Dartford Crossing

mikethebike wrote:Hi i did a quick straw poll yesterday.
I asked 100 people if they preferred free tolls.
Surprised that only 98 said yes.

Regards

Micky

Er .... isn't "Free Tolls" an oxymoron similar to "Nearly Pregnant"?       

     

Ian

Hi Tried again today. How many would prefer toll roads to be free.
1000 out of 1000 said yes please.
Regards

Micky

mikethebike wrote:Hi Tried again today. How many would prefer toll roads to be free.
1000 out of 1000 said yes please.
Regards

Micky

           

Try again ...  

.... by definition "Toll Roads" can't be "Free"! 

How about "Nearly a virgin." ?? 

Best regards and off to bed still chuckling!!!

Ian

Hi i will have the last one. Go between 10 and 6. ITS FREE.
Motorcycles go FREE.

Regards

Mike
Can we close this thread? I feel i am going round in circles.Or Maybe round the M25.

  you two (Dutto and Mickey) you are worth the "free subscription"  to this forum alone! What a laugh you are, all this verbal sparring,  but I have to say, on this occasion, I think Dutto (For whom the Bell Tolls) won this 3 round contest on a knockout!  I see Dutto is signing off for a while but come back soon and talk about Politics, Religion, or Europe or anything you like the Forum is going to be duller without you!

Hi Pablo,
That's your opinion. I beat him at cards.

Regards

Micky

A quick search of Payzone outlets shows 10 in Skegness that will accept the Dart Charge "soon" - presumably once it is in effect.
And another 10 in Dover.
The current toll is £2 each way. I intend to pay for 3 round trips in advance with £10.02 up front - I presume that I can pay the odd 2p extra. That way I will pay less than I used to AND have a quicker passage.
At 30mpg Ian's extra 9 miles to go via Blackwall will cost him a little under 1.4 litres of diesel at £1.30, call it £1.80. So to make his principled objection will cost a little over 10p per journey and lose him some time as well.
Is this really something that merits such a long argument as has occurred in this thread? 
Of course, if you don't want to loan £8.33 to the authorities ...............

John is planning to travel from Leicester to Dover via the Dartford crossing. His van does 34 mpg and his tyres are pumped up at 54psi in the fronts, 52psi in the rears. His total trip distance is 236 miles. Johns van is a coach built so not very aerodynamic and he travels at an average speed of 55mph.
Mustaff is travelling from his home to Dover but not going via the Dartford crossing, his camper is faster than Johns and he travels at 65mph average. Mustaff enjoys driving but can get distracted at times, his camper is a van conversion and does 38 mpg.

What will the total cost of Johns journey be and who will get to Dover first? 

Enn wrote:John is planning to travel from Leicester to Dover via the Dartford crossing. His van does 34 mpg and his tyres are pumped up at 54psi in the fronts, 52psi in the rears. His total trip distance is 236 miles. Johns van is a coach built so not very aerodynamic and he travels at an average speed of 55mph.
Mustaff is travelling from his home to Dover but not going via the Dartford crossing, his camper is faster than Johns and he travels at 65mph average. Mustaff enjoys driving but can get distracted at times, his camper is a van conversion and does 38 mpg.

What will the total cost of Johns journey be and who will get to Dover first? 

Need to ask Ian to work that one out!
Is Mustaff's camper at least Euro III or must he go via Heathrow to avoid the LEZ?

Enn wrote:Mustaff is travelling from his home to Dover but not going via the Dartford crossing, his camper is faster than Johns and he travels at 65mph average. Mustaff enjoys driving but can get distracted at times, his camper is a van conversion and does 38 mpg.

What will the total cost of Johns journey be and who will get to Dover first? 

erm.... (sorry if  I  have missed something obvious here) is it relevant to askwhere Mustaff lives or doesn't that matter?  And, whilst we're at it, is his surname Afag?

I got an account today with my £10. I discovered that if you opt for auto top-up then another £10 will be taken as soon as you use any of the first £10, so that you always have at least £10 in the account.
If you opt for manual top-up they will send you an email when your account drops below £10 but you can run it right down. Obviously if, at any time it goes negative as you go through then you have until midnight the next day to top up, otherwise you get a penalty.
As I am an infrequent user I have opted for manual top-up and will watch the account carefully.

I used the Dartford Crossing twice yesterday. South to North I had to almost stop for the old barrier to rise and there was a 20mph speed limit through the works.  Coming back southwards you get diverted to the left around the old barriers and drive through at 30mph.  Even with the road works it is so much faster that I am considering going that way round justto avoid the heavy traffic between J9 and J15 on the Heathrow side.
And with the account it is cheaper than it used to be! 

Hi

Just had a letter today demanding a payment of £70  + £2.50 because I had used the Dartford crossing without paying for it.

When they changed the system at the end of last year we opted to open an account for the payment, as we travel to Ely from Sussex 5/6 times a year, and we registered our two vehicles.

The first trip at the beginning of Jan, with the Van, went without any  problem, although they had a chicane system which slowed the Traffic down, I suppose they were still testing the system.

Our second time we crossed, with our car, we sailed through and we were very impressed with the system, absolutely no hold ups.  THEN,
on Friday last, we received the a very threatening letter accusing us of non payment, and showing us a photo of our car plate and dated and timed 2nd of march.    We were gobsmacked and my wife was near to tears, as she had set it all up last December, and we still had £18 in our account.

We checked and double checked our account and registration form and Plate numbers, all were in order.   Then we saw on one of their letters,  they had put a 1 instead of a 6 in the car number plate,and that their computer had misread our entry, and classed us as a non payment.

We the contacted the number given on the form if you had a query with the charge, and a very helpful lady went through all our details, and came back to tell us that it was their fault and apologised, and that they would just charge the £2.50 and reimburse the cost of the telephone call.

The company dealt with this in a very professional manner,but the letter is a rather threatening, and aggressive, document, and upsets people unnecessary so.   I wonder how may people are being accused of this. 


Andy

Really really stupid question here; Is the crossing payable both ways or just one like the Severn Bridge?

Hi

Both ways

Andy

mikethebike wrote:Hi Pablo,
            That's your opinion. I beat him at cards.

Regards

Micky

Hey!!!

I've only just caught this one!!  

I was in hospital having my new left knee fitted when it was posted ....  

.... and obviously worrying about the Op when Micky beat me at cards!  


Ian

andygump wrote:Hi

Both ways

Andy

Thanks Andy 

Hi there,

Here's another two daft questions ....



Best regards,

Yes, is still free between 22.00 and 06.00 not sure if you need to register 

Whilst you are all on the subject of the Dartford Crossing - I use it about once every couple of years. However it is likely I will be travelling that way later this summer. Can I just roll up to the barrier and pay whatever is requested with no problems or do I have to somehow prepurchase a ticket.
Many Thanks,

Mick.  

No booths anymore you have to register or pay at a shop or whatever. Go to the beginning of this thread and all is explained. 

Jaytee wrote:Go to the beginning of this thread and all is explained. 

Do not pass "Go" - Do not collect £200!

inspiredron wrote:

Jaytee wrote:Go to the beginning of this thread and all is explained. 

Do not pass "Go" - Do not collect £200!

And go straight to 'jail' 

Thanks for the pointer Jaytee. I have put the relevant phone number into my phone so hopefully I can pay as and when required.

Mick.