Bourton 2012 Over height class 3 Auotoroutes

We have just returned from touring France and Spain. 

We were mostly OK but on the return things changed. We were suddenly being classified as class 3 on the auto routes. For example on our way down the Milleau viaduct was €9 on our return it changed to €30, a massive jump. On the A71 a distance of 170 miles from Clermont Ferrand a reasonable amount going down €49.50 coming back a very unreasonable amount.
We don't carry hundreds in cash and have no wish to.

Anyone else had this problem?

i didnt know french toll booths were able to measure height, perhaps they can?.....nor weight, where tolls rise when plated over 3.5t (even if actual weight is below)....or you have a tag axle van (not in this case)...
the usual process is to check the toll maching and if it says 'classe trois' (class 3) then press the button and speak nicely to the person on the other end saying 'classe deux, s'il vous plait' (class two, please) which usually prompts a change.
you don't have to carry 'hundreds in cash' you can use a card..our total french toll charge from Nantes to Irun was about €65....then toll free to Benicassim.

Is there anything fitted to the roof, TV Sat, storage boxes or Air con unit, that could possibly take you above 3M ? Even if there is, is there possibly some form of automated height monitor at some tolls ?

I'm fairly sure that French toll booths do have height measuring equipment but that wouldn't explain why Biged was charged class 2 on the outward journey and class 3 on the return - unless they had a sat dome fitted in Spain?

David

rventhusiast wrote:I'm fairly sure that French toll booths do have height measuring equipment but that wouldn't explain why Biged was charged class 2 on the outward journey and class 3 on the return - unless they had a sat dome fitted in Spain?

David

They do.

Did he drive with his roof vent open or the TV aerial not fully lowered? I've seen both.

Gromit wrote:

rventhusiast wrote:I'm fairly sure that French toll booths do have height measuring equipment but that wouldn't explain why Biged was charged class 2 on the outward journey and class 3 on the return - unless they had a sat dome fitted in Spain?

David

They do.

Did he drive with his roof vent open or the TV aerial not fully lowered? I've seen both.

We have a 2019 Bourton Hi line with an O/H of 3130mm (confirmed by Willersey) the A/C, aerial etc does not exceed the height of the overcab. We have noticed on our trip to France,Spain,& Portugal last year that the tolls do have two cameras set at different heights which would give an indication of the height of the vehicle.  

Well after much discussion with Emovis they found a solution. They closed my account!

Biged wrote:Well after much discussion with Emovis they found a solution. They closed my account!

Interesting!! 

You've lost me here though.

In your original post you said you don't want to carry hundreds in cash, but why would you need to when you had an Emovis Tag??

They just bill your credit card for what you owe??

Yes, i have a tag for years and it worked flawlessly on our previous van.
For some reason, i sometimes got to the toll station and the tag would not let us through, on looking at the toll it said we were class 3?
We pressed the button and spoke to the operator but they were adamant that we were class 3 and would not let us through. Hence hundreds in cash. My wife does not use my card and i do not wish to go around the van to pay the toll.
I will now either avoid toll roads or sort something out.

Hi
    Well it is crunch time! being honest how tall is your Bourton, I had a Gloucester which was an inch of 10ft but if asked I would have rounded it down to 10ft
Regards
Alan

Thanks, I understand now.

We never had that problem with the tag, but many vans are very close to the height limit so it only needs the roof light to be slightly open to trigger the sensors, or perhaps a poorly adjusted sensor.

We did find ours a bit reluctant to "ping" occasionally, perhaps due to the overcab blocking the signal. I had to pull it off its clip and wave it about, after which it worked fine . . . but not quick enough for the impatient French motorists behind us!! 

After a couple of such experiences I just dropped it in the dashboard tray and left it there. Then it worked perfectly.

Never found a problem with paying tolls with a credit card, never had to use a pin, just slip it in the slot and the card is returned with a ticket.

Only problem was when my wife dropped the card! then next minute the following French started to sound their horns, which brought a smile to our faces.
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Richard

rgermain wrote:Never found a problem with paying tolls with a credit card, never had to use a pin, just slip it in the slot and the card is returned with a ticket.

Only problem was when my wife dropped the card! then next minute the following French started to sound their horns, which brought a smile to our faces.
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Richard

It took a minute Richard!!

You must have had some unusually patient French drivers behind you! (And I'm hardly joking!  )

If you don't have a tag, the booth has to make its charge based on what it 'can find out' about you at the booth itself...generally can't do weight, not all do height, some can tell if you have three axles...
Either way, you're going to be unlucky to be charged more than Class Deux...
However, if you have a Toll Tag you will have registered your vehicle, along with weight, height and no of axles with them, and every time your reg goes through one you will be charged at the highest rate applicable...
so, if youre 3.05m high or upplated say to 3850kg it will be Class Trois all the way, whereas it might have been Class Deux without the Tag.
I don't know why things seem to have got confused on the same trip but there you go, that's computers for you...!

Gromit wrote:

rgermain wrote:Never found a problem with paying tolls with a credit card, never had to use a pin, just slip it in the slot and the card is returned with a ticket.

Only problem was when my wife dropped the card! then next minute the following French started to sound their horns, which brought a smile to our faces.
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Richard

It took a minute Richard!!

You must have had some unusually patient French drivers behind you! (And I'm hardly joking!  )

Miss use of word "minute" just a phrase. Actually took longer as I stopped so close to the booth passenger door could not be opened and then guess what, I had to reverse the van because the card had gone under the van. Mistral wind was a blowing that day.

Hope that explains why they honked their horns

Have you not noticed the French do not like to wait inline, try waiting for the vet to open, almost got crushed  in the rush.
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Richard