The Dartford Tolls

[clk320x]

Poor memory?

It's not easy to memorise a phone number on command having seen it once on a sign which you are driving past at xxMPH.. its just stupid. Who would even be bothered to phone up and pay for it? Online is so much easier.

I'm just in shock that you think being able to type two words into google is a big ask!!!!!

 

[renault12ts]

It's not easy to memorise a phone number on command having seen it once on a sign which you are driving past at xxMPH.. its just stupid. Who would even be bothered to phone up and pay for it? Online is so much easier.

I'm just in shock that you think being able to type two words into google is a big ask!!!!!

Shock? Sorry about that...lie down in a darkened room.
Agree to disagree?

 

[clk320x]

Shock? Sorry about that...lie down in a darkened room.
Agree to disagree?

Sure no worries.

While I’m here though I’ll let you know how to use google. It may help you find something on the internet without the direct url.

First go to the box at the top of your browser where you’d normally type in the URL you would normally have memorised.

Then type in ‘www. google. com’

Then once on google, in the box in the middle, type in what you want to search for.

Then press search.

Job done

 

[renault12ts]

Sure no worries.

While I’m here though I’ll let you know how to use google. It may help you find something on the internet without the direct url.

First go to the box at the top of your browser where you’d normally type in the URL you would normally have memorised.

Then type in ‘www. google. com’

Then once on google, in the box in the middle, type in what you want to search for.

Then press search.

Job done

Wouldn't it be easier just to type in "google.com"? Does anybody actually put the "www" in front?

 

[clk320x]

Wouldn't it be easier just to type in "google.com"? Does anybody actually put the "www" in front?

No, but when referencing a website in text it’s always good to include the www. I assumed the rest was common sense.

The www seems to be included in that sign you were praising

I use chrome so I just type in what I want in the search bar at the top.

 

[zipdip]

I think I read recently they get half their revenue from fines,the system when you want to change cars on your account is weird,you end up calling them because you seem to be able to change the number of the car but not the model online

 

[renault12ts]

No, but when referencing a website in text it’s always good to include the www. I assumed the rest was common sense.

The www seems to be included in that sign you were praising

I use chrome so I just type in what I want in the search bar at the top.

Why? It just wastes time. I also use Chrome, not sure of the point you're making. But hey, you think everything with the tolls on the Dartford crossing is fine...unlike many more, especially those getting the fines. There are too few signs...argue there isn't. The sign might be ok...but only if seen.

 

[clk320x]

Why? It just wastes time. I also use Chrome, not sure of the point you're making. But hey, you think everything with the tolls on the Dartford crossing is fine...unlike many more, especially those getting the fines. There are too few signs...argue there isn't. The sign might be ok...but only if seen.

I thought our argument wasn’t about the quantity of signs but rather the content. You seemed to make the point that having a phone number and web address would solve all the problems?!

 

[renault12ts]

I thought our argument wasn’t about the quantity of signs but rather the content. You seemed to make the point that having a phone number and web address would solve all the problems?!

It would solve some of the problems. But the thread starter was addressing the quantity also.

 

[clk320x]

It would solve some of the problems. But the thread starter was addressing the quantity also.

I agree there could be some more signs, but still don’t understand how having a web address or phone number will make much difference. Compared to just googling Dart Charge.

Anyway we clearly both have different views about that & if we all thought the same this world would be a very boring place indeed.

Enjoy the rest of your day Ciaran

 

[GLK]

I don't use Google

And chaps, if you think this is cumbersome, try crossing Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge from New Providence Island to Paradise Island in a RHD car*: the toll booths are American, so you either need a 5-feet arm, or have to be a Dart World Champion.

Just saying


* The Bahamas drive on the left

 

[markjay]

Last year I managed to shred the front left tyre on my wife's car while trying to access the toll boot on the motorway from Paris to Calais.

They fitted sharp protruding metal bits to the base of the boot, just to be helpful.....

 

[GLK]

Ever so thoughtful, aren't they ...

 

[paul73mt]

I'm glad i only have to pay 20p a crossing but i do have to pay £10 in advance so gives me 50 crossing @20p

 

[MissyD]

I'm glad i only have to pay 20p a crossing but i do have to pay £10 in advance so gives me 50 crossing @20p

Is that because you're local?

