Dartford crossing (2 Viewers)

[Northernraider]

misunderstanding the signs?, there are miles of them! Do you honestly think in this day and age people want to be stopping to pay at booths?

The crossing is congested enough without people stopping to pay.

I would hardly say there are miles of signs.

If you are joining from the A2 coming from the M2 direction there is a sign before you turn off immediately followed by one saying there is the LEZ ahead. If you don't know does the LEZ apply as well. There is another sign before the last exit before the tunnel and about 2 within about 3 miles after the Tunnel.

These signs refer to the Dartford Crossing and say find it online and pay before Midnight Tomorrow. Non of the signs show £ signs or an indication of Costs. There have been occasionally smaller signs low at the side behind the barriers with some cost indications but with the amount of traffic it is not difficult to miss these.

The point is there may well be signs but if you are driving solo once you have passed the signs with nowhere to stop to pay the damm thing onlinr there and then it's very easy to forget if it isn't something you are familiar with.

It's easy to see that you only have to read the many comments above from people who have forgot to pay it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I'm from Scotland we don't have tolls and certainly not ones you pay online.

If you're fairly local to that area then yes you will be more aware of it obviously but you can't possibly know how folk who aren't from that area process the info or whether they remember.

Frequent users fair enough, one offs I'll wager there's hundreds forget to pay it

 

[River gypsys]

It's a pain in the backside. I'm sure if it's something you live near or use frequently the idea is fine but I've been over it once before In my life , the roads and traffic you hit after take your concentration and then if you be other things on your mind like trains or ferries to catch like me you can easily forget.
If it hadn't been for this thread I might not have remembered it at all.
It was Thursday I crossed not Wednesday and as I'm not at home address any mail they send won't be picked up as mum's in hospital and I don't get much mail anyway.

I've emailed them to explain I'd forgot and I'm out the country etc ...I can only wait for their reply.

But I'll be challenging any fine as I think it's unfair.

Give them a call, they normally let you off if it's the first time , you can get there number off the net

 

[Eggs]

The point is there may well be signs but if you are driving solo once you have passed the signs with nowhere to stop to pay the damm thing onlinr there and then it's very easy to forget if it isn't something you are familiar with.

It's easy to see that you only have to read the many comments above from people who have forgot to pay it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I'm from Scotland we don't have tolls and certainly not ones you pay online.

If you're fairly local to that area then yes you will be more aware of it obviously but you can't possibly know how folk who aren't from that area process the info or whether they remember.

Frequent users fair enough, one offs I'll wager there's hundreds forget to pay it

I'm not after a row Tam, but this is bollox, do you forget to pay for other things? It's simple, you use a private road, you pay for it. There are miles of signs telling you what the score is, you can get off if you choose. Ignorance is no excuse.

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[Northernraider]

I'm not after a row Tam, but this is bollox, do you forget to pay for other things? It's simple, you use a private road, you pay for it. There are miles of signs telling you what the score is, you can get off if you choose. Ignorance is no excuse.

Forget to pay other things such as what ?

There's nothing I pay in daily life that has a 24 hour limit , comes with a penalty if not paid or that I don't receive a reminder or invoice for so it's no comparison.

As I've said before I've no objection to paying the toll charge I'm fine with that. I'm not fine with the methods required to pay it and the insisted unnecessary timescale.

It isn't an argument it's a discussion , I think the system is deliberately set the way it is to reap fines in exactly the same way as the speed cameras and carpark charges etc in the UK.

There aren't miles of signs. There are signs before the crossing making you aware of the charge and a couple straight after telling you to pay it ...You then hit the busiest roads in the UK to deal with. If you are doing like I was doing and making your way to a ferry or the tunnel then you're distracted like I was with other things. It's then very easy to forget about it as you have nothing physical to remind you...No ticket nothing.

I'm someone who has to leave myself post it's to remind me to do things daily.

