Beware Dartfort Crossing charges

[JohnGuppy]

One week after getting our new California we made a trip to Ikia to get storage parts on the way back large signs tell you to pay your dart charge within 24hrs , that evening I checked in on line entered my registration number Not found it said so I did a manual input and checked the cars and Motorhome class B, it told me to pay £5.00 for two crossings sent me a receipt and I thought that was the end of the matter

Not so today arrived in the post was a fixed penalty notice for £35 then going up to 14 days the increases to £70 if not paid £105 all these notices are computer generated
I called them on the number and it took 45 mins for them to answer , after explaining they said I had underpaid by 50p but as they cant take 50p I had to pay £1 and was told a glitch in the system well if I had gone on line it would have taken £35

I was then told the camera could not see the sides of the van and therefore charges you £3 blocked by a lorry they said , on the way back it charge me for a car on the return journey so I asked what the 50p was and was told don't know

It now seems if you have a converted van it will require £3 per crossing and issue you a fixed charge so those who have motorhome in there log book pay £5
It seems the camera makes its mind up and checks with DVLA and if it sees a van and you have paid for a motorhome you still get a ticket automatically no human impute at all

 

[Loz]

Clear as mud

 

[GrannyJen]

The Dartford crossing has been a buggers muddle from the day they installed the daft charge.

 

[DM]

One week after getting our new California we made a trip to Ikia to get storage parts on the way back large signs tell you to pay your dart charge within 24hrs , that evening I checked in on line entered my registration number Not found it said so I did a manual input and checked the cars and Motorhome class B, it told me to pay £5.00 for two crossings sent me a receipt and I thought that was the end of the matter

Not so today arrived in the post was a fixed penalty notice for £35 then going up to 14 days the increases to £70 if not paid £105 all these notices are computer generated
I called them on the number and it took 45 mins for them to answer , after explaining they said I had underpaid by 50p but as they cant take 50p I had to pay £1 and was told a glitch in the system well if I had gone on line it would have taken £35

I was then told the camera could not see the sides of the van and therefore charges you £3 blocked by a lorry they said , on the way back it charge me for a car on the return journey so I asked what the 50p was and was told don't know

It now seems if you have a converted van it will require £3 per crossing and issue you a fixed charge so those who have motorhome in there log book pay £5
It seems the camera makes its mind up and checks with DVLA and if it sees a van and you have paid for a motorhome you still get a ticket automatically no human impute at all

If you are not getting any joy from the Dartford crossing then call the HAIL (Highways Agency Information Line) and complain. http://www.highways.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/?hc_location=ufi
0300 123 5000
It's not their responsibility but they are civil servants - not contractors, SANEF runs the Dartford Crossing - and they will investigate DartCharge complaints for you.

 

[MattBW]

Can you now start charging them for the 50p they owe you? Funny how they are winning however it is resolved no real incentive to fix it if they are making extra money for nothing...

 

[RoB5urf]

No complaints here. I use the crossing a few times a year so setup an account. I pay £1.67 per crossing for the Cali, same price as our Fiesta.

 

[JohnGuppy]

Please would you explain the price is £2.50 per crossing for a B class. Are u a resident or do you have an account. I have called and no £1.75 charges. If you are then we are all being conned

 

[JohnGuppy]

Sorry did not read your posting. An account. Seems cheaper option

 

[andyinluton]

I rarely use the crossing, but have set up the account - had to deposit £10 credit with them, have all 4 of our cars on the one account, get automatic emails when balance is running low etc, with the discounted crossing price its well worth it.

 

[Borris]

In days of old there were always highwaymen in Dartford demanding money from travellers. Things haven't changed.

 

[JohnGuppy]

It does seem if you have an account and deposit £10 you get charged £1.57p per crossing or you pay £250 per crossing that is unfair to save £2 on two crossings you have to have invest in paying £10 upfront who ever agreed these terms on advice from DM I called the highways agency it seems the crossing is farmed out to another company lets say its difficult to understand what they say , when I asked who is the secretary of state the answer I don't know my complaint has been lodged with the HA

 

[Loz]

my complaint has been lodged with the HA

You have probably closed the cheap account loophole now...

