Best toll tag for France, Switzerland, Italy.

[Viktorgeorge]

Here is a screenshot from my Fulli account:

View attachment 105763

Hello @Alied, I just spoke to Fulli, they said that their older customers (APRR, then Mango) have credit card but newer and new customers have to sign up to SEPA direct debit mandates.

I am now going to check if any of the alternatives mentioned in this string allow credit card. charging.

Added note: it appears that Emovis, Sanef and Bip & Go are one and the same and require SEPA direct debit.

That is a pity, I much prefer the protection offered by a credit card: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

 

[andyinluton]

That is a pity, I much prefer the protection offered by a credit card: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

Whats the problem with Direct Debit? Emovis send an invoice advising of the fees weeks before they actually take them.
Plenty of time to query them - ring them up, it's an English speaking call centre. Never had a problem with them. In fact I would say they are one of the best companies I've come across for customer service.

Its not like you are buying products from them that may need returning.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Whats the problem with Direct Debit? Emovis send an invoice advising of the fees weeks before they actually take them.
Plenty of time to query them - ring them up, it's an English speaking call centre. Never had a problem with them. In fact I would say they are one of the best companies I've come across for customer service.

Its not like you are buying products from them that may need returning.

The problem with a direct debit, for a world-weary retired business who has had to deal with several fraudulent situations, is that the onus is on me to prove and recover any incorrect charges, which can be time consuming and expensive and not always successful.

The protection offered by the relevant credit card statutes (see my previous post), puts the onus on the credit card provider with all their resources, to resolve matters instead.

So far Fulli (and Mango before) have been very efficient, and seem trustworthy, but my son (a fellow California owner) specialises in bank fraud (FeatureSpace, the best - but then I would say that) and I can promise you it is all around and on the up.

Therefore, wherever possible I avoid direct debits. It looks like I am stuck with this one, however.

The further problem is that many UK banks post Brexit will not allow SEPA direct debits. I keep two separate online bank account (Co-Op & Nationwide) with limited funds, for untrusted payees, but neither accept SEPA direct debits. My principal account Barclays where I keep my many millions (...not) is the only I have which accepts SEPA direct debits.

Most UK bank account allow SEPA payments, it is the direct debit that is a problem. You can check here: https://www.ibancalculator.com/iban_validieren.html

 

[andyinluton]

The further problem is that many UK banks post Brexit will not allow SEPA direct debits. I keep two separate online bank account (Co-Op & Nationwide) with limited funds, for untrusted payees, but neither accept SEPA direct debits. My principal account Barclays where I keep my many millions (...not) is the only I have which accepts SEPA direct debits.

Why does it need to be a SEPA direct debit?
Emovis is just a UK standard Direct Debit made in £s - to Emovis UK.

 

[66tim99]

I also use Bip&Go. The first "transponder " I've received didn't work, which you only find out when you travel for hols , I arrived at Vipiteno Autostrada after the Brennero from Austria-Germany, packed with cars queueing for their ticket and with a smile , smirk in my face headed for the Telepass gate in a line of slow but constantly moving big trucks. The the bip&go didn't bip so I couldn't go, with me trying to hold the damn thing in various positions to no avail. It is better that I don't report what the truckers behind me yelled on this occasion. Same story on other attempts, so I had to return it at my expenses, couple of euros, and I did receive a new one which works now perfectly, very happy with bip&go since, despite the initial random issue

Did you have to reverse, meaning the trucks behind also had to?

 

[Calimili]

Did you have to reverse, meaning the trucks behind also had to?

no I didn't. Basically you end up having to stop because the barrier doesn't go up allowing you to proceed. And right next to where you end up stopping, at the (LHD) driver window level there's the machine that issue the ticket. If i had to back up forcing the 20 big trucks behind me to back up i probably wouldn't be here to tell the story...

 

[Corradobrit]

no I didn't. Basically you end up having to stop because the barrier doesn't go up allowing you to proceed. And right next to where you end up stopping, at the (LHD) driver window level there's the machine that issue the ticket. If i had to back up forcing the 20 big trucks behind me to back up i probably wouldn't be here to tell the story...

Ah OK, I thought it was a drive through (barrierless) lane. That barrier and ticket dispenser saved your bacon.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Why does it need to be a SEPA direct debit?
Emovis is just a UK standard Direct Debit made in £s - to Emovis UK.

Thank you @andyinluton I did not realise that.

When I went onto Bip & Go it seemed to be SEPA only to a French bank, but I did not follow through the Emovis just assumed it was the same as they are connected ownership. I still prefer credit card to direct debit, for the reasons already given.

Telepass Go (for Spain, Portugal, France & Italy), does not seem to ship to the UK.

 

[Calimili]

Ah OK, I thought it was a drive through (barrierless) lane. That barrier and ticket dispenser saved your bacon.

well in Italy there's always a barrier that only opens unless you pick a ticket from the machine or you have a (working) Telepass "transponder". Otherwise you won't get in.
Likewise getting out, there's always a barrier that only opens once you pay either to the operator or at the machine, or you have a Telepass. No chance getting in or out without paying.

 

[edocali]

I had very occasional issues with the barrier not opening both in France and in Italy. Always resolved by calling an operator. It's the drivers behind you that aren't amused - I think they assume that you entered a tag corridor thinking of jumping the queue, without a valid tag. So they curse at you....

 

[andyinluton]

Thank you @andyinluton I did not realise that.

