Paying Dartford toll - Can they take fines from the past?

[d215yq]

Hi all,

I'll be driving back to UK in my Spanish registered car and want to pay the Dartford toll. However, a few years back in the same car I forgot to pay and then got back to Spain 6 months later to see a fine of 200 and rather threatening letters from some debt collection agency in Leicester. Obviously was not going to pay that so just binned the letters and they eventually gave up.

So now, if I register my credit card with the same car and elect to pay the upcoming toll, can they use the card details against me to take the 200 quid fine from the past or is that completely seperate and it would be illegal for them to do so?

I want to pay but if it's going to result in them taking the fine I'll obviously have to risk some more threatening letters...

 

[Wighty]

Go round the M25 the other way to avoid this happening ?

 

[bembo449]

id be surprised their system keeps files for that long

 

[umblecumbuz]

The toll is paid to the Local Authority . Only if it remains unpaid does it then get passed to a debt collection agency.
It was the debt collection agency who chased you for payment - they take a hefty percentage of every successful 'chase'.

If you pay the toll normally this time around, there is no need for the local authority to contact this agency, so they will not be alerted to your previous extremely serious crime!

 

[Wighty]

Bring back hanging I say

 

[Ken_R]

Use the Blackwall Tunnel. It would probably add about 20-30 minutes.

 

[jp williams]

Try using DARTSAVE I find it is very good.

 

[d215yq]

Hmm, I'm not going to lengthen the journey due to it, it'll only be once I pass it on the return leg to Dover... TBH I'd rather pay it and be a good citizen but if they can start causing me a lot of bother will be equally happy to just not pay it and bin their letters again.

I've learnt the hardway with credit cards with both a hire car company inventing damage and a petrol station charging 99 pounds and never refunding the difference that it is a common myth that you are protected and that your credit card provider is on your side. In both cases as I "gave my credit card details willingly" there was no fraud and therefore they would not refuse payment nor do anything whatsoever and it was between me and the seller in each case. So I'm a bit reluctant to find they charge me 200 quid later, and then the credit card company will allow the payment as "I gave them my details willingly" and the onus is on me to go to court to prove it which I can't do as I don't live in the UK...

 

[davidsl500]

Can you get a pre-paid debit card and only put on only enough for the one toll?