Dart charge

Ash1666

I travelled on the Dart crossing twice last August 2020 and unfortunately both their online and telephone payment systems were down. I could not pay and took photos.  Dart charge confirmed their systems were down but having filled in appeal forms twice against their penalty notices they are now demanding I pay £550 (£275 x 2) or pay £216 (£108 x 2).  I have always said I will pay their original £5 (£2.50 x2).   I am stressed as I’ve now got debt solicitors chasing me.   This is completely unfair and ridiculous as their systems were down.  Does anyone know what I can do? I’ve tried both Dart Charge and Traffic Enforcement Centre, but am getting no help. 

Belenus

Did you attempt to contact them the next day as you have until midnight the following day to pay?

Where their systems down for the whole of the following day?

If they were not then, harsh as it may appear, I think you may struggle to get away with this.

I have always said I will pay their original £5 (£2.50 x2).

Did you respond to all the communications you received?

Ash1666

Thanks for your response.  Their systems were down for two consecutive days.  Some of their correspondence was sent to a previous address and some I didn’t receive.  They are offering £108 x 2 for me to talk to a district judge.  I filled in TE7 & 9 forms two or three times, but this is the result.  I am agog that they can charge me so much when their systems were down. 

Belenus

If their systems were down for two consecutive days, thousands of drivers will have been affected.

You need to give a detailed and precise timeline of events and when and how you attempted to make the payments and how you dealt with correspondence.

The previous address comment concerns me as it suggests that you did not inform DART or the DVLA of your new address. When did you change address and when did you inform the relevant authorities of that?

That, combined with claiming that you did not receive some of the correspondence will not go down well in court.

I do not understand why you appear to have been made different offers as in:

£550 (£275 x 2) or pay £216 (£108 x 2).  

They are offering £108 x 2 for me to talk to a district judge

Can you be more specific.

Ash1666

Hi thanks for your response.  They are asking me to pay £275 for each PNC, or to appeal through a District judge at the cost of £108 for each PNC.  Me and my neighbours have had stolen post with the police involved so I genuinely have not received all correspondence.  It’s completely unfair, but I guess I’ve got no choice but to pay despite their systems being down.  I will send my evidence one more time, but it’s been ignored previously. 

Bigwheels1111

Set up an account with them so you can’t be hit again in the future.
I had a dispute with them, My car is registered as disabled and was tax free from 1-1-17.
Used the bridge twice on way back from Essex, checked online and their info said all is ok if car is disabled registered and tax free. Then got 2 fines, called and explained, They were not interested.
Got motability involved and all fines went away. They had not updated their records.
Now gov based I’ve had No issues.

Ash1666

Bigwheels1111 - I missed your response, sorry.  I actually sent Dart Charge a tweet and they were much more responsive.  I was quickly able to give them the evidence, which I hadn’t been able to do on their appeal forms.   They resent the PCN at the original cost of £2.50 x 2 and I was able to pay them the original £5 due, rather than the £1100 they were recently demanding.  I am relieved and grateful!    
Thanks for the responses…

Ash1666

PS, I’m glad your fines went away.  Defending your ground when you haven’t done anything wrong is the way to go…