Marstons Recovery - Dartford Crossing x 2

thevoyager

My post was delivered to my neighbour, they have been to USA for 2 weeks... I have just been given 2 letters by them.

"A WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COURT FOR UNPAID PENALTY CHARGE"

(they are trying to put a ccj on me?!)

In each letter was 2 "offences" - Crossing of Dartford crossing, there and back..

I know the trip it was, but would have thought I would have paid, just checked my statements and cant see a payment.

First letter was dated 23rd july, second set of letters was dated 29th july.Both are the same crossings.. 2 crossings in total.

They are claiming £191.50 on each one.  I think this is for both "offences"So all in all £191.

What should I do?

I am inclined to call them in case they send another letter with ever more red ink...?

It says at bottom "if not paid by 6th Aug enforcement officer "will"  visit you etc"

I have never received anything from TFL. Can I call TFL and pay them their £3 for crossings.

Can I contest this? Speask with TFL?

TooManyPoints

The Dart Charge people are quite good at allowing those who have incurred a penalty to simply pay the charge on their first transgression. However I doubt they will revert your two back to the charge. 

Why was your post delivered to your neighbour? Was it wrongly addressed?

I'm not surprised you have received nothing from TfL as the Dartford Crossing is nothing to do with them. It is operated on behalf of National Highways. You should contact the Dart Charge people  on 0300 300 0120 to see what can be done.

Keep_pedalling

Is your address correct on the VC5?

thevoyager

TooManyPoints said:

The Dart Charge people are quite good at allowing those who have incurred a penalty to simply pay the charge on their first transgression. However I doubt they will revert your two back to the charge. 

Why was your post delivered to your neighbour? Was it wrongly addressed?

I'm not surprised you have received nothing from TfL as the Dartford Crossing is nothing to do with them. It is operated on behalf of National Highways. You should contact the Dart Charge people  on 0300 300 0120 to see what can be done.

Keep_pedalling said:

Is your address correct on the VC5?

Hi guys, I forgot to mention, these 2 letters were sent to my neighbours address. My apartment is built onto the end of a church, and in the old rennovated church live my neighbour.. My addrss starts with "The Apartment", "house name", "street name" - but on these letters from Marstons "the apartment" is missed out, and that's why it was senrt to my neighbours, and as it would happen they flew to america on 27th July, only getting back 3 days ago, and yesterday (14h aug) she gave me the 2 letters.

I don't knbow why I never recveived anything from dartford or highways people. I did move house in Jan 2024, and updated address right away with dvla, so whether or not it was there when letters got lost I don't know.

I will try call dart charge people now, worth a shot.

fatbelly

You've got a bailiff warrant, not a ccj. You are now at the final stage of the collection process

You can file an out of time witness statement

https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index-page/dart-charge-and-tfl-congestion-charge/dart-charge-out-of-time-witness-statement

TooManyPoints

I did move house in Jan 2024, and updated address right away with dvla,..

Did you update your address on both your driving licence and the vehicle's registration? The two are completely separate and changing one does not change the other.

thevoyager

TooManyPoints said:

I did move house in Jan 2024, and updated address right away with dvla,..

Did you update your address on both your driving licence and the vehicle's registration? The two are completely separate and changing one does not change the other.

I did with dvla, I assumed this was all you needed to do..

thevoyager

fatbelly said:

You've got a bailiff warrant, not a ccj. You are now at the final stage of the collection process

You can file an out of time witness statement

https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index-page/dart-charge-and-tfl-congestion-charge/dart-charge-out-of-time-witness-statement

I have posted the TE9 and TE7 off for both charges.. Both PCN.

I got an email back autogenerated saying:

"*If you have submitted an out of time application, please note that it will take approx. 8 – 10 weeks for a decision to be made. You will be informed of the outcome in due course."

What happens now? What about Marston? Will they be notified? End of the day I did not receive reminders from dart charge or highways london, simple as that... I done nothing wrong. 

TooManyPoints

 I done nothing wrong. 

Perhaps you'd like to re-think that. I suspect this is when all this began:

I know the trip it was, but would have thought I would have paid, just checked my statements and cant see a payment.

Petriix

If you can't find evidence that you actually paid then you're going to struggle to make a valid argument to that effect in court. I don't know if anyone has successfully argued that the additional charges are excessive but I imagine there's reasonable grounds for that if you have the tenacity to follow it through. Otherwise you probably need to pay what they're asking. 

As for paying the Dart Charge, the best method is to create an online account for your vehicle and assign a valid credit card to automatically take payment whenever you cross. You can set it up to alert you when a payment is taken so you know you only have to take additional action if you don't receive confirmation when making a crossing. Too late in this case, but this advice might be helpful for someone... 

thevoyager

I no issue paying £2.

Petriix said:

If you can't find evidence that you actually paid then you're going to struggle to make a valid argument to that effect in court. I don't know if anyone has successfully argued that the additional charges are excessive but I imagine there's reasonable grounds for that if you have the tenacity to follow it through. Otherwise you probably need to pay what they're asking. 

As for paying the Dart Charge, the best method is to create an online account for your vehicle and assign a valid credit card to automatically take payment whenever you cross. You can set it up to alert you when a payment is taken so you know you only have to take additional action if you don't receive confirmation when making a crossing. Too late in this case, but this advice might be helpful for someone... 

I have no issue paying £2.50... What I have issue with is paying a £390 invoice that Marston are asking.. They are taking the pi**!

I did not receiev any PCN in the post, that is my argument. They where sent the exact time I moved house and i can prove it with tenancy agreements.