Mersey flow runcorn ; anyone successfully appealed

AdrianC

park_ranger wrote: »

My objection is I wasn't sufficiently aware that I had to pay the toll within 24hrs - something I was unable to do.

So even if you were aware, you wouldn't have paid in time?

Effectively, if I am unable to go online within 24 hrs, by being committed to a crossing by the time I reach a sign telling me I have to pay online within 24 hrs I am entering into a contract that I cannot possible comply with.

You were "unable" to go online for 24hrs? Why?

Bruffell06

Right so I have had an account since the bridge was opened and have a direct debit set up on my account. I then changed my car and completely forgot to amend the registration on my account. I made 7 crossings until I realised. Then I paid for those trips I had made and amended the registration on my account. I have now received 7 PCN's so I'm wondering what people think my chances of appealing this would be?

badgergravy

All these people claiming it's easy to pay the toll need to get real. Some people are forgetful. Some people are lost and don't even know they've been over a toll bridge. I use the bridge occasionally. I also use the M6 toll, which is fantastic. The bridge is intentionally difficult. I mean !!!!!! they don't even give you the full URL on the signs. In 2019, they could use technology to solve this issue, if they wanted to. They offer a prepaid account that they deduct money from when you cross. I do not cross frequently enough for it to be cost effective, but if they have the technology to do this why don't they allow you to create an account and simply charge your card or direct debit at the end of the month? It seems very much like they intentionally make it difficult in order to generate PCNs.

System

Sorry but it is easy to pay the toll, it is childishly simple to find out if you don't know. If they're lost they should have been paying more attention to what is going on around them so are MORE likely to see the toll signs than someone who uses the route regularly, driving in autopilot. They don't give the full URL on the signs because you're supposed to be driving but it makes you aware there is one which you can google when parked.

edfellows

It is easy to pay the toll once you are familiar (like most things in life). But the way the payment has been set up most certainly is unnecessarily inconvient and people can be forgetful. I dont use this road sufficiently to warrant advance payment of £30 (albeit gets a discount of 20p a crossing, overall £3 saving for a £5cost for your vehicle detail - in fact makes crossing more expensive). my average yearly crossing is around a total of four crossings.
INCONVIENT - I crossed the bridge to fly from Liverpool airport. given I was leaving the UK for a holiday - the payment timeframe is too short.
FORGETFUL - travelling to a holiday destination involves being organised, including navigating through the different airport checks to board your plane. So you have to recite to yourself I must also get my phone out and get online to pay Mersey flow?

I have been caught out twice due to unintentional forgetfulness:

forgetfulness 1. - visit to Knowsley while offering to babysit - so busy day with four kids;
forgetfulness 2 - travel between 2 hospitals aspart of my busy NHS job
but

BUT I paid for the crossing as soon as remembered within a day or two of the cut off.

Now appealing PCNs. Tell me .... how is it right that you have to pay the PCN and the crossing AGAIN even when they have it on record you paid late

Uninformed

Seems like it was a deliberate choice not to have a toll plaza near the bridge. A simple pit lane off the main roads leading to the bridge with contactless card readers would really help. 18% of all of the money the bridge has made is from fines which is crazy! They deliberately chose a short payment period to encourage people to pay. But in reality many honest people forget on the day but then pay in a day or two and are still fined.

oldagetraveller

I've used that crossing once and it would appear that their camera system is flawed at times.
About two hours after crossing I went to the website to pay. "No record of your vehicle".
I phoned them to pay, "no record of your vehicle". I was asked to confirm the registration three times - no record. I described the car, make, model, colour and even the approximate time I crossed. Nothing.
However, I insisted on making a card payment and requested an e-mailed receipt, thinking that a record and picture would miraculously appear after 24 hours.

The woman I spoke to did confirm that the system does "play up" at times.
My daughter has forgotten to pay, once, within the 24 hours and on remembering paid immediately, probably a day late. They soon sent out a "fine" which she did successfully appeal. 24 hours is not long enough. It may not be possible to pay online or even convenient to phone within that 24 hours grace period. e.g. travelling to airport and flying abroad for holiday, business etc..