Dart Charge Penalty x2 27 October 2019 at 10:36PM in Parking tickets, fines & parking 16 replies 1.4K views

samin9

Hi Everyone,
I've received a PCN from Dart Charge issued on 18/10/2019.
I crossed on 06/10/2019.
It takes them about 2 weeks to get a PCN issued.
Now I do have an account with them (well at least I thought I had). Turns out since I had gone into a negative balance they closed my account. Prior to this I had always topped my account up and made sure it was not in a negative balance. Sadly I had already got a "warning" letter so this is now just a PCN.

I received this letter on the 19/10/2019. I immediately called Dart charge that morning to ask why it had not been deducted from my account and they informed me the account had been closed since it was in the minus (this was the first time I had known about this). The email which was sent had clearly been missed as I don't check that email account frequently.

Over the phone we immediately topped the account up and set up a direct debit so this kind of error didn't happen again and was told I should write to them to contest. But I assume I will receive some generic reply with some fancy words about how it doesn't mean anything to them and I should just pay.

The worst part... I made another crossing on the 17/10/2019 missing the "pay by midnight tomorrow" opportunity by 8 hours (thank god I didn't make any more crossings during that 2 week period!!) . So I'm now expecting the 2nd PCN to come through in the next few days.

Are there any recommendations on how I should contest this as I've been willing to always pay correctly but a simple mistake of missing my emails has cost me 2x £35 tickets.

Thank you very much!

Coupon-mad

Ring them up again in the morning and see if they will accept the late payment for one at least, as we know that have done before. You might get a different clerk in a good mood, so be chatty and friendly and hope.

waamo

They usually respond favourably if you use Twitter for some reason. If you don't use it sign up and contact them. Some good results have been reported.

chris0147

PCN is actually an invoice. They are a private company based in france so why would you want to pay them when the road is belong to the public?

I wouldn't pay it if i were you and I wouldn't worry about it.

KeithP

chris0147 wrote: »

PCN is actually an invoice. They are a private company based in france so why would you want to pay them when the road is belong to the public?

I wouldn't pay it if i were you and I wouldn't worry about it.

Sadly, you are mistaken. You advice is flawed.

Le_Kirk

Now I do have an account with them (well at least I thought I had). Turns out since I had gone into a negative balance they closed my account. Prior to this I had always topped my account up and made sure it was not in a negative balance.

Notwithstanding that this is a parking forum, why do you not set up your account so that it tops up automatically when the balance drops to a certain level. I did this when the crossing went to ANPR and they removed the toll booths. Easy to do, never been in debt, never had PNC for non-payment. Slightly off track, it does annoy me when they still take money from the account when I have sat in a queue for 20 minutes or more. If I pay for a service I expect to get it. It is called the Dartford Crossing and sitting still in stationary traffic is not crossing!

Umkomaas

chris0147 wrote: »

PCN is actually an invoice. They are a private company based in france so why would you want to pay them when the road is belong to the public?

I wouldn't pay it if i were you and I wouldn't worry about it.

KeithP wrote: »

Sadly, you are mistaken. You advice is flawed.

I thought I recognised this poster’s username. He’s been around here before, getting things screwed up on his own PCNs (read some of his previous threads, many of which have been locked by MSE).

Not advice I’d be following in a hurry!

chris0147

KeithP wrote: »

Sadly, you are mistaken. You advice is flawed.

My advice is flawed?

Of course not. I just want the OP to be fully aware what PCN is.

Don't you know what PCN is?

waamo

chris0147 wrote: »

My advice is flawed?

Of course not. I just want the OP to be fully aware what PCN is.

Don't you know what PCN is?

I strongly suspect KeithP understands what a PCN is far better than you do.

Umkomaas

chris0147 wrote: »

PCN is actually an invoice. They are a private company based in france so why would you want to pay them when the road is belong to the public?

I wouldn't pay it if i were you and I wouldn't worry about it.

chris0147 wrote: »

My advice is flawed?

Of course not. I just want the OP to be fully aware what PCN is.

Don't you know what PCN is?

You seem to think it’s an invoice. Maybe you should read this:

https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge/charges-fines

Do you know the difference between an invoice and a fine?

chris0147

Umkomaas wrote: »

You seem to think it’s an invoice. Maybe you should read this:

https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge/charges-fines

Do you know the difference between an invoice and a fine?

Yes it is an invoice, its not a penalty or a fine. The only person who can fine you is the judge at the real court.

There is very rare for them to take you to court as you have owe them nothing when the road is belong to public.

I think you need to google this:

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNRP3k3DWFlv-N2t3-49sclkkhdJSA%3A1572289266330&source=hp&ei=8jq3XZGoEcyjkwXHiqmACA&q=dart+charge+scams&oq=dart+charge+scam&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0.644.5847..7418...0.0..0.327.1009.8j1j0j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......35i39i285i70i256j35i39j0i131i67j0i131j0i67j0i20i263j0i22i30j0i22i10i30.kww9mmyFsOY


I'm very surprised that none of you know this and I'm also very surprised that coupon-mad did not know anything about this.