SANEF toll charging rip off
Discussion
Went skiing in Val Thorens on Boxing Day to 2nd Jan. Worked out the cost to fly wife, me and two boys versus driving and it was a no-brainer at least in terms of cost. I'd also always fancied driving down.....if anyone has experienced Grenoble airport departures on the way home during the skiing season, you'll know what I'm talking about.
At first glance, buying a SANEF toll tag before you go looks to be a pretty smart thing to do....you can join the "fast queue" at the the tollbooths and most have a 30Km/hr queue whereby you can drive through without stopping. This is especially satisfying after you are constantly overtaken by "Big Tony" (in his 520d with M5 bodykit) and all his pals in their Range Rovers flashing you to pull over all the way down there. BT obviously hadn't bought a tag so he must have been a bit miffed everytime he had to pass us again a 20 minutes after leaving a tollbooth LOL.
However you know what the French are like. If they can charge the Brits for anything and everything they will, so here's what they do......
Application fee EU12.00
Annual management fee EU7.20
(calendar) monthly service fee EU12.00
refundable tag deposit 20.00
next day tag delivery EU12.00
foreign exchange finance charge EU5.06
actual toll charges EU179.60
total cost EU247.86 of which EU68.26 is purely for administration
Remember that if your journey crosses over two calendar months, you'll get pinged for two months admin charge.
You couldn't make it up!
My advice to future travellers is to pay the tolls as you arrive, save on the admin and wait for what.....an extra 4-6 minutes over the entire journey, there and back??
That is unless you revel in winding up blokes like "Big Tony".....which was actually quite fun, especially for the boys.
At first glance, buying a SANEF toll tag before you go looks to be a pretty smart thing to do....you can join the "fast queue" at the the tollbooths and most have a 30Km/hr queue whereby you can drive through without stopping. This is especially satisfying after you are constantly overtaken by "Big Tony" (in his 520d with M5 bodykit) and all his pals in their Range Rovers flashing you to pull over all the way down there. BT obviously hadn't bought a tag so he must have been a bit miffed everytime he had to pass us again a 20 minutes after leaving a tollbooth LOL.
However you know what the French are like. If they can charge the Brits for anything and everything they will, so here's what they do......
Application fee EU12.00
Annual management fee EU7.20
(calendar) monthly service fee EU12.00
refundable tag deposit 20.00
next day tag delivery EU12.00
foreign exchange finance charge EU5.06
actual toll charges EU179.60
total cost EU247.86 of which EU68.26 is purely for administration
Remember that if your journey crosses over two calendar months, you'll get pinged for two months admin charge.
You couldn't make it up!
My advice to future travellers is to pay the tolls as you arrive, save on the admin and wait for what.....an extra 4-6 minutes over the entire journey, there and back??
That is unless you revel in winding up blokes like "Big Tony".....which was actually quite fun, especially for the boys.
Yes, skiing is expensive but not the way I try to do it....vehicle = Skoda estate....not flash or quick but loads of space for family, luggage, etc. Stayed in mates' flat, prepped own food, drank crap wine, etc.....
Big Tony went by me (and others) at a mahoosive speed differential so yes in my opinion he was driving like a t
t to make up for lost time. And if he skied like he drove they'd have been a lot of fighting in the ski lift queues. To be fair, there were a lot like him, mainly in Range Rovers. However the best one was a young bloke and his girl in a '90s red Citroen AX.....flat out all the way. Airbags? ABS?
So we're agreed then the admin charges are not actually all that bad BUT I've probably been pinged with the wrong tariff for the car?
Big Tony went by me (and others) at a mahoosive speed differential so yes in my opinion he was driving like a t
t to make up for lost time. And if he skied like he drove they'd have been a lot of fighting in the ski lift queues. To be fair, there were a lot like him, mainly in Range Rovers. However the best one was a young bloke and his girl in a '90s red Citroen AX.....flat out all the way. Airbags? ABS?So we're agreed then the admin charges are not actually all that bad BUT I've probably been pinged with the wrong tariff for the car?
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