When I went onto Bip & Go it seemed to be SEPA only to a French bank, but I did not follow through the Emovis just assumed it was the same as they are connected ownership. I still prefer credit card to direct debit, for the reasons already given.

Telepass Go (for Spain, Portugal, France & Italy), does not seem to ship to the UK.

Emovis do the Spanish & Portugal tag on the same account but billed separately.....

 

[pluc99]

I always just use the credit card with NFC in Italy and France. There is hardly ever a line and I don't have to faff with yet another gadget and account.

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you @andyinluton I did not realise that.

When I went onto Bip & Go it seemed to be SEPA only to a French bank, but I did not follow through the Emovis just assumed it was the same as they are connected ownership. I still prefer credit card to direct debit, for the reasons already given.

Telepass Go (for Spain, Portugal, France & Italy), does not seem to ship to the UK.

Emovis UK is based in Newcastle I believe. You get the Invoice about 4 weeks before the money is taken.
Also by registering with them, including the vehicle details, you get the correct Class Payment, every time.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Emovis UK is based in Newcastle I believe. You get the Invoice about 4 weeks before the money is taken.
Also by registering with them, including the vehicle details, you get the correct Class Payment, every time.

Thanks @WelshGas . I was just about to order an Emovis UK Tag, with the intention of cancelling my Fulli one, and setting up a UK direct debit (to one of my 'safe' UK bank accounts) - when I noted they don't cover Italy which Fulli do and I prefer to keep.

I have emailed them to ask if they intend to include Italy any time soon.

 

[Tourdeyorkshire]

I signed up for Mango a few months ago. Got two transponders for two cars. Turn up to the barrier, it lifts, you drive off. Had to pay bill via card a month later, as they were struggling to take directly from my UK bank account, but no worries. Makes us giggle when we sail through.

 

[Tourdeyorkshire]

Oh, and Switzerland. My wife is Swiss, so we’re down there regularly. Thieving tykes want a year of vignette, even if we’re there for 3 days. So for the past 25 years, I’ve just said we’re only using local roads and they wave me through. I always take the local slip road before rejoining the motorway, just in case someone cares enough to watch

 

[brooodie]

I had a big PITA with Ulys (thread: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/telepeage-tags-ulys-vs-emovis.44300/post-575491).

In the end I reverted to Emovis even though I know I'm being diddled on the yearly renewal fees (Can't remember but 5/10 Euro a Tag) and currency conversion fees.

Worth it for the the lack of hassle. Anyone with a Euro based bank might be cheaper going direct (Particularly if they are heavy users) but I've found Emovis reliable and quick to respond having used them for the last 5 or so years (Returned the last set of tags when the battery was low and they refunded the deposits quickly as promised).

 

[Kernowboy]

Useful thread.
Just ordered a Frolli Nomade +, seems to offer decent value. Code NEIGE23 gets rid of the set up fees and monthly useage charges for 8 months.
No credit card option but set up direct debit with IBAN no problem with HSBC account; thanks to @Viktorgeorge for the link confirming they do SEPA DD.
Have relied on a Halifax Clarity CC card until now at the toll booths with no problems but always with Mrs KB in the LHS, but I am off my 13yr old skiing at Easter, just the 2 of us, so thought a tag would be helpful. Will be the third trip down to the Alps in the Cali since Xmas; can’t wait!!!

 

[mikeelawson]

On mango new users cannot register for UK! I thought Mr Sunak had cleared things up, entente cordial

 

[Anthony1]

Switzerland doesn't use a Toll system. You purchase a Vignette either over the Internet or at a border service station to use the motorway road system.

Motorway vignette

In Switzerland, your car must have a special vignette (sticker or e-vignette) if you want to use certain roads. It costs CHF 40. The 2024 vignette is valid from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2025.

www.ch.ch

So it doesn't run for a year from date of purchase? Does this mean if you bought one on January 30th 2024, it would only last for one day?

 

[Corradobrit]

So it doesn't run for a year from date of purchase? Does this mean if you bought one on January 30th 2024, it would only last for one day?

No, if you bought 30/1/24 it would be valid until 31/1/25. You would be loser if you bought 30/11/23 as that would only be valid for 2 months.

 

[kenm]

We use ATMB Telepeage tag as it was on a Eurotunnel offer a few years ago. It only works in France but is fine for us as we are mostly heading for Haute Savoie. I have a credit card dd set up and the account page allows transactions to be checked and queried. There is an offer on the ATMB web site at the moment but you will need to be able to translate as there is no English language option. The only charges are 1.90€ in the months it is used so ideal for occasional trips.

 

[WelshGas]

So it doesn't run for a year from date of purchase? Does this mean if you bought one on January 30th 2024, it would only last for one day?

The Vignette bought between Dec1 2023 and Jan 30 2024 would be valid until Jan 30 2025.

 

[studioTUNGSTEN]

Bip&Go - registered France, Spain, Portugal & Italy. Set up DD from a Euro account on Revolut which is my main debit card when travelling abroad. It seems simple and all one go.

 

[Colin&Di’s_Elle]

Hi all,

I know a lot of you have completed this journey lately, so looking for the most up to-date option of which tag should I invest in that covers France, Switzerland, Italy as travelling early June then in September to Croatia. Ideally looking for just the one. Appreciate it may not be possible.

Thanks in advance.

We’ve been using EMOVIS for years and have a LIBER-T tag when in France, never a problem. Annual fee of 5€ plus a monthly charge of €5 for each month used in France. Debited to my nominated bank account, detailed invoice and history available on line.