Great trip to Britain
Oct 21, 2019 17:19:22 #
I got home a couple of weeks ago from our road trip around Great Britain, we had a wonderful time, met lots of nice people, enjoyed good food and drinks (beer) and saw a lot of England, Scotland and Wales. The driving while different was very enjoyable, for the most part very very few aggressive drivers and many courteous ones. People keep asking what was the best part of the trip and we keep answering there were too many best parts to pick one.
I did get one offence notice and associated charges from Avis today, apparently there is a toll on the Merseygate bridge that we people from another country are supposed to know that you must phone in to pay as there are no toll booths. So a 2 pound toll turned into a 52 pound charge on my credit card. Bit of a scam I think. Won’t put me off returning for another trip just won’t go to that area of England again.
To our British members, you have a very beautiful country and we enjoyed our 23 days immensely!
Cheers
I did get one offence notice and associated charges from Avis today, apparently there is a toll on the Merseygate bridge that we people from another country are supposed to know that you must phone in to pay as there are no toll booths. So a 2 pound toll turned into a 52 pound charge on my credit card. Bit of a scam I think. Won’t put me off returning for another trip just won’t go to that area of England again.
To our British members, you have a very beautiful country and we enjoyed our 23 days immensely!
Cheers
Oct 21, 2019 17:38:46 #
happy sailor wrote:
I got home a couple of weeks ago from our road tri... (show quote)
When do you phone the toll in?
Before, during, or after?
Oct 21, 2019 18:08:37 #
Longshadow wrote:
When do you phone the toll in?
Before, during, or after?
Before, during, or after?
Apparently after if you are in a rental car and it is a short time period.
In any event I saw a sign that said toll bridge ahead after you are on it the wife was searching for coins but then no booth so we thought it a different bridge with a toll. Just learned all the payment stuff today.
Oct 22, 2019 06:21:57 #
At least I called it right on the Community Speed Limit sign. You've got to be careful with parking and tolls. The Government have sold a lot of the operations to the Private sector and they don't miss a trick, nor are they very forgiving.
But if that was the only 'sad' day and you enjoyed the rest, feel free to come again.
But if that was the only 'sad' day and you enjoyed the rest, feel free to come again.
Oct 22, 2019 06:25:18 #
happy sailor wrote:
I got home a couple of weeks ago from our road tri... (show quote)
Many people complain about these tolls and the lack of information about methods of payment, apparently, it's not very clear if you are a stranger to the area, any way you hade a great time so that what matters.
Oct 22, 2019 06:34:56 #
So glad that you enjoyed yous stay in England and sorry about your tool bridge experience. We have a toll bridge between Cornwall and Devon, the thing is we have to pay to go put of beautiful Cornwall into Devon but people coming into Cornwall do not have to pay.
Oct 22, 2019 06:35:26 #
Oct 22, 2019 06:41:09 #
John N wrote:
At least I called it right on the Community Speed Limit sign. You've got to be careful with parking and tolls. The Government have sold a lot of the operations to the Private sector and they don't miss a trick, nor are they very forgiving.
But if that was the only 'sad' day and you enjoyed the rest, feel free to come again.
But if that was the only 'sad' day and you enjoyed the rest, feel free to come again.
LOL, not a single "sad" day while we were there, every day was a great day, the Lake District is stunning for landscapes, opening night of King John in Stratford, Glengoyne Distillery near Glasgow, Fort William to Inverness drive was super, Edinburg (grandparents birthplace, father's side), Hadrian's Wall, Hetton le Hole (mother's birthplace), York, Cambridge, Isle of Wight. All just outstanding!
I mention the toll for other traveller's to be aware, the collection system is somewhat different that our "fairer" system here.
And yes sir, you nailed the info on the community speed signs.
Thanks again, I wish I could have jumped on a plane straight back after coming home and getting all the laundry done.
Hilarious, your post on Gerry and the Pacemakers, a good one.
Oct 22, 2019 06:46:44 #
I read yesterday that Warrington would be an alternative to the Merseygate Bridge, will have to remember that the next time
Oct 22, 2019 07:07:47 #
Oct 22, 2019 12:09:38 #
Canonuser
Loc: UK and South Africa
It looks as though you’re not the only one to encounter problems with this bridge.
Debts of up to £3,000 are being run up by families because of a confusing bridge toll system, a charity claims.
The Big Help Project in Knowsley said people on low incomes and with mental health issues were being "pushed to the brink" by the Mersey Gateway Bridge's complex toll system.
The charity called for a fairer payment system and urged bailiffs not to be used so quickly to collect debts.
Merseyflow said it was looking at how to "improve the customer experience".
The company collects the £2 tolls each way on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
However, the £600m bridge, which runs between Runcorn and Widnes, has no toll booths, meaning drivers pay the charge online or in a shop within 24 hours of making their journey.
Drivers who forget to pay the toll face a £20 penalty charge notice.
'Exorbitant charges'
But The Big Help Project, which runs a debt advice and food bank service, said it had dealt with many drivers who had faced much higher debts, including a man whose son used his car without permission and racked up debts of £624 and a woman who owes £2,990.
The charity said many people did not willingly forget to pay the toll, but found the system confusing, difficult to keep up with or did not have access to the internet to pay straight away.
Charity chief executive Peter Mitchell called on the Labour-run borough council to stop sending out bailiffs immediately and urged them to use a fairer payment system.