 

[rockits]

I've sold two cars in the last two years and forgot to take both off.... lost £3
Signage is poor though, however I turned off that email reminder!

I wonder if the person who bought the car also paid so they received payment twice. It is possible as my accounts manager paid for a crossing for me once when I had just bought a car.

However unbeknown to me it was still on his account & it charged his account as well. Shows how bad the system is that it should allow multiple payments without bouncing the 2nd.

 

[zipdip]

Well the Dartford crossing company gets half it's revenue from fines,I think that says it all,as Bruce and others have said their system is poor,ok you can set up a account I have one,I have about £9 in my account and I am now not a big user of the crossing and if I do it will be early in the morning and so escape paying,now having a account for some years,you do change cars from time to time,what they never explain is just how do you keep the registration number but change the colour and make of the car,I could not find it,ended up ringing them and they had to do for me,with regard the signage,given the amount of trucks on that road it is quiet easy for people using the crossing for maybe the first time to miss those signs and also the 60mph limit when the road stops being the M25 either side of the crossing.

 

[brucemillar]

Well the Dartford crossing company gets half it's revenue from fines,I think that says it all,as Bruce and others have said their system is poor,ok you can set up a account I have one,I have about £9 in my account and I am now not a big user of the crossing and if I do it will be early in the morning and so escape paying,now having a account for some years,you do change cars from time to time,what they never explain is just how do you keep the registration number but change the colour and make of the car,I could not find it,ended up ringing them and they had to do for me,with regard the signage,given the amount of trucks on that road it is quiet easy for people using the crossing for maybe the first time to miss those signs and also the 60mph limit when the road stops being the M25 either side of the crossing.

Well the crossing team advertise heavily on the basis that 'having an account' is the "hassle free" way to go. Not according to lots of people who, like me, have an account and have done for many years. I also have multiple cars on that account which is set to automatically top up by £10 every time my current balance drops belwo £20. This happens fairly frequently with multiple cars using the crossing!!

Any changes to vehicle(s) and I do mean any changes, seem to inject chaos into the system (Computer says no) or "Computers says yes to you but then no the bank".

The system (I suspect) is an organic growth tool and was never designed to be scaleable (no surprise here). SO bits get added on as and when another problem needs solving. The cost in terms of aggravation from users seems to be outweighed by the cost of any concern at Government Level, so it gets filed under "difficult to do".

Scalability needs to be engineered into these systems when they are at the concept stage. But by doing that then Government/Owners have to admit that it is not. To admit otherwise leads to unreasonable demands to forecasts on finances, user numbers etc. Nobody wants to own up to having that data (they probably don'y have it or don't want it). So it becomes a self financing thiefdom where the fines pay for the people that manage the fines and the easiest targets for the fines are those who follow the rules for holding an account.

The dodgers and the cheats prosper, wittingly or unwittingly!!! The biggest flaw being the unwillingness to pursue anybody who is not displaying UK plates. as above this was talked down as a "small percentage" at the planning stage (yes, there was some panning that went on somewhere). Now it is a massive problem as the cat is out the bag.

Issue number two: The big huge elephant in the room. "It improves journey times" It most certainly does not. That is, if we take improvement as being measured from the previous toll booth system? Journey times Northbound are ow seen to have almost doubled with drivers reporting queus of more than 1 hour at twice a week (Northbound). Why Northbound? Well that is a tunnel so requires that fuel tankers be escorted in convoy. This means, stacking the tankers and holding the traffic while the convoys are shepherded through the bore. Southbound is a bridge s they can explode into the atmosphere.

 

[paul73mt]

Is that because you're local?

Yes If you live in thurrock you get was they call a 'local residents scheme' I also believe if you live on the otherside you get this also but not sure. £10 per year gives you 50 crossing so works out to 20p a crossing, however if you dont use them you loose them when it renews the next year. Or you can pay £20 for unlimited crossing for a year

 

[paul73mt]

Last year it was in the local paper that the crossing was owed millions in unpaid fines. It was then reported that they were getting its own task force in to get the fines back. My idea would be ANPR camera that are already there link direct to a police van (same as the ones that check Tax, Insurance and info on the vehicles ) Pull them over and say you owe X amount if they dont pay there n then impound the vehicle there n then. Harsh but i think it will work, Yeah ok some will get through on a day to day bases but if they use it all the time it will be only a matter of time before they get caught