That M50 toll again

mayoman1973

As a driver living in the north I have been caught out a few times with forgetting to pay the toll and putting it right after I got the penalty notice.  No big deal.  Then I just created an account and added my car to have it paid automatically.  Problem now is I got a new car and of course forgot about a double toll I had run up.  Got the notification and rang them to pay the penalty and have my car added.  Problem is the payment was not processed properly (As far as I can tell ) though the agent told me at the time that was all sorted.  Now after coming back from a 2 week hol I find a £150 penalty notice waiting for me.  Late Late Late payment I guess.  Fuming to say the least.  Rang them up to say this should have been sorted/paid 2 weeks ago but the agent said they could only work with what was infront of them which was the new £150 penalty notice.  I explained I had rang previously to pay the earlier lower sum but no joy.  So what are my options now ... I feel like just closing my account and to hell with paying for this mickey mouse bridge crossing and sort out the debt collectors that will eventually be assigned the case.  They have very little powers in UK ( unlike bailiffs )  so will be nothing more than a nusicence. Is there any give or commonsense approach with these penalty notices or will I have to go nuclear on this ?

RacoonQueen

Was the call recorded when you rang to pay? Or do you know the date/time you rang and agent you spoke to?
Never had to ring them myself so not sure if they take notes etc
I have the tag so never had to remember to pay but always thought that the payment window of next day at 8pm(?) was tight...I rarely go through it so guarantee I would forget every time.

Charles Babbage

First of all is the new car properly registered now on the account?
If so, just call them and say that you've had an a/c all along and the lines were crossed somewhere and would they ever sort it out. They like it when people have accounts.