If I used that crossing frequently I'd have a pre paid account like I do with other things I have to pay but I don't I've used it twice in 28 years of driving and will most likely not use it again

 

[DJA]

I'm not after a row Tam, but this is bollox, do you forget to pay for other things? It's simple, you use a private road, you pay for it. There are miles of signs telling you what the score is, you can get off if you choose. Ignorance is no excuse.

If you arrived at the Dartford Tunnel and it is closed , which has happened, what would you do.

They have put diversion signs directing people via the Blackwall Tunnel which is the next crossing other than the Woolwich Ferry. Or you have seen the signs as you come down the M11 saying the Dartford Crossing is Closed. Do you go straight on to the Blackwall or Turn Right and go round the M25.

When you start to follow the diversion, or go Staight on, and you see signs saying LEZ Zone what would you do. Is your vehicle exempt or not. How much is it if you are not exempt. Did you know that if you pass a Lez camera before Midnight and then another after Midnight that's 2 charges. Would you assume that if you are following the diversion signs there are no LEZ charges.

So did you check before you travelled that should you finish up in the LEZ Zone whether you would be okay or should you drive all the way around the M25 to avoid the Charges and Fines for non payment.

Non of the signs say what the costs are or where to pay them. You have to go on the internet.

By the way some have been charged for being in the LEZ zone although they're following Diversion signs from the Dartford Crossing and no allowance made.

 

[Duck Truck]

Northern UNFAIR

I don't think that will hold water
sorry mate

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[GWAYGWAY]

All Motorhome are cars for the tunnel but the LEZ is a definite NO NO if you are not compliant as I found out with my old Transit based Chausson. The A13 is rigged all over with LEZ cameras and the A2 going out. The only way through is take off the number plates????????? or go all the way around the other way 121 miles later you arrive the other side and can carry on. The fine for no number plaes is a lot less that the £1000 fine for entering the LEZ without paying the upfront booked payment first , with 24 hours notice to them.. Euro 6 is needed for ALL vans over 3500kgs Euro 4 for under that weight. UNTIL November this year when it all goes up again With the ULEZ. Made millions every week that little scam.

 

[gus-lopez]

The crossing is congested enough without people stopping to pay.

They are usually already stopped so it wouldn't make any difference. On average the time difference now for north bound is barely less than it was with booths. South bound is only better as it is a bridge & you do not have the donut munchers shutting a tunnel to escort dangerous loads through .& on occasions with a few of them they shut both!!

I see what you mean.

And these

Unless you have prior knowledge of what it is the sign tells you absolutely nothing.

I'm not after a row Tam, but this is bollox, do you forget to pay for other things? It's simple, you use a private road, you pay for it. There are miles of signs telling you what the score is, you can get off if you choose. Ignorance is no excuse.

I don't even notice I've actually gone through the tunnels as I usually ranting at the donut munchers parked up. So i'm hardly likely to remember having to pay for something that the signs don't actually tell you what it is.
I had no idea about the Lez before coming to the UK. Those signs meant nothing to me .It was only someone on a spanish forum that stated if foreign you had to physically register with the scum. Same with the dartford tunnel. Unless you knew it was payable you'd have no idea what it was referring to unless you googled
" dart charge".
My nephew & his business partner regularly crossed probably 40 + times a week .Even with an account there were many occasions where they forget to even top it up & would receive fines.

I regularly drive across France. I have no idea what most of the tat says.

 

[Jaws]

Euro 6 is needed for ALL vans over 3500kgs

That is the ULEZ, not LEZ
Our 5.25 ton diesel Motorhome is LEZ compliant
And as it is a 2007 def ain’t Euro 6 !

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[Ivory55]

That is the ULEZ, not LEZ
Our 5.25 ton diesel Motorhome is LEZ compliant
And as it is a 2007 def ain’t Euro 6 !

Is the euro 6 later in the year around September time I think. Only know because of some small firms are debating if to give up London work or invest in new motors.

 

[Grianan]

It’s easy for those who drive the M25 regularly to criticise those of us who do so infrequently (or rarely). My experience is that I’m so focussed on being in the correct lane and trying to work out where I’m going that it’s easy to miss signs. And even if you do see them there’s barely time to read them before you’re past.

