Germany/Austria August/September information sharing.

[LesW]

Sounds like sharp practice at Dartford Crossing PhilandMena - might be worth a thread highlighting this - must be plenty of funsters with Dartford Crossing accounts who havn't travelled for a while & could get caught out when they next use it.

I was sent an email in July telling me my account would be closed because I hadn't used it for a year..

I replied asking them if they knew there had been a lock down, and that a pandemic was upon us, I followed this up with a phone call suggesting that maybe a grown up should be monitoring the situation or not leaving it to a computer or some jobsworth..

Apparently it's standard procedure to close 'inactive' accounts after a year, I was given my money back as I ws in credit and advised to open a new account when ready.

 

[PhilandMena]

Does sound a bit underhand re Dartford Crossing PhilandMena - might be worth a thread highlighting this - must be plenty of funsters with Dartford Crossing accounts who havn't travelled for a while & could get caught out when they next use it.

Go for it. You have my full support!

 

[Oscar]

Over to you PhilandMena

 

[Roger20]

Just a follow up to my message in post #1260
Received an email from Dartford Crossing. They closed my account and kept the balance of £16.50. They have now said they will refund me my balance but the fine stands as my account was closed when I crossed end of August. Sounds very underhanded to me and I will not pursue any further as I think its now a lost cause.

What about post #1265? They may drop the penalty if you challenge it. It's so easy to not appreciate the implications of an email and in the Covid circumstances this year mean many will not have appreciated the ned to use at least once a year. I certainly hadn't until reading this. It's not as though you hadn't got the money in the account.

 

[suavecarve]

What about post #1265? They may drop the penalty if you challenge it. It's so easy to not appreciate the implications of an email and in the Covid circumstances this year mean many will not have appreciated the ned to use at least once a year. I certainly hadn't until reading this. It's not as though you hadn't got the money in the account.

If you included within the email that it was the last thing on your mind whilst a close relative was in a dire position and the only reason for travel was to support another close relative abroad during this pandemic in their hour of need, pointing out that every other "reasonable" service orientated business had made exceptions such as eurotunnel, BA for their frequent users and you would hate to go away thinking that they are acting like a monopoly

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[PhilandMena]

Over to you PhilandMena

Roger, Roger, leave it with me.

 

[PhilandMena]

What about post #1265? They may drop the penalty if you challenge it. It's so easy to not appreciate the implications of an email and in the Covid circumstances this year mean many will not have appreciated the ned to use at least once a year. I certainly hadn't until reading this. It's not as though you hadn't got the money in the account.

I'm afraid its all stacked against me and no doubt many others have been subjected to the same treatment. Although I spoke to them on the phone and laid out my case, it fell on deaf ears. They are IMO a bunch of Jobsworth and will not accept an appeal by email or via a phone call. It has to be on their form or with a written explanation sent to a specific department. I've laid out my case and its fallen on deaf ears. I will not be pursuing it any further and have written it all down to a bad experience and moved on. As far as I'm concerned its finished.

 

[Chrisvh]

Is anyone currently in the Moselle Valley? We have just arrived on the SP in Heidelburg and are thing of an overnight there before heading to Aachen for a Sunday Eurotunnel.
How busy is it? Everywhere else is packed. Wurzburg SP last night was full.

 

[Bustup15]

In the International Domino Handicap (cos its peeing down) Scotland played to form and took a beating from England

Well actually it was 3-2

 

[Wicketter]

We were in Aachen 2 nights ago no problems and there were spaces. New toilet block and guy calls for the money in the afternoon just pitch up. Price gone up now 23euros. Some reports of UK customers being turned away from German sites due to covid. We were OK as we had travelled up from Italy. Just be aware it's getting twitchy!

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[zulurita]

Is anyone currently in the Moselle Valley? We have just arrived on the SP in Heidelburg and are thing of an overnight there before heading to Aachen for a Sunday Eurotunnel.
How busy is it? Everywhere else is packed. Wurzburg SP last night was full.

