I live in the local area and many local friends have also been unaware and received penalty notices. Several have told me that they have phoned up and apologised and said that they knew nothing about it and did not see any sign (it is NOT signposted well at all due to the ongoing road works). The charges have been dropped on that occasion. Its worth a try if you hear from them!
------------- Kids dog hubby tent
Kampa Croyde 6 Classic Air Polycotton
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 15/8/2015
I am amazed that you were not aware of the new system for the Dartford crossing, especially as you have been a forum member on here since 2004.
No excuse really, but an expensive lesson to learn all the same.
Been a member since 2004 but not on here every month or year even. We were alerted by the signs & paid online enroute before crossing the channel. We paid the return in advance.
Just to clarify, in theory, you get between 1 minute and 47 hrs 59 mins to pay, depending on what time you cross... dead line is midnight ending the day after you cross.
I've set up an account, as it seemed the easiest option (and cheaper in theory, despite the initial £10 loading)... I've also added my colleague's car reg number in case he crosses in the future (He's normally on his motorbike though, so it's free in that case). Not used my account yet, as I've not crossed yet, but will be doing so a week on Saturday! Just hope it all works ok... the setting up all went smoothly, much to my relief!
We set our account up in early May - over the phone as the website was down. It's worked perfectly - notifies us when we cross and that we've paid, and when our card recently went out of date, it asked us to update our card.
I do agree about the signposting though. It isn't clear enough or early enough. There should be large signs from the junctions with the M1 and M11 onwards coming from the north, giving you a chance to pull in and set up an account.
In May we only remembered that we needed to set up an account when we hit the barriers - and you know how often I'm on here! We had to wait until we arrived in Dover before we had enough time to set up the account.
Don't assume that everyone who uses this forum knows about the changes.
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Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 23/8/2015
Just to clarify, in theory, you get between 1 minute and 47 hrs 59 mins to pay, depending on what time you cross... dead line is midnight ending the day after you cross.
...but don't forget that "Charges apply between 6am and 10pm." (from here)
Quote: Originally posted by Hacksaw Bob on 23/8/2015
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 23/8/2015Just to clarify, in theory, you get between 1 minute and 47 hrs 59 mins to pay, depending on what time you cross... dead line is midnight ending the day after you cross.
...but don't forget that "Charges apply between 6am and 10pm." (from here)
Yes, you can avoid the need for payment at all by crossing after 10.00 pm (which in years gone by is what we always did, when we set off after school ended for the Spring Bank Holiday).
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We set up an account with no problem. £1.67 a crossing and auto top up so no worry there. Came back from Dover on a busy weekend, yeas there were queues but I remember thinking it was not as bad as with the toll booths.
Some of us are old enough to remember the queues back in the day of a single tunnel bore, when they had to close the tunnel to all other traffic (both ways) when a vehicle that needed escort went through. That was bad, and we didn't have the M25 then (God I must sound old)
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
Just a small tip, but if you travelling south to north stay in the two right hand lanes. They don't tend to close them but they do close the left hand lanes to allow tankers to go through the tunnel.