 

[peterc10]

They are usually already stopped so it wouldn't make any difference. On average the time difference now for north bound is barely less than it was with booths. South bound is only better as it is a bridge & you do not have the donut munchers shutting a tunnel to escort dangerous loads through .& on occasions with a few of them they shut both!!



Unless you have prior knowledge of what it is the sign tells you absolutely nothing.

I don't even notice I've actually gone through the tunnels as I usually ranting at the donut munchers parked up. So i'm hardly likely to remember having to pay for something that the signs don't actually tell you what it is.
I had no idea about the Lez before coming to the UK. Those signs meant nothing to me .It was only someone on a spanish forum that stated if foreign you had to physically register with the scum. Same with the dartford tunnel. Unless you knew it was payable you'd have no idea what it was referring to unless you googled
" dart charge".
My nephew & his business partner regularly crossed probably 40 + times a week .Even with an account there were many occasions where they forget to even top it up & would receive fines.

I regularly drive across France. I have no idea what most of the tat says.

We live in Kent and often use the Dartford Crossing. Our perception is that crossing times have improved since they removed the toll booths. Mind you we don't go in the rush hour.

As for having an account and getting fines because they forget to top it up, that is just daft. All they have to do is activate the automatic top up facility on their account.

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[gus-lopez]

That is the ULEZ, not LEZ
Our 5.25 ton diesel Motorhome is LEZ compliant
And as it is a 2007 def ain’t Euro 6 !

The LEZ requirements are definitely changing to similar to the Ulez when the ULEz is extended to N & S circulars. As I am exempt from the LEZ but when it extends to the N& S circulars & the regs change I can no longer enter .2021

 

[Zigisla]

We used the Dart Crossing last year and as soon as we went through I asked Jane - Navz, to go online and pay fees. Couldn't get on line to find out any details at all as no info given on these signs. Tried again and again and still to no avail. Now that is using a second person let alone driving solo with no pull in area. After she eventually found the info, signal kept dropping so couldn't pay so gave up. The following day, it was only a traffic announcement that reminded me that we still hadn't paid, so re-tried and eventually got through. Easy mistake to make. Letter should be sent stating you missed payment and if you don't pay, then be fined not a straight you didn't pay - here's a fine. However, due to this thread and @Mikey RV , I have a pay per go account now so we are never in the same predicament.

 

[Mikey RV]

So I think you all owe me a beer for bringing this matter up and saving you all the hassle and great expense. Cheers.

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[Jaws]

The LEZ requirements are definitely changing to similar to the Ulez when the ULEz is extended to N & S circulars. As I am exempt from the LEZ but when it extends to the N& S circulars & the regs change I can no longer enter .2021

Sod em.. Since my sis died 2 years ago I have absolutely no reason to visit the hell hole that was once my home !

 

[monzer]

I came home to the letter after a few weeks in Spain a year or so ago. I must have used the crossing on way to the chunnel. It was my first extended trip away in the van, I was on my own, it was busy as hell and it was absolutely p*ssing down with rain, so a lot going on.

I never noticed a sign or even knew I was using the crossing. I got photographic proof via the letter when home though.

The fact they are so easy going with 'first time offenders' proves the system is a bit sh*t. They sure as hell aren't doing it out the goodness of their hearts.

 

[DJA]

My nephew & his business partner regularly crossed probably 40 + times a week .Even with an account there were many occasions where they forget to even top it up & would receive fines.

It seems to me that for that to happen they have set the account so that they have to activate a top up. This setting would normally be used by infrequent users and those that are worried that Dart Charge could have as much as £20 of their money which at current charges is 10 car crossings.

Set the account to Auto Top Up so its up to Dart Charge to claim the funds which would seem sensible for someone doing circa 40+ crossings a week.

You can get the money back if you want to close the account.

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[Anesta]

It's a pain in the backside. I'm sure if it's something you live near or use frequently the idea is fine but I've been over it once before In my life , the roads and traffic you hit after take your concentration and then if you be other things on your mind like trains or ferries to catch like me you can easily forget.
If it hadn't been for this thread I might not have remembered it at all.
It was Thursday I crossed not Wednesday and as I'm not at home address any mail they send won't be picked up as mum's in hospital and I don't get much mail anyway.