 

[JohnGuppy]

well its not clear as mud as you previous said how many people have opened an account and deposited £10 soon just think how much money they make in someone's bank account , and why should locals get it free, Look at it another way your vehicle is the same as mine CLASS B which is £2.50 per crossing if the stupid camera can over ride the DVLA data base and cant tell the difference , it does not matter if you have an account or not in my case going under the tunnel it said it was a van and one hour later it said it was a car it shows even with an account you could be charged what the computer says and as this is fully automated and no one looks at anything the first you know about anything is a fixed penalty notice if you don't call them the notice increases in value in my books this is not fair and should be fool proof and correct but I am expecting a £1 refund which will take 7-10 days to be back in my bank account
Pictures sent to me clearly show windows in the side

 

[andyinluton]

"how many people have opened an account and deposited £10 soon just think how much money they make in someone's bank account"

Well if you were going to do 2 crossings anyway you would have spent £5 by lodging the £10 you've effectively lent them a further £5 and in return they have given you £1.86 discount in lieu of interest, please direct me somewhere I can get a better return on capital invested!! infact its so good I might go so far as top up my account this evening

If you object that much you could always combine the Journey with a free river cruise & go via the ferry.

 

[briwy]

Well worth opening an account imo.
We have our two main vehicles and my daughters Spainish registered car on it. Automatically tops up at a level which you can set. Just saves so much hassle.

 

[Julie and Archie]

As far I can see it's a process to rob unsuspecting northerners who pass through very occasionally. Have an account but have heard that even that can't protect from threatening letters. Offended by fascists nature. Prefer a gateway like m6/French tolls. At least we all know what's happening. Sorry. First grumpy post

 

[JohnGuppy]

I agree it could be better to open an account and get a discount
But the rate for a class B vehicle is £1.67 which the VW California Motorhome
The rate for a class C Vans is £2.63
It does not matter if you pay the full price or get a discount the fact remains the whole system is automatic and looks at your registration number and a picture of your vehicle that's why it charged me for one crossing under the class C and one crossing as Class B so having an account you tell me how may crossing are change under the incorrect taffif do you check

My whole point is I paid £5.00 which was the correct class but the silly system charged me £3.00 one way and £2.50 to come back making a total of £7.50 as I paid only £5.00 It sent me a ticket after calling and asking why was told we don't no what happened but how many of you know with an account that you are charged the wrong rate
I have now opened an account to get the discount rate for a class B at £1.63 per crossing but if the camera thinks you are a van it will just take £2.63 out of your account
All i ask is to be charged the correct rate of my vehicle as per my V5 details

thanks for all your comments but I'm drawing a line under this and moving on and will await the findings of my complaint as i have already been told the fault lies within there system

 

[Helen Baron]

Somebody KILL me !!!!!!!!

 

[rod_vw]

We have an account and as far as I have experienced I get charged £1.67 for the T5 that is a 'Self-build' but has been changed with the DVLA to 'Body Type - Motor Caravan'.
The T6 although completed as a 'Self-build' has not yet been changed from 'Body Type - Van with windows' was charged £2.63. To me that means the crossing cameras only look at the registration mark and refer the charge rate to the DVLA system. In fact if you have an account you don't tell them the vehicle type, they tell you from reference to the DVLA system.

Rod

 

[GrannyJen]

Somebody KILL me !!!!!!!!

A bit drastic.

Try a bottle of wine or three

 

[Helen Baron]

Good idea Jen. On way to York races so will in about half hour

 

[GrannyJen]

Good idea Jen. On way to York races so will in about half hour

Oh lovely. Have a great day and have a bottle for me. I'm on Granny duty tonight, baby sitting, so having to do without.

Duty beyond self... how noble

 

[Amarillo]

Cyclists pay nothing for the Dartford Crossing. They just turn up, have their bike loaded into a trailer, which is towed across with the cyclist in the cab of a crossing escort vehicle.

There was a more elegant shuttle bus in the early days.

 

[Karlos]

Cyclists pay nothing for the Dartford Crossing. They just turn up, have their bike loaded into a trailer, which is towed across with the cyclist in the cab of a crossing escort vehicle.

There was a more elegant shuttle bus in the early days.
View attachment 71294

I wonder if that bus was saved?

 

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