£300 Dartcharge bill, Shall I pay or dispute?

[techniques]

Hello all,

Here's the scoop.

About 2-4 times a month I use the Dartford crossing to get to different locations for work. For the last couple of years, I've been using Dartsave (great company that gives you email reminders of any outstanding payments and allows you up to 21 days to pay).

However, In those two years, I've been lulled into a false sense of security by depending on the reminder emails to let me know when it's time to pay. Especially when getting back home late at night, putting off the payments has been the norm.

I purchased a new car early March of this year and COMPLETELY forgot to update the new registration plate to the dartsave system. No update = no reminder emails. No reminder emails = no payments. Oops.

When I realised what had happened, gave dartcharge a ring this morning and they informed me I had 8 unpaid crossings from March-May, all now charged at £37.50. Sh....!

I asked the lady why I hadn't been alerted via post (I work well with reminders) as 23rd March was my first unpaid crossing. She informed me the PCNs hadn't been issued and can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months to come through the letterbox. She also politely let me know that once they're issued I'll have 14 days to pay the £37.50 or it goes up to £70.

So... Do I have a leg to stand on? I can see where I'm at fault but is there any way to pay the £20 owed and be done with it or am I taking this £300 lesson on the chin?

[Sell me cake]

techniques said:

Hello all,

Here's the scoop.

About 2-4 times a month I use the Dartford crossing to get to different locations for work. For the last couple of years, I've been using Dartsave (great company that gives you email reminders of any outstanding payments and allows you up to 21 days to pay).

However, In those two years, I've been lulled into a false sense of security by depending on the reminder emails to let me know when it's time to pay. Especially when getting back home late at night, putting off the payments has been the norm.

I purchased a new car early March of this year and COMPLETELY forgot to update the new registration plate to the dartsave system. No update = no reminder emails. No reminder emails = no payments. Oops.

When I realised what had happened, gave dartcharge a ring this morning and they informed me I had 8 unpaid crossings from March-May, all now charged at £37.50. Sh....!

I asked the lady why I hadn't been alerted via post (I work well with reminders) as 23rd March was my first unpaid crossing. She informed me the PCNs hadn't been issued and can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months to come through the letterbox. She also politely let me know that once they're issued I'll have 14 days to pay the £37.50 or it goes up to £70.

So... Do I have a leg to stand on? I can see where I'm at fault but is there any way to pay the £20 owed and be done with it or am I taking this £300 lesson on the chin?

You cocked up, pay the money to owe

[Russian Troll Bot]

When I forgot to pay for a return journey they actually let me off as it was a first offence. So they do have some flexibility, although I doubt it would be the same for eight of them.

[surveyor]

Russian Troll Bot said:

When I forgot to pay for a return journey they actually let me off as it was a first offence. So they do have some flexibility, although I doubt it would be the same for eight of them.

Dartsave appear to be a private parking company... They pay the charge on account and you then pay them back.

Love to see the fine print as they actually look like a good idea....

[Mr MXT]

surveyor said:

Dartsave appear to be a private parking company... They pay the charge on account and you then pay them back.

Love to see the fine print as they actually look like a good idea....

They charge £2.50, which is the rate for a crossing.

Unless you set up a free dart charge account, in which case it's only £1.67 (or similar, I forget the amount)

[Pica-Pica]

Mr MXT said:

surveyor said:

Dartsave appear to be a private parking company... They pay the charge on account and you then pay them back.

Love to see the fine print as they actually look like a good idea....

They charge £2.50, which is the rate for a crossing.

Unless you set up a free dart charge account, in which case it's only £1.67 (or similar, I forget the amount)

Far better to have a dart charge account with auto-top up when it gets low. I remembered to update my registration. It is easy enough to remember and can be done on-line.

[Chrisgr31]

I would be inclined to write to them, more likely to get a considered response I suspect. You could make an offer to settle, maybe even show willing by sending a cheque. Even if you offered £150 and sent a cheque for that much its a saving.