He said a toll barrier was necessary to "stop these exorbitant charges".
However an email from the council's chief executive David Parr, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the Mersey Gateway had a "reasonable" tolling regime.
Halton residents and blue badge holders are eligible for discounts for the bridge through monthly passes and pre-pay accounts.
A spokesperson for Merseyflow said: "We are constantly working closely with our partners at the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board to look at ways of improving the customer experience and that includes exploring new initiatives and ways to pay."
Debts of up to £3,000 are being run up by families because of a confusing bridge toll system, a charity claims.
The Big Help Project in Knowsley said people on low incomes and with mental health issues were being "pushed to the brink" by the Mersey Gateway Bridge's complex toll system.
The charity called for a fairer payment system and urged bailiffs not to be used so quickly to collect debts.
Merseyflow said it was looking at how to "improve the customer experience".
The company collects the £2 tolls each way on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
However, the £600m bridge, which runs between Runcorn and Widnes, has no toll booths, meaning drivers pay the charge online or in a shop within 24 hours of making their journey.
Drivers who forget to pay the toll face a £20 penalty charge notice.
'Exorbitant charges'
But The Big Help Project, which runs a debt advice and food bank service, said it had dealt with many drivers who had faced much higher debts, including a man whose son used his car without permission and racked up debts of £624 and a woman who owes £2,990.
The charity said many people did not willingly forget to pay the toll, but found the system confusing, difficult to keep up with or did not have access to the internet to pay straight away.
Charity chief executive Peter Mitchell called on the Labour-run borough council to stop sending out bailiffs immediately and urged them to use a fairer payment system.
He said a toll barrier was necessary to "stop these exorbitant charges".
However an email from the council's chief executive David Parr, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the Mersey Gateway had a "reasonable" tolling regime.
Halton residents and blue badge holders are eligible for discounts for the bridge through monthly passes and pre-pay accounts.
A spokesperson for Merseyflow said: "We are constantly working closely with our partners at the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board to look at ways of improving the customer experience and that includes exploring new initiatives and ways to pay."
Oct 22, 2019 12:09:39 #
Canonuser
Loc: UK and South Africa
It looks as though you’re not the only one to encounter problems with this bridge.
Debts of up to £3,000 are being run up by families because of a confusing bridge toll system, a charity claims.
The Big Help Project in Knowsley said people on low incomes and with mental health issues were being "pushed to the brink" by the Mersey Gateway Bridge's complex toll system.
The charity called for a fairer payment system and urged bailiffs not to be used so quickly to collect debts.
Merseyflow said it was looking at how to "improve the customer experience".
The company collects the £2 tolls each way on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
However, the £600m bridge, which runs between Runcorn and Widnes, has no toll booths, meaning drivers pay the charge online or in a shop within 24 hours of making their journey.
Drivers who forget to pay the toll face a £20 penalty charge notice.
'Exorbitant charges'
But The Big Help Project, which runs a debt advice and food bank service, said it had dealt with many drivers who had faced much higher debts, including a man whose son used his car without permission and racked up debts of £624 and a woman who owes £2,990.
The charity said many people did not willingly forget to pay the toll, but found the system confusing, difficult to keep up with or did not have access to the internet to pay straight away.
Charity chief executive Peter Mitchell called on the Labour-run borough council to stop sending out bailiffs immediately and urged them to use a fairer payment system.
He said a toll barrier was necessary to "stop these exorbitant charges".
However an email from the council's chief executive David Parr, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the Mersey Gateway had a "reasonable" tolling regime.
Halton residents and blue badge holders are eligible for discounts for the bridge through monthly passes and pre-pay accounts.
A spokesperson for Merseyflow said: "We are constantly working closely with our partners at the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board to look at ways of improving the customer experience and that includes exploring new initiatives and ways to pay."
Debts of up to £3,000 are being run up by families because of a confusing bridge toll system, a charity claims.
The Big Help Project in Knowsley said people on low incomes and with mental health issues were being "pushed to the brink" by the Mersey Gateway Bridge's complex toll system.
The charity called for a fairer payment system and urged bailiffs not to be used so quickly to collect debts.
Merseyflow said it was looking at how to "improve the customer experience".
The company collects the £2 tolls each way on behalf of Halton Borough Council.
However, the £600m bridge, which runs between Runcorn and Widnes, has no toll booths, meaning drivers pay the charge online or in a shop within 24 hours of making their journey.
Drivers who forget to pay the toll face a £20 penalty charge notice.
'Exorbitant charges'
But The Big Help Project, which runs a debt advice and food bank service, said it had dealt with many drivers who had faced much higher debts, including a man whose son used his car without permission and racked up debts of £624 and a woman who owes £2,990.
The charity said many people did not willingly forget to pay the toll, but found the system confusing, difficult to keep up with or did not have access to the internet to pay straight away.
Charity chief executive Peter Mitchell called on the Labour-run borough council to stop sending out bailiffs immediately and urged them to use a fairer payment system.
He said a toll barrier was necessary to "stop these exorbitant charges".
However an email from the council's chief executive David Parr, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the Mersey Gateway had a "reasonable" tolling regime.
Halton residents and blue badge holders are eligible for discounts for the bridge through monthly passes and pre-pay accounts.
A spokesperson for Merseyflow said: "We are constantly working closely with our partners at the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board to look at ways of improving the customer experience and that includes exploring new initiatives and ways to pay."
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