Impossible to pay Dartford Tunnel charge!

chubsta

I went through the Dartford Tunnel/Bridge both ways on Sunday 30th July. Unfortunately this was the weekend it is being handed over to a new company and there have been horrendous problems around actually paying. They have extended the deadline for this last weekends crossings to be paid for until the 14th August as a result - but that is still no good as there seems to be no way for me to actually pay.

In short, the website says there are no crossings for my vehicle and will only allow me to pay for future ones. If I go on the automatic phone line and give them my registration number it again says there are no crossings to pay for.

I am sure they will soon find a crossing when the deadline runs out and they want to issue a penalty notice but how can I avoid this? I have paid £5 for a future return crossing as that is the only option open to me so at least I can say I was never trying to avoid paying but would rather not go through the hassle of fighting a penalty if I can help it.

I am currently trying to get through to them on the phone but am over 250th in the queue so don't hold out much hope there...

Any ideas anyone?

prettyandfluffy

Log on and if it again tells you that you have no crossings to pay for, take a screenshot.  Then you can prove you tried to pay.

soolin

The Dartford crossing ‘upgrade’ has been a complete farce, those of us with accounts were supposedly sent emails telling us to re validate our payment cards which I wasn’t nor were quite a few others. When I did try to do it the site was already down for maintenance a day earlier than stated.

I made a journey that never showed up in my account and was told it will show up ‘eventually’. According to emails that some people have posted on Facebook groups all payments will be due , but you have until the 15th to pay however like the OP no one seems to be able to pay for past journeys, only future ones. 

NBLondon

soolin said:

The Dartford crossing ‘upgrade’ has been a complete farce, those of us with accounts were supposedly sent emails telling us to re validate our payment cards which I wasn’t nor were quite a few others. When I did try to do it the site was already down for maintenance a day earlier than stated.

I logged in to check it and that re-validate option just gives me a box saying "there is an error".   I've got a couple of journeys worth already in credit so no problem yet - but it must be a pain for a regular user.

soolin

NBLondon said:

soolin said:

The Dartford crossing ‘upgrade’ has been a complete farce, those of us with accounts were supposedly sent emails telling us to re validate our payment cards which I wasn’t nor were quite a few others. When I did try to do it the site was already down for maintenance a day earlier than stated.

I logged in to check it and that re-validate option just gives me a box saying "there is an error".   I've got a couple of journeys worth already in credit so no problem yet - but it must be a pain for a regular user.

My weekend crossings have still not shown up , but since I have an email saying they will show up and I won’t be subject to a penalty charge I’m trying not to worry. However crossings made today have also not shown up, so I’m not sure what is happening. 

Bigwheels1111

I’m exempt from the charge so don’t have an account.
I need to use the crossing next week.
I will let you know if a fine arrives as they seem to have screwed things up quite nicely.
First fine was sent for a crossing in April 2017, car had been registered as disabled for 4 month.
So will not be surprised if this show do the same.
Looks like a complete shambles.

jimjames

Now I can finally get into my account my crossings for Fri 28th July are still not showing. No idea when or even if they will ever appear but will just have to wait and see

soolin

Still no updates in my account and even recent crossings are not showing. 

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't spend any more time on it. You have the proof it wasn't possible to pay. If they contact you then you can pay for the crossing, but it's not your job to keep checking if their system is working.