We had no problems last week. Went to Zeltingen on the Monday but arrive in the morning. Also went to Longuich weingut but they may ask re covid due to new rules, we were there on Friday and just said we had been in Germany over a month so not arrived straight from UK.

 

[sallylillian]

Is anyone currently in the Moselle Valley? We have just arrived on the SP in Heidelburg and are thing of an overnight there before heading to Aachen for a Sunday Eurotunnel.
How busy is it? Everywhere else is packed. Wurzburg SP last night was full.

I think its because of the current rules that hotels, campsites etc cannot accept guests from a raft of German towns and cities. I have been challenged twice, once I was initially refused because I was from England a high risk area, sorted that but went elsewhere, and today I had emailed a site for a weekend stay and ended up telephoning. Yes have your email where did you spend last night.... Flintsbach. Where were you the night before.... Verona I've been in Italy for 7 weeks.
OK we have a comfort pitch for you!
So I reckon there are a lot of Berliners, Stuttgart and Munich people looking for places who do not interrogate?

 

[Chrisvh]

Thanks for the replies. We have tried to book a couple of sites in the Moselle Valley and been turned down flat, without a negative COVID test result. I speak decent German and an explanation that we have been here a month seems to cut no ice. Obviously there are different rules in different states. Bavaria still seems very relaxed. Signs of the times and a deteriorating situation. Even in Germany! Will probably stay in Heidelburg and then travel up to Aachen for Saturday night.
Pretty chilly now, compared to 30c in September. But a great trip in one of my favourite countries.

 

[Russell's Dad]

We were in Aachen 2 nights ago no problems and there were spaces. New toilet block and guy calls for the money in the afternoon just pitch up. Price gone up now 23euros. Some reports of UK customers being turned away from German sites due to covid. We were OK as we had travelled up from Italy. Just be aware it's getting twitchy!

At Aachen since yesterday. Spaces are available. New facilities are great. 23 Euros so not cheap, but that includes everything except washing machines (Miele, no less). Aachen city centre is nice.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

At Aachen since yesterday. Spaces are available. New facilities are great. 23 Euros so not cheap, but that includes everything except washing machines (Miele, no less). Aachen city centre is nice.

Went in there Sat afternoon with our new van we collected from Bavaria bit of fun going through the residential streets in a near 9m van and then they had a hole dug up right in the entrance.
Very happy warden though and very chilled

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[Stealaway]

At Aachen since yesterday. Spaces are available. New facilities are great. 23 Euros so not cheap, but that includes everything except washing machines (Miele, no less). Aachen city centre is nice.

There's loads of free overnight spots around Aachen depending how big you are -- see Park4night.

 

[Stealaway]

Is anyone currently in the Moselle Valley? We have just arrived on the SP in Heidelburg and are thing of an overnight there before heading to Aachen for a Sunday Eurotunnel.
How busy is it? Everywhere else is packed. Wurzburg SP last night was full.

Do mean the official MoHo parking spots by the river in Wurzburg? That car park is huge and people seem to park anywhere. It never seems full.

 

[Chrisvh]

Do mean the official MoHo parking spots by the river in Wurzburg? That car park is huge and people seem to park anywhere. It never seems full.

Yes. I was really surprised. Huge car park full of huge motor homes. Looked like a Morello or Concorde convention. I felt quite overwhelmed!

 

[Kenp]

An alternative to Aachen - Calais.
When we went out in September we drove thru' Belgium to an ACSI CC site south of Aachen. The trip thru' Belgium was awful; very busy, lots of road works and accident delays.
Coming back we decided not to repeat the stress of Belgium. Our last night in Germany was at Siersberg (ACSI 827), an excellent uncrowded site that we had stayed at before just ten miles from France and Luxemburg. Leaving midweek at 10:00 we then came gently back to Calais via Metz & Reims using A4, A26, A16 arriving about 1530. Cost circa 62 Euro for under 3.5tonne. The Autoroutes were very quiet and relaxing; so much so that on arriving in Folkestone we were fresh enough to continue to Shropshire.
Incidentally thank you for the recommendations on German red wine and Titisee; greatly enjoyed both as much as Lake Garda and the Italian wines..

