Europcar/Dart Charge Issue

Martyn_B

Whilst I guess this is technically my fault, I still want to see if there is anything I can do, because my fine does feel a little unfair.

Basically I crossed the Dartford crossing and went straight abroad, completely forgetting that it absolutely HAS to be paid by the following evening. 3 days later I came back, crossed again, got home and paid £5 for both crossings (I've paid late before and it hasn't been an issue).

Today I received an invoice from Europcar for £73.50!

£35 for not paying on time for the first crossing
£2.50 to pay for that crossing (even though I paid £5 two weeks ago for both crossings - which they've blatantly ignored)
£36 administration fee from Europcar - which just seems like a ludicrous amount to charge.

So I rang Dart Charge to query, and one thing that struck me as odd, that they couldn't accept my crossing fee that was late, yet they still took my money? And then charged me again on top of the penalty fee. So I've paid £7.50 for two crossings, plus £35 penalty and £36 admit fee.

Also makes me wonder just how many other people are getting stung, given how many cars etc use that crossing everyday!

forgotmyname

Wonder no more.... Google...

FOI 722998

All your answers..

Close to 1 million penalty charges with less than 10,000 cancelled.


EDIT: FOI 729425..
Jan - Sept 2015 1.5 million charges with 282,666 passed to the european debt recovery.

bigjl

I have had four cancelled so far.

I think it has proved a bit flaky the system.

As the times they said we didn't pay I had paid.

A couple of times early on I forgot and you simply paid and slightly higher charge when they sent you a letter.

But after a few months that seemed to stop.

Best advice is sign up for the automatic charging system and remember to keep your car details up to date.

Stupid idea and it can't be irrelevant that prior to this "progress" you could not get a fine for non payment, they simply turned you around and sent you back.