Dartcharge vent - be warned!

VfM4meplse

The IT system was designed by the clueless!

I made a return crossing earlier this month, and received a penalty notice for one of the crossings today - issued 14 days after the "offence".

Now to the "offence": I'd changed my vehicle and updated the details on my account accordingly after my journey, after checking there was sufficient in the account not to incur a penalty. I hadn't actually planned to use the crossing in advance on that occasion, as I more often use the Blackwall tunnel. I wasn't worried about not seeing the crossing history update immediately, as I would guess this happens within 24-48 hours and not in real time.

My alleged "crime"? To put add the vehicle details after the crossing - perhaps an hour after I had returned home, so certainly within 3 hours of the return crossing. I checked the crossing history when I received the notice this morning and the crossings hadn't been registered to the vehicle, although the vehicle was on my account.

The call handler told me that this is because I updated the vehicle details after the crossing, and I'd have to appeal against the penalty in the usual way. I don't think it's unreasonable for the Dartcharge system to be sufficiently joined up to refresh account details and reconcile with journeys if the information is offered within a reasonable time period?

Where does it state that cars must be registered in advance? In the small print, I was told. Information such as this, I volunteer, should be in BIG print in a place that you don't have to search for what is not immediately obvious. IIRC the first time I used the crossing after the electronic Dartcharge system was introduced, I was in a hire car, and set up the account shortly afterwards. The crossing itself allows you to make payment until midnight the next day. So with these examples of allowing retrospective payment and registration, the programming is inconsistent at best.

So now I have to spend time and effort in appealing the penalty notice. Just to add a further inflammatory component, I can predict another penalty notice will arrive on Monday - for the return journey made a couple of hours later! So if I'm going to go to the trouble of doing so, I should at least share the warning with others. Don't expect any common sense out of the call handers either.

Also reposting elsewhere on the site as this deserves a wider audience.

Well_excuse_me.

You caused a problem, now you have to sort it out. Unlucky.

Fruitcake

I suggest you visit peipoo.com as they are the experts on council and police motoring issues. Read the FAQs first then post up both sides of your redacted penalty notice.

For private parking issues however you will get no better help than the Motoring, parking ticket forum on MSE.

VfM4meplse

Well_excuse_me. wrote: »

You caused a problem, now you have to sort it out. Unlucky.

Fair enough, but not with any intent, if it wasn't already obvious.

And at least you have been warned should you choose to leave your East Midlands Utopia.

Well_excuse_me.

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Fair enough, but not with any intent, if it wasn't already obvious.

And at least you have been warned should you choose to leave your East Midlands Utopia.

Yes, thanks for that.

*edit*

Motorbikes dont pay.

Neither should anyone else.

The bridge was built to keep us northern/midland proles out of the capital.

I'm up near the M6 toll road which is a much better idea. No-one actually needs to use it, but for six quid you get virtually empty, well surfaced roads, with no police and no speed cameras. So six quid to go as fast as you like with no fear of points or fines.

Oblivion

I think it's hilarious that Dart Charge customer services are based in Leeds. Useful for all those who took a wrong turning.

zagubov

I had to use it a couple of weeks ago. Took one car one way and a different car the other way. I paid separately each time.

I used to have to pay the congestion charge to get to work. I hated paying it in advance, as if my car didn't start and I had to use the other one, there wasn't (maybe still isn't) any way to get a refund (or change the car details).

soolin

I do think the dart charge system has problems, however I do not think it unreasonable to expect a vehicle to be registered before incurring the charge.

When you travel, as far as I understand the system, It checks your registration and if you are registered it takes the charge from your account, if you are not registered then you have to pay , that is not the same as just registering the car later. It does not go back to check later, the charge is incurred when you hit the crossing.

I would not get on a train and expect to avoid a penalty as I am planning to get a travel ticket later.

soolin

I'm just wondering at the need to post this on three seperate boards on MSE. Probably best if you ask the appropriate BGs to move two of the threads and combine them all so that people know where you expect the responses.

Pyxis

Years ago I registered for a Darttag, which you preloaded with cash to cover the tolls.

I used it a few times a year, but liked to keep it topped up, so as to get through the tolls faster and not have to scrabble around for change. Then there came a time when I used it far less, but kept the tag, as I never knew when I might want to use the crossing.

Anyway, then the franchise changed, the systems were updated, and I was told I could not keep the Darttag any longer, and would lose the remaining cash I had on it, about £9, I believe.

Cheers.

Not impressed.

soolin

Pyxis wrote: »

Years ago I registered for a Darttag, which you preloaded with cash to cover the tolls.

I used it a few times a year, but liked to keep it topped up, so as to get through the tolls faster and not have to scrabble around for change. Then there came a time when I used it far less, but kept the tag, as I never knew when I might want to use the crossing.

Anyway, then the franchise changed, the systems were updated, and I was told I could not keep the Darttag any longer, and would lose the remaining cash I had on it, about £9, I believe.

Cheers.

Not impressed.

I have been registered with the Dartford crossing for many years and started off with the dart tags you describe. I changed over to the new system as soon as I was able, and whilst it wasn't easy and I ended up on the phone to finalise the change, it did work and my old balance transferred across .I now have all the cars registered, I have automatic top up and it is all working very well. The only issue I have is that they managed to spell my first name wrong which annoys me every time I log in as it was correct before they swapped it over.