I've emailed them to explain I'd forgot and I'm out the country etc ...I can only wait for their reply.

But I'll be challenging any fine as I think it's unfair.

I was late by a few hours (past the 24 hours mark) in paying last October and they fined me. Paid the fine but tried the "appeal" process online. Still haven't heard anything.
Tried to explain that I normally have an account linked to the car but, as I was importing the motorhome, I completely forgot to pay until I woke up in a cold sweat early in the morning and, as a honest citizen would do, paid the fare. They don't care, no leniency whatsoever. Mind you, I pay for the privilege of being stuck in a queue for hours...

 

[Anesta]

Just give them a call and explain. As a first time offender I found them very understanding

Can I ask you who you rang? I tried ringing a number (can't remember now as it was November/December), but found the people obnoxious. Couldn't care less that, ever since the online payment system came on, I never made a mistake. they sounded like robots...

 

[Puddleduck]

And these

If English wasn't my first language I would have no idea what that meant. One says "Dartford Crossing" and the other "Dart Charge" !!

the LEZ is a definite NO NO if you are not compliant

That information makes me even more wary of the M25 if we go to France later this year. The Newcastle Ferry looks much more attractive by the day.

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[Zigisla]

So I think you all owe me a beer for bringing this matter up and saving you all the hassle and great expense. Cheers.

No worries. It's in my fridge waiting for you

 

[peterc10]

If English wasn't my first language I would have no idea what that meant. One says "Dartford Crossing" and the other "Dart Charge" !!



That information makes me even more wary of the M25 if we go to France later this year. The Newcastle Ferry looks much more attractive by the day.

No need to worry Helen. As long as you stick to the M25 you do not go into the LEZ or ULEZ zones.

 

[Mikey RV]

No worries. It's in my fridge waiting for you

Well that’s good, because looking at your avatar I will be near Fareham in March. Make sure you don’t drink it before then.

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[iandsm]

I came home to the letter after a few weeks in Spain a year or so ago. I must have used the crossing on way to the chunnel. It was my first extended trip away in the van, I was on my own, it was busy as hell and it was absolutely p*ssing down with rain, so a lot going on.

I never noticed a sign or even knew I was using the crossing. I got photographic proof via the letter when home though.

The fact they are so easy going with 'first time offenders' proves the system is a bit sh*t. They sure as hell aren't doing it out the goodness of their hearts.

No disrespect but I find it rather worrying you didn’t even know you were going over the bridge or notice a sign particularly so in bad conditions, it’s big enough.

 

[Eggs]

No disrespect but I find it rather worrying you didn’t even know you were going over the bridge or notice a sign particularly so in bad conditions, it’s big enough.

It's nonsense, 'A lot going on!', it's clearly signed.

I dislike paying for it, but it is what it is.

....And I believe that you can pay over the phone.

 

[monzer]

No disrespect but I find it rather worrying you didn’t even know you were going over the bridge or notice a sign particularly so in bad conditions, it’s big enough.

It was dark, windy and torrential rain. I was concentrating on what was in front of me. I didn't feel it safe to gawk out the window trying to admire any view.

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[Puddleduck]

No need to worry Helen. As long as you stick to the M25 you do not go into the LEZ or ULEZ zones.

Unless there is a diversion - which does happen.

 

[iandsm]

It was dark, windy and torrential rain. I was concentrating on what was in front of me. I didn't feel it safe to gawk out the window trying to admire any view.

You were perhaps not concentrating enough if you didn’t know you were going over the bridge and at some point the bridge was in front of you. It is well lit as are the signs particularly the 50 mph ones.

 

[monzer]

You were perhaps not concentrating enough if you didn’t know you were going over the bridge and at some point the bridge was in front of you. It is well lit as are the signs particularly the 50 mph ones.

Thanks for your interpretation of my experience driving that night. I'll take it all on board.

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