TT2 penalty charge

[M15ley]

Guys 'n gals,

A month or two back I was caught out at the toll barriers (Friday evening) when my pre-pay account was out of credit. I pressed the help button and asked to pay now as I have done in the past. I was firmly told 'no' and that I had to press the 'pay later' button. Several minutes later the machine spat out a receipt which was promptly blown away by a gust of wind. However the barrier went up and off I went.

Knowing that I had a toll to pay but heading away for the weekend I attempted to pay using their app n my phone but no option there. I then called them approx 5 times but got no answer. On my return home I promptly emailed them and got an automated response saying someone would be in touch within 5 working days. Two weeks later I received a letter saying I owed the toll charge plus a £30 fine!!!

I have appealed this decision and cited the process but apparently you have to pay the toll within 24hrs. I find this timeframe completely unrealistic, especially given other toll tunnels, such as Dartford, give you 1 week.

I have appealed again but the fine has now gone up to £60. I have made it quite clear to them in writing that I have absolutely no intention of paying the fine but happy to pay the toll charge.

I guess the question now is, what powers do TT2 have to demand payment?

[Buster73]

Every time you go through it highlights how much credit you have left , can’t understand why you left it till too little was left.

Even then you could have changed lanes and paid with cash.

Stop trying to wiggle out of it man.

[p4cks]

As long as you've emailed them within the time window (up to midnight of the following day you went through, not strictly 24 hours as your post states) they'll honour it and cancel your fine.

ETA: Sorry, missed your question. All the information you need is on their website and it tells you exactly what happens when you don't pay your fine... it goes to a debt collection agency:

Important: Failure to pay an unpaid toll charge in full within 28 days of the date of the notice will incur a charge of £100 in addition to the toll charge. This will be pursued via an external 3rd Party Debt Collection Agency/Legal Team, and if necessary recovered through a UK Court. All associated expenses incurred as a result will be applied in addition to the total TT2 debt and pursued in full.

Edited by p4cks on Sunday 20th September 11:21

[M15ley]

Buster73 said:

Every time you go through it highlights how much credit you have left , can’t understand why you left it till too little was left.

Even then you could have changed lanes and paid with cash.

Stop trying to wiggle out of it man.

Very helpful response, thanks - man!

[Godscrasher]

M15ley said:

Guys 'n gals,

A month or two back I was caught out at the toll barriers (Friday evening) when my pre-pay account was out of credit. I pressed the help button and asked to pay now as I have done in the past. I was firmly told 'no' and that I had to press the 'pay later' button. Several minutes later the machine spat out a receipt which was promptly blown away by a gust of wind. However the barrier went up and off I went.

Knowing that I had a toll to pay but heading away for the weekend I attempted to pay using their app n my phone but no option there. I then called them approx 5 times but got no answer. On my return home I promptly emailed them and got an automated response saying someone would be in touch within 5 working days. Two weeks later I received a letter saying I owed the toll charge plus a £30 fine!!!

I have appealed this decision and cited the process but apparently you have to pay the toll within 24hrs. I find this timeframe completely unrealistic, especially given other toll tunnels, such as Dartford, give you 1 week.

I have appealed again but the fine has now gone up to £60. I have made it quite clear to them in writing that I have absolutely no intention of paying the fine but happy to pay the toll charge.

I guess the question now is, what powers do TT2 have to demand payment?

Feel your pain mate. I was heading South for work, checked the app and seen I had 50p there. Topped up immediately and I know it takes 10 mins to register as the app says. Went to McDonalds, got a coffee and headed South. Got to the tunnel and it hadn't registered, bugger! Pressed the button for a ticket with the intention to pay it when I arrived at my destination (like I have done before).

I got there late, checked in and worked until late, next day went to work for a long day and was due to travel home the day after. On this day I had missed the 24hr thing by 2 hours when I went to pay so knew a fine was incoming. I emailed them telling them I'm happy to pay the full whack of the original toll and not the discounted version, but like you there was no response for 5 days, or even 10 days later a human answered me.

At no point does it state clearly that it must be paid within 24hours and it really should take prominence on the sign, on the button and on the ticket. It's not and the ticket is full of other ste nothing stands out.

Dartford crossing example. log into ww.gov.uk/dart-charge (nice easy website to remember or google and TT2 could easily do this but be even leaner in the address!) enter Registration instead of random number on a ticket and you're done. Also like what's been said above, they give you far longer to pay instead of discounting 16 hours (or more/less) when you're asleep of the 24 hours to pay the charge.

I'll never support them on any investments or payment increases because of this going forward. They've totally lost my support and it's still a publicly owned service by NECA, but ran like an amateur operation.

[geordiepingu]

Feel your pain, got a pay later receipt in a car I had just bought at the time. Completely forgot about it as I'm used to auto top up, forgot to add the new car to my account. Realised about 3 days later when my balance was the same, so I emailed, and got hit with a penalty. Pretty stty I thought.

I too wish they did a Dartford Crossing style system (as I did the exact same thing but shock horror I only had to pay the toll and the customer service rep ensured all of my cars were up to date on my account!), but the reality is it's a good cash grab/revenue exercise for TT2 Ltd.