DART Crossing, foreign registered car
Discussion
A former work colleague of my wife's drove to the UK for a family wedding in the summer. He is Swiss, driving a Swiss registered car (obviously). Never been to the UK before, doesn't speak/read English etc.
Anyway, seems that he went over the DART crossing on his way up to Manchester from Dover- was obviously not aware of the tolls, how to pay etc.
Somewhat remarkably, he has received a fine to his home address in Switzerland, with photo evidence etc.- so clearly the company does try to follow up on non-payment from foreign drivers and it seems that the Swiss authorities are only too happy to share the relevant information. I believe the fine is in the order of 80 GBP on top of the tolls that were not paid. Pretty sure he'd be happy to pay the tolls- I have read that they are usually sympathetic to missed payments, but it has taken quite some time between the 'offence' and the fine notification (plus he doesn't speak English so can't just phone up)
Does anyone have any experience of this? Part of me thinks it is ridiculous to pay the fine (how would they chase it up?); and as far as I'm aware, it's not exactly obvious to a foreigner to be aware of the toll- and without the option to pay at a toll booth- and how to pay it based on signage (I have no idea what this is like, but have read about web addresses on the signs- how the hell are you supposed to note this down when you are driving?!)
Thoughts, comments?
Anyway, seems that he went over the DART crossing on his way up to Manchester from Dover- was obviously not aware of the tolls, how to pay etc.
Somewhat remarkably, he has received a fine to his home address in Switzerland, with photo evidence etc.- so clearly the company does try to follow up on non-payment from foreign drivers and it seems that the Swiss authorities are only too happy to share the relevant information. I believe the fine is in the order of 80 GBP on top of the tolls that were not paid. Pretty sure he'd be happy to pay the tolls- I have read that they are usually sympathetic to missed payments, but it has taken quite some time between the 'offence' and the fine notification (plus he doesn't speak English so can't just phone up)
Does anyone have any experience of this? Part of me thinks it is ridiculous to pay the fine (how would they chase it up?); and as far as I'm aware, it's not exactly obvious to a foreigner to be aware of the toll- and without the option to pay at a toll booth- and how to pay it based on signage (I have no idea what this is like, but have read about web addresses on the signs- how the hell are you supposed to note this down when you are driving?!)
Thoughts, comments?
He would know he passed a toll though as the word is the same / similar enough in French / German / Italian / Romansh so I am not sure ignorance is a defense here.
Like with most European countries, there is a follow up if they decide to do so, and once in a Swiss court he won't have a choice but to pay and also, no point in going back to Dart as they will have passed on the debt.
Like with most European countries, there is a follow up if they decide to do so, and once in a Swiss court he won't have a choice but to pay and also, no point in going back to Dart as they will have passed on the debt.
We made the same mistake a few years ago with an Italian motorway. No barriers etc and signage only in Italian so we didn't realise until we got to our destination and googled it. Tried paying online but Italy being Italy this didn't work and tried calling but no way of paying over the phone. We did get a letter 6 months later (Car registered in Poland) but didn't pay and nothing has happened since.
Personally I wouldn't pay. £80 is just taking the pi$$. I'm very surprised that the Swiss give out driver information so easily given how they have such a reputation for privacy.
Personally I wouldn't pay. £80 is just taking the pi$$. I'm very surprised that the Swiss give out driver information so easily given how they have such a reputation for privacy.
EU_Foreigner said:
He would know he passed a toll though as the word is the same / similar enough in French / German / Italian / Romansh so I am not sure ignorance is a defense here.
I agree with the wording "Toll"- so you would assume that something would not feel right as you're driving along! But I don't know what other signage there is regarding how the hell to pay! And I would probably find it a bit confusing to be expecting a toll with the usual toll booths, only to find free flowing traffic.
EU_Foreigner said:
Like with most European countries, there is a follow up if they decide to do so, and once in a Swiss court he won't have a choice but to pay and also, no point in going back to Dart as they will have passed on the debt.
How could this end up in a Swiss court? It's an offence in a different country. There's no Swiss jurisdiction here.And I can't imagine a debt recovery agency going to Switzerland and knocking on doors either.
CDB1983 said:
I'm very surprised that the Swiss give out driver information so easily given how they have such a reputation for privacy.
Indeed- they are incredibly private/protective usually, but not with a lot of data protection! Up until a couple of years ago, you could search online for a car reg plate and find the name of the owner and their address- unless you knew how to opt out. Thankfully that loophole has been closed!Whitean3 said:
Indeed- they are incredibly private/protective usually, but not with a lot of data protection! Up until a couple of years ago, you could search online for a car reg plate and find the name of the owner and their address- unless you knew how to opt out. Thankfully that loophole has been closed!
That is terrible! However on the flip side I wonder if it made drivers more accountable for their actions and less likely to behave like idiots on the road? EU_Foreigner said:
He would know he passed a toll though as the word is the same / similar enough in French / German / Italian / Romansh so I am not sure ignorance is a defense here.
Like with most European countries, there is a follow up if they decide to do so, and once in a Swiss court he won't have a choice but to pay and also, no point in going back to Dart as they will have passed on the debt.
I beg to differ, they're not similar at all.Like with most European countries, there is a follow up if they decide to do so, and once in a Swiss court he won't have a choice but to pay and also, no point in going back to Dart as they will have passed on the debt.
There are loads of signs on the approach to the crossing and afterwards reminding you to pay.
However, most of them refer to it as Dart Charge and 'Pay Dart Charge online'.
For a non-English speaker/reader I can see how it can be missed.
As a frequent user I ignore most of the signs but I'm struggling to recall any that refer to it as a toll.
However, most of them refer to it as Dart Charge and 'Pay Dart Charge online'.
For a non-English speaker/reader I can see how it can be missed.
As a frequent user I ignore most of the signs but I'm struggling to recall any that refer to it as a toll.
CDB1983 said:
Personally I wouldn't pay. £80 is just taking the pi$$.
I don't recommend it. This happened to a good German friend of mine who forgot to pay (it's very easy to do after a long European onward journey) and followed the same philosophy.They do follow it up, you'll know when you receive an envelope from, randomly, Sweden where it seems their collection agency is based. Continue to ignore the issue and the costs go up. Still continue to ignore and it's passed to a local collection agency who will then incurr more costs.
Honestly, it's best to pay up and take the pain, rather than suffer from how it escalates.
Roo said:
There are loads of signs on the approach to the crossing and afterwards reminding you to pay.
However, most of them refer to it as Dart Charge and 'Pay Dart Charge online'.
For a non-English speaker/reader I can see how it can be missed.
As a frequent user I ignore most of the signs but I'm struggling to recall any that refer to it as a toll.
There is a big C on the road. But whether that is universally understood or not.However, most of them refer to it as Dart Charge and 'Pay Dart Charge online'.
For a non-English speaker/reader I can see how it can be missed.
As a frequent user I ignore most of the signs but I'm struggling to recall any that refer to it as a toll.
I would have thought his insurance company/ferry ticket issuer would have dispensed some advice. I would like to see some sort of bond/payment that covers motorway tolls for foreign visitors.
I still have my Dart Tag in my wife’s car, and till have the Dart Charge account running, even though we have moved away, and now only cross about once or twice a year.
I'm amazed the OP's Swiss acquaintance doesn't speak or read English. I worked in Switzerland for a couple of years on and off and I didn't meet any Swiss that didn't at least have a working grasp of English. Schools commonly teach English, often as a first foreign language, or at least second after another Swiss language.
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