Dartford crossing toll charge

[Zippee]

So I need to pay for a return trip across the Dartford crossing for tomorrow.
Go to here - Dartford Crossing Pay Dartford Crossing by Credit Debit card (dartfordcrossingcharges.co.uk) and a return crossing comes up at £6.50.
Odd as it’s only £2.50 each way.
Go to www.gov.uk/dart-charge and the same is now correct at £5.

Is the first website a scam? It’s the first site that pops up in Google but doesn’t list any individual charges, nor does it breakdown how they get the £6.50. In the grand scheme of things it’s a small amount of cash but on principle it seems to be ripping people off (aside from the fact the whole charge is a rip off in itself).

[vikingaero]

Yup, website is a scam. You pay for Dart Charge via the gov.uk website

The scam website pays the Dart Charge on your behalf but adds on a service charge. So for a £2.50 crossing they charge £4.00

[Pica-Pica]

Yup, a scam website. I thought we all knew about how they pay Google to top their lists on a search.
You need
https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge

[delta0]

I have an auto pay setup with the gov website so it will charge me whenever I drive across. Saves me the effort of doing it every time and reduces the risk of forgetting!

[Mr_J]

An account is the easiest way to pay but it does probably depend how often you use the crossing. I've had one for years but only used to use it a couple of times a year. You get reminders when your balance is low and I just add another £10.

It does take the stress out of things.

My mate used it for the first time in years en route to Gatwick. Due to the M23 being closed his stress free drive changed and in the rush to get his flight he forgot to pay and only remembered when he went through the tunnel on his way home a few days later.

[B'stard Child]

delta0 said:

I have an auto pay setup with the gov website so it will charge me whenever I drive across. Saves me the effort of doing it every time and reduces the risk of forgetting!

I have the same (all of the fleet are registered on it) but a word of advice if you change a car remember to remove it from your list of vehicles or the next owner may have free crossings paid for by you (experience is what you get when you don’t want it)

The operator will not refund even with evidence from DVLA of change of ownership

[Zippee]

Thanks all. I rarely use the crossing, this is the first time in about 4 years.