Dart Charge Penalty/"Notice of enforcement"
Discussion
Hi all.
So it would appear I forgot to pay the return crossing (tunnel) on the way back from our wedding last August.
Today I receive a letter - dated 03/02/2023 - from CDER Group, demanding £191.50?! This is £116.50 "debt" and £75 "compliance stage fee".
Bit frustrating a) to get such a big penalty charge for what is such a small crossing fee and b) this be the first I hear of it. A quick search on past threads seems to suggest I should have had other letters already? Presumably from Highways Agency rather than a debt collection firm!
What worries me is "this debt is enforced under the following court judgement, order or enforcement power", although it doesn't go on to say clearly which. I work in finance and certainly don't want anything to go against my name.
Is this a bend-over-and-take-it? I don't mind a fine (in the loosest possible sense!) but I would prefer to pay directly to HA rather than some third party heavies!
So it would appear I forgot to pay the return crossing (tunnel) on the way back from our wedding last August.
Today I receive a letter - dated 03/02/2023 - from CDER Group, demanding £191.50?! This is £116.50 "debt" and £75 "compliance stage fee".
Bit frustrating a) to get such a big penalty charge for what is such a small crossing fee and b) this be the first I hear of it. A quick search on past threads seems to suggest I should have had other letters already? Presumably from Highways Agency rather than a debt collection firm!
What worries me is "this debt is enforced under the following court judgement, order or enforcement power", although it doesn't go on to say clearly which. I work in finance and certainly don't want anything to go against my name.
Is this a bend-over-and-take-it? I don't mind a fine (in the loosest possible sense!) but I would prefer to pay directly to HA rather than some third party heavies!
Have until midnight on the day after to pay?
I'd be telling this firm that you've paid for the crossing and to refer it back to their client. I'd be calling the crossing people (they have a phone line and are reasonable) to straighten this out - I've forgotten to pay, called a week later and they've taken the initial payment twice now...
I'd be telling this firm that you've paid for the crossing and to refer it back to their client. I'd be calling the crossing people (they have a phone line and are reasonable) to straighten this out - I've forgotten to pay, called a week later and they've taken the initial payment twice now...
If my statement is dated the day I paid then I crossed on the 13th, paid on the 15th. So I am potentially bang to rights on not paying on time.
The consequence of my egregious disregard of my late paying of a £2.50 fee is £191.50 fine from a debt collection agency. It is almost laughable.
I will call Barclaycard in the morning and check when the payment was made and then call HA to see what they have on file (ie letters that should have been sent to me).
I'm sure if I get hold of a sensible person it will be sorted.
The consequence of my egregious disregard of my late paying of a £2.50 fee is £191.50 fine from a debt collection agency. It is almost laughable.
I will call Barclaycard in the morning and check when the payment was made and then call HA to see what they have on file (ie letters that should have been sent to me).
I'm sure if I get hold of a sensible person it will be sorted.
Pretty sure you get given the benefit of the doubt for a first offence. I’ve forgotten to update our Dart charge account a few times when changing cars or plates.
Each time, we’ve received a letter from them directly with a fine and every time I’ve logged in to pay it, they’ve only ever charged the crossing fee (£2.50).
I think you’ve been pretty unlucky or have missed the first letter. It’s especially strange as you’ve actually paid it, even if it was a little late.
Each time, we’ve received a letter from them directly with a fine and every time I’ve logged in to pay it, they’ve only ever charged the crossing fee (£2.50).
I think you’ve been pretty unlucky or have missed the first letter. It’s especially strange as you’ve actually paid it, even if it was a little late.
I had much the same issue. I found out that my late payment wasn’t used for the crossing, but put in credit against any future crossing. I paid it the day before the s
tty letter to me was posted and I assumed all was well. But no!
I got away with it using logic and asking nicely. 😊 so it’s possible the same thing has happened to you OP.
tty letter to me was posted and I assumed all was well. But no!I got away with it using logic and asking nicely. 😊 so it’s possible the same thing has happened to you OP.
WhisperingWasp said:
Yeah. One on the 6th (bridge) and one on the 15th (tunnel). The 6th was the day I travelled so I'm fairly sure I did pay a day late. Will check though.
If you pay late it doesn't get applied to the past crossing. It goes against that reg for future crossings. They will normally cancel the fine if you call them up pronto after receiving the letter. You still have to pay for the past crossing.
So... I definitely did pay a day late. Spoken to Dart Charge people and they sent three letters to my old address. My fault again as I have not updated my log book. Grrr.
Think I may have to suck this one up. I'll call the appeals team and see if I can get a bit of sympathy!
Must admit I never thought to update my logbook(s). Updated my DL of course but didn't think about the V5. Better do that ASAP.
