Dartford Crossing - Marston Group

mcscoobs

After some advice here people

On 16th March 2018, I travelled through the Dartford Crossing for a weekend away, returning back through the crossing on 19th March 2018. On getting home on the 19th, I paid for my crossing and realised i'd completely forgotten to pay for the crossing on the 16th. I called them up to explain and offered to pay then and there. I was told they don't have a facility to pay (with that department I was speaking to), but as it was a first time "offence" (for want of a better word), they'll waive the £2.50 fee. End of issue, or so I thought.

I get a call today, 7 months later, from my parents, to say I have a Notice of Enforcement from Marston, staying I have a Penalty Charge for the missed crossing payment, the debt being £115.50 plus a Compliance stage fee of £75, meaning a total of £190.50 to be paid by the 25th October!

I called Marston, and asked why I hadn't received anything in 7 months and that I was told it was waived. They said they'd be sending letters to my old address (I moved just over a year ago and nothing has been registered there for that time). They said to speak to Dartford Crossing to get some "proof" that they said they would waive it. It was a phone call.... Anyway, called them and explained the situation. They said they can see I called in at 12:44 on 19th March. But apologised for being given wrong information as apparently they can't ever waive a missed crossing payment.

They asked for my PCN number, which I don't have as I've never received it. They then said to speak to Traffic Enforcement, to fill in TE7 & TE9 forms, which is to essentially say i've not received a single thing.

The whole thing stinks. I now have my PCN reference, so need to fill in these forms and see what happens.

sourcrates

Hi,


OK, so what advice is it you are after ?

mcscoobs

I guess, what are my options here? I mean, I haven't actually received the PCN, and I'm being asked to pay an amount based on late/non payments. If I was told back in March that this late payment would be waived, how do I now get out of a £200 payment?

owen_money

Prove it was waived back in March, without proof what can you do? If you've not got it in writing not sure of the next step? Pay £200 I guess, and a lesson learnt? Anyway whats £200, a good meal out?

January2015

owen_money wrote: »

Prove it was waived back in March, without proof what can you do? If you've not got it in writing not sure of the next step? Pay £200 I guess, and a lesson learnt? Anyway whats £200, a good meal out?

£200 is a whole month's grocery shopping for some of us.

SunnyVic

Have you asked for a copy of the recording of the call? Pretty sure they have to give it to you if they have one, worth a try.

jbkmum

They 100% do waive fees etc.

I paid my dartford crossing 6 weeks late and only had to pay the £2.50 each way rather than the fine as a first time offence.

owen_money

January2015 wrote: »

£200 is a whole month's grocery shopping for some of us.

I mean £200 for a meal for two. I could probably live on £200 a month if I had to, if you discount take-aways and meals out

z1a

owen_money wrote: »

I mean £200 for a meal for two. I could probably live on £200 a month if I had to, if you discount take-aways and meals out

Yes, if you have cheap plonk & don't tip.