 

[Wh05apk]

Is anyone currently in the Moselle Valley? We have just arrived on the SP in Heidelburg and are thing of an overnight there before heading to Aachen for a Sunday Eurotunnel.
How busy is it? Everywhere else is packed. Wurzburg SP last night was full.

We left the Moselle on Monday after 2 weeks, it is very busy, most sp's are very full, we only stay on those, no "proper" sites only once getting asked for contact details at Mehring. Really is beautiful there at the moment, the autumn colours are just appearing, and the vines are being harvested so lots to see.

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[G-RMPS]

We’ve just spent two weeks on the Mosel including four nights at the Longuish Weingut. No problems getting on anywhere though some Stellplatz are maybe 90% full by evening. Campsites look rammed, with caravans.

We're booked on a Saturday afternoon tunnel crossing. We plan to travel from Rurberg to Calais - 200 miles.

 

[Parrot Face]

Weathers really good here, don't know why people keep on posting about Spain?

View attachment 433136

We were just south of Ulm yesterday . Woke up to fog and temperature of 2c.

 

[Parrot Face]

Thanks for the replies. We have tried to book a couple of sites in the Moselle Valley and been turned down flat, without a negative COVID test result. I speak decent German and an explanation that we have been here a month seems to cut no ice. Obviously there are different rules in different states. Bavaria still seems very relaxed. Signs of the times and a deteriorating situation. Even in Germany! Will probably stay in Heidelburg and then travel up to Aachen for Saturday night.
Pretty chilly now, compared to 30c in September. But a great trip in one of my favourite countries.

We are in the Moselle at the moment. A lot of SP's look busy but there are places. We opted for the ACSI site Paradies at Krov. Only 16euros , arrived late but still some pitches. Good food and beer in the restaurant at really good prices.

 

[Chrisvh]

Heading to Wittrich SP tomorrow. Will get there early to make sure of a place. Great SP at Heidelburg. Recommended. 3 buses an hour from outside down to the Altstadt.

 

[Bustup15]

Well, the rain finally stopped so.we.walked.the 2 miles into Prima old town. A nice church internally at least but didn't rate the castle/sanitorium after we toiled up the many steps!.

And on the way back it rained

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[Chrisvh]

Had a night at Wintrich SP in the Moselle Tal. Super SP with pitches along the river. €11 including EHU. Plenty of space. Will definitely return to cycle the river path in warmer conditions. Valley looks beautiful in Autumn colours. Wintrich is a typical Moselle village. A few wienguts. Had an excellent meal last night at a local restaurant. Today stocking up with some vino and heading up to Aachen for the train on Sunday.

 

[G-RMPS]

Just driven from a Stellplatz 20 miles east of Aachen to the tunnel. I took the route avoiding Brussels. No delays due to traffic, roadworks etc. Well under 5 hours, and it’s now pishing doon at Calais.

Only problem was the satnav. I planned the route last night, putting Lille in as a waypoint to prevent the satnav routing via Brussels. However I forgot about the waypoint. Couldn't understand why we were trying to go down a pedestrian precinct in the middle of Lille!

 

[Wh05apk]

Can't understand why people avoid Brussels, came around it at about 4:30pm on Monday and had no problem, only once had about 10 minutes delay on a Saturday morning.

 

[G-RMPS]

Because your comments came after mine

 

[JockandRita]

Only problem was the satnav. I planned the route last night, putting Lille in as a waypoint to prevent the satnav routing via Brussels. However I forgot about the waypoint. Couldn't understand why we were trying to go down a pedestrian precinct in the middle of Lille!

Aye, been there and done that...............but not in Lille though.
I now zoom into the map, and pick a waypoint on the motorway or carriageway that I want to head along. That keeps me on the right track.
I once put coordinates in for a waypoint, and it took us to an underpass.............................underneath the road I should have been on, hence the zooming right in on the map now.

Cheers,

Jock.

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