Dartford Tunnel assume everyone has or understands Internet access.

 

[Rumour and Innuendo]

I hope you don't think I am misleading you about my Friends.

They have no computer or ever had one and if you put one in front of them would have no idea what to do with it. They are not married and one has not got any phone at all including not a Land Line at his property. The other has a Landline and has only recently got a Mobile to make calls and it has no internet facility on it. They booked their crossings etc via the Camping and Caravan Club by telephone getting their inforrmation about what was on offer from the Club magazine. All their journeys have been done with the aid of a map, no Sat Nav. When they have been with us they would follow as they didn't have to worry about where to go. Google means nothing to them and the maps don't give you any info re Tolls.

How would they know to avoid the Itchen Bridge Toll in Southampton where over 2.39m can be £25? The Sign is at the exit of the roundabout before the Toll Booth and shows a Lorry against the tariff.

Don't assume everyone has the information available to them as you have and neither should those who put the signs up for the likes of the Dartford Tunnel assume everyone has or understands Internet access.

@DJA Not doubting your friends at all nor anything you said. I know people who are in the same position through choice. Thing is this post is on the internet by people on this group who definitely do have the internet or they couldn't have posted. So to say they couldn't pay it because of this or that is disingenuous. Even if they have to move a bit for signal, that is just what they have to do. Even non smart phones have alarms on them, easy to set to remind them to pay.

I can't imagine how I coped before the internet! Luckily I was in on the whole computer explosion on the ground floor. Not only personal computers but as a consultant and implementer for business. So maybe I am equating my use and knowledge to others and most don't have that. My apologies if you were misled by my earlier comments ref your friends.

 

[pappajohn]

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.

I've also used it twice (once each way) and didn't give a thought to having to cross a major river never mind it being a toll crossing......
But i knew what a toll booth was for when I got to it.
Came as a surprise but not a problem.
I just told my sat nav to take me to Dover favouring motorways. Yes, satnavs did that back then.

 

[DavidG58]

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

So take your childish jibes and actually pay attention!

Oh dear !

This is intentionally patronising, but still meant tongue in cheek and typed with a smile

edit - in my rush to be witty I forgot to include your post wishing NR good luck with his appeal, posted long after he had posted the outcome none of us are perfect

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[Chris]

We registered our cars and the van so it was all done automatically.

The only problem was we sold our van in July, but forgot to de-register it until December

The people who bought it could have enjoyed free crossings for 6 months or so. They didn’t use the crossing in that period though thankfully.

 

[Mikey RV]

Well I am glad I started this thread now, it has certainly opened a few eyes and will also save a lot of peaple a fine or two maybe.

As for me, I am going to go round the M25 the other way now.

 

[Shrimp]

The other way round the M25?
We did that, once when we had to go south to collect something-never again, the M25 south is rough as guts, it has a very poor surface and will ‘rattle your teeth out’!
After we had done it we developed a new ‘rattle/vibration’ in the van & discovered the fridge & surround had become unattached! Anymore of that road & I think the whole assembly would have been relocated on the other side of the van!

 

[DJA]

As for me, I am going to go round the M25 the other way now.

Hi @Mikey RV

As I have to use the M25 fairly often, including this coming weekend, the one think I hate about going Clockwise from the Dartford Tunnel around to the M4 are the miles and miles of Concrete sections with the regular joints. When in our van with Vanco tyres the noise and vibration is significant and if you or your passengers have a migraine before you start then I pity them.

 

[Spriddler]

....miles and miles of Concrete sections with the regular joints. When in our van with Vanco tyres the noise and vibration is significant and if you or your passengers have a migraine before you start then I pity them.

I like to drive with my window open a couple of inches and the noise of the traffic and thump, thump, thump of the concrete sections is dreadful. Little wonder there are noise absorption fences installed for the sanity of the local residents.

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[Stonemags76]

I have registered the van as a result of this thread, but have now realised I will have to remember to de register it if I sell it! Humph!

 

[Chris]

I have registered the van as a result of this thread, but have now realised I will have to remember to de register it if I sell it! Humph!

That’s true and the new owner can’t register it themselves whilst it’s registered in your name.