Think I may have to suck this one up. I'll call the appeals team and see if I can get a bit of sympathy!
Must admit I never thought to update my logbook(s). Updated my DL of course but didn't think about the V5. Better do that ASAP.
WhisperingWasp said:
So... I definitely did pay a day late. Spoken to Dart Charge people and they sent three letters to my old address. My fault again as I have not updated my log book. Grrr.
Think I may have to suck this one up. I'll call the appeals team and see if I can get a bit of sympathy!
Must admit I never thought to update my logbook(s). Updated my DL of course but didn't think about the V5. Better do that ASAP.
awaits new thread by OP asking about 25 NIPs he's suddenly received Think I may have to suck this one up. I'll call the appeals team and see if I can get a bit of sympathy!
Must admit I never thought to update my logbook(s). Updated my DL of course but didn't think about the V5. Better do that ASAP.
WhisperingWasp said:
So... I definitely did pay a day late. Spoken to Dart Charge people and they sent three letters to my old address. My fault again as I have not updated my log book. Grrr.
This explains it - I think that the way they seem to always let you off a first offence says to me that they're the probably the most reasonable of organisations when it comes to fines, etc! We live and learn 
mmm-five said:
DodgyGeezer said:
awaits new thread by OP asking about 25 NIPs he's suddenly received
Maybe that should be:DodgyGeezer said:
awaits new thread by OP asking about a 'failure to notify change of address fine' from the DVLA" 
Apparently any speeding would go via DL details but they did say any tax issues I wouldn’t hear about if logbook address is wrong. I know I’ve got no issues with tax and as my DL is ok I guess I am clear on speeding. Will be updating address today though!
Paulsd said:
This explains it - I think that the way they seem to always let you off a first offence says to me that they're the probably the most reasonable of organisations when it comes to fines, etc! We live and learn
Spoke to a lady at the TEC and she has sent me the appeal form. She suggested letters going to wrong address was grounds for appeal (I did say it was my fault) so hopefully it will get sorted. I definitely deserve some sort of fine for being thick but 75x the charge seems harsh!
I have a credit card registered against all of our cars for the dart. Costs nothing to do, automatically pays for the tolls.
Only things I'm exposed to by doing this are cloning and credit card fraud.
My time (to pay individual bills) isn't free though, so there is merit to this.
I only use the dart a few times a year.
Only things I'm exposed to by doing this are cloning and credit card fraud.
My time (to pay individual bills) isn't free though, so there is merit to this.
I only use the dart a few times a year.
Thought I'd update this thread.
So I did lodge an appeal but the debt collection people continued to chase me. The appeals people (the Traffic Enforcement Centre if I recall) did say lodging the appeal put a halt on any debt collection proceedings but I suppose my doing that doesn't immediately filter through to the third party company. In the end I bottled it a bit and just paid the fine before the deadline, just to be on the safe side. The company did say I'd be refunded if the appeal was successful.
Turns out the appeal was successful and, I dunno, a week or so later - without any chasing on my part - I was refunded in full! When they said I'd be refunded I didn't bother asking but I suspected I would be refunded the Highways penalty but not the debt collection fees (since I suppose they were doing their job regardless) but I did get the full amount back.
Fast forward to today and a letter has come through stamped "County Court". It is legal-speak but appears to just be concluding matters where the "penalty charge be revoked" and "charge certificate be cancelled" which I guess is a good thing...
Thing is I wasn't expecting any comms referencing the County Court?! Checked my credit file and it is clean, tried calling them but got cut off in the queue at 5pm.
Do you think this is just putting a line under the matter or worth checking out?
So I did lodge an appeal but the debt collection people continued to chase me. The appeals people (the Traffic Enforcement Centre if I recall) did say lodging the appeal put a halt on any debt collection proceedings but I suppose my doing that doesn't immediately filter through to the third party company. In the end I bottled it a bit and just paid the fine before the deadline, just to be on the safe side. The company did say I'd be refunded if the appeal was successful.
Turns out the appeal was successful and, I dunno, a week or so later - without any chasing on my part - I was refunded in full! When they said I'd be refunded I didn't bother asking but I suspected I would be refunded the Highways penalty but not the debt collection fees (since I suppose they were doing their job regardless) but I did get the full amount back.
Fast forward to today and a letter has come through stamped "County Court". It is legal-speak but appears to just be concluding matters where the "penalty charge be revoked" and "charge certificate be cancelled" which I guess is a good thing...
Thing is I wasn't expecting any comms referencing the County Court?! Checked my credit file and it is clean, tried calling them but got cut off in the queue at 5pm.
Do you think this is just putting a line under the matter or worth checking out?
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Friday 28th April 17:17
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