Dart Charge

[FoxInTheBirstallBox]

Just an FYI (because I nearly forgot too) 

 

Any who travelled to Gills today and used the toll, don't forget to pay your dart Charge  

[Milo]

I forgot to pay last year and ended up with a £360 fine 

 

 

[FoxInTheBirstallBox]

1 minute ago, Milo said:

I forgot to pay last year and ended up with a £360 fine 

 

 

For a £2.50 charge?! That's rediculous 

[st albans fox]

4 minutes ago, FoxInTheBirstallBox said:

Just an FYI (because I nearly forgot too) 

 

Any who travelled to Gills today and used the toll, don't forget to pay your dart Charge  

If you forget and it’s your first offence, they let you off a fine 

 

and you have to pay in each direction! 

[Milo]

£5

 

£2.50 each way 🙄

 

I’d moved house - told DVLA but hadn’t updated my V5. Wasn’t aware you had to.
So all letters went to old address. Ended up with debt collectors coming round to my old house - yep, really. For an original £5 charge. 
 

My old neighbour called me and told me that the debt collectors had been round so I called DartCharge - the fine was up to £360 and would be £550 if I didn’t pay immediately. I said I’d take it court to appeal and was told that it was too late for that. 
 

Ridiculous. 

[FoxInTheBirstallBox]

Just now, Milo said:

£5

 

£2.50 each way 🙄

 

I’d moved house - told DVLA but hadn’t updated my V5. Wasn’t aware you had to.
So all letters went to old address. Ended up with debt collectors coming round to my old house - yep, really. For an original £5 charge. 
 

My old neighbour called me and told me that the debt collectors had been round so I called DartCharge - the fine was up to £360 and would be £550 if I didn’t pay immediately. I said I’d take it court to appeal and was told that it was too late for that. 
 

Ridiculous. 

Private traffic and parking companies are absolute crooks. It's unbelievable that the government are happy to let these con artists run and rinse people

 

But yeah I have a terrible memory and nearly forgot to pay it after being reminded 3 times today, hope no one else gets stung by it

[tom27111]

9 minutes ago, FoxInTheBirstallBox said:

Private traffic and parking companies are absolute crooks. It's unbelievable that the government are happy to let these con artists run and rinse people

 

But yeah I have a terrible memory and nearly forgot to pay it after being reminded 3 times today, hope no one else gets stung by it

 

At least they made clamping illegal 

[BoyJones]

Just open a Dart account. I did years ago, put all my family and mates cars on it. Up to 20 vehicles. Dart top it up with £10 from your Bank account when credit your credit balance drops below a tenner. 
 

Not important but also give 20% discount. We use the crossing maybe five time a year, worth it and saves loads of hassle. 

[HybridFox]

I thought this was about Madders again 

 

[Fox1norfolk]

On 07/01/2023 at 22:24, BoyJones said:

Just open a Dart account. I did years ago, put all my family and mates cars on it. Up to 20 vehicles. Dart top it up with £10 from your Bank account when credit your credit balance drops below a tenner. 
 

Not important but also give 20% discount. We use the crossing maybe five time a year, worth it and saves loads of hassle. 

Agree, I have done the same arrangement for several years

[Trav Le Bleu]

It's my opinion that they removed the toll booths so that they could fine unwary travellers. With the booths, you had no choice but to pay. With no booths they can fine people who forget or who haven't noticed the signs (which aren't exactly prominent) or maybe for people who don't read English so well. Then you've got older people who might not know how to get online.

 

This doesn't catch people who have deliberately tried to avoid payment, it prosecutes the unwary and the vulnerable. I've personally decided never to visit Kent.

 

Visit Scotland. Much more picturesque and no toll bridges.

[tom27111]

16 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

It's my opinion that they removed the toll booths so that they could fine unwary travellers. With the booths, you had no choice but to pay. With no booths they can fine people who forget or who haven't noticed the signs (which aren't exactly prominent) or maybe for people who don't read English so well. Then you've got older people who might not know how to get online.

 

This doesn't catch people who have deliberately tried to avoid payment, it prosecutes the unwary and the vulnerable. I've personally decided never to visit Kent.

 

Visit Scotland. Much more picturesque and no toll bridges.

 

As long as you don't drive up there via Newcastle 

[Lambert09]

sounds quick, gerrim 

[Big Dave]

I have set up an account. Sounds different to what others have said, but just automatically debits my account.  
I forgot once, and got let off.  Set up the DD scheme immediately.

 

I feel sorry for those who are perhaps not local and going on holiday,etc. If you are heading off to one of the airports, ferry / tunnel crossing on holiday, you are likely going to forget to pay up.  At least with the barriers, you had no choice.

[indierich06]

I live round that way and it's a huge bone of contention. The charge was introduced to pay for construction of the bridge and tunnel, and was supposed to end in 2003 - they've since extended it indefinitely and the money just disappears into the DfT coffers, with no visibility of what happens to it. 

[Hollism]

I got stung with a charge from merseyflow or whatever it’s called after the league cup penalty shootout loss at Anfield the other year. Think it was £30 for paying within 10 days or something. TfL take the piss if that’s what they do.

[Jakemoore]

If it’s your first offence you will get away with it. Repeat offenders won’t. 
 

I live in Dartford (not something to gloat about) but I know what I’m talking about for once 😂