The M50 Barrier Free Tolling Thread

thecommander · 19-01-2009 11:09PM

peasant wrote: »

Has it ever occured to you that for the very occassional user it would be much easier, simpler and less time consuming to just pull into a separate lane and pay right there and then?

Instead of having to spend precious time on the internet/phone / in a shop to pay this charge?

I wouldn't like the idea of people stopping on a motorway. If people cant see the signs and realise they have to pay then you think they're going to pull over in time to a special lane?

2 minutes and its paid, its not that hard to do.

Seth Brundle · 19-01-2009 11:24PM

thecommander wrote: »

I wouldn't like the idea of people stopping on a motorway. If people cant see the signs and realise they have to pay then you think they're going to pull over in time to a special lane?

2 minutes and its paid, its not that hard to do.

Actually it is quite hard to do.
What number do you phone? What website do you got to? What happens if you are of the age where you have no idea on how to use the internet?
In which shops can you pay?
My in laws in Belfast do not know how to pay for the toll. Are there signs where you can easily get the number whilst driving (and remember for 100 miles)? They cannot use the internet comfortably (and looking at many of the posts here the eflow site doesn't work anyhow).
So when they are heading for a ferry from Cork, where do they stop to pay for their toll usage?
For many (IMO) there simply is no option to pay the toll!

thecommander · 19-01-2009 11:43PM

kbannon wrote: »

Actually it is quite hard to do.
What number do you phone? What website do you got to? What happens if you are of the age where you have no idea on how to use the internet?
In which shops can you pay?
My in laws in Belfast do not know how to pay for the toll. Are there signs where you can easily get the number whilst driving (and remember for 100 miles)? They cannot use the internet comfortably (and looking at many of the posts here the eflow site doesn't work anyhow).
So when they are heading for a ferry from Cork, where do they stop to pay for their toll usage?
For many (IMO) there simply is no option to pay the toll!

If you haven't the motivation to go and find out then you shouldn't be drving on a the toll road.

You could say the same about alot of things. If I said to a copper that my car wasn't insured because I hadn't the internet, and I couldn't remember the number, do you think I'd be let away with it?

The onus is on you the driver to find out, if they cant remember after 100 miles then go find out.

mcwhirter · 20-01-2009 08:01AM

thecommander wrote: »

If you haven't the motivation to go and find out then you shouldn't be drving on a the toll road.

There is no comparable road to take through that part of dublin.

So for example, a tourist travelling in that direction, has the hassle to ring a number, find a shop to pay. What other road could they take without local knowledge? It is just another cock-up decision and just adds confusion to something which in other countries is a very simple affair.

It makes you proud:eek:

positron · 20-01-2009 10:43AM

thecommander, you are comparing apples and oranges there with eflow and insurance. One is a long term, once a year, legal requirement to get your car out on the road, where as eflow is something that is slapped on you for going from A to B, and in a lot cases by someone who have never been to that part of the road, may be following a crumpled up map or something.

You can not justify something just because its 'the system'. Rules / laws are to help the public to support them, rather than to make it more difficult, and in this case to benefit some business entity.

PS: I am 'wrong' according to a backward system that is in place. In my mind I was ripped off, and there's probably more people who would agree with me than with you, but there's no democracy at that level in this society, just capitalism! :rolleyes:

Rainman1 · 20-01-2009 10:56AM

This system is a total disaster, another fine, this time for non payment.
Having gone online and paid the toll, I've discovered that their system didn't process the payment and now they've issued a €40 fine, as I disputed the first €3 fine. As they don't issue receipts via email or otherwise, you don't know if their system has accepted the payment, obviously a webpage acknowledging payment means diddly squat as their system is ****e. Has anyone else had this problem ?. Now I have to make sure to get a screenshot of the webpage each time, to prove that I went online to pay, I will send them a cheque for the €3 and they can shove their fines where the sun doesn't shine. Do the government provide training for companies to be this unbelievably incompetent, or is it just natural talent ?.

Furp · 20-01-2009 11:43AM

We hare two tags ourselves so we don't have that many problems but the eflow website is terrible it has not let me view my account correctly in weeks since it was transferred for eazy pass.

another thing is that I had not used the M50 at night in a while and I could not belive that they do not have the signs over the toll gantry lit at night which in the winter months is considerable amount of time at least they should have electronic signs above the gantry where people not familiar with the toll could read them as this is more in there line of sight rather then the roadside notices.

Bluefoam · 20-01-2009 12:01PM

Okay, I've had enough... Am going to register, but am thinking of going for the video option...

Can anyone suggest the best method & operator for me...

I work very near the toll on the M50. When I travel southbound I go through Lucan & if I go northbound I go through Blanchardstown - so I rarely need to use the toll. However, on occassion I do, but where I work and in the surrounding areas, there is nowhere to pay the toll & I have been caught out a couple of times and had to pay the ****ty fine.

Is the video option worth while & can it be used on other toll roads?

Voodoomelon · 20-01-2009 12:53PM

I went through the M50 tolls on Friday and forgot to pay the fee the next day, what are the penalties like? Do I really have to wait to get a penalty in the post to find out what it is? Is there any point in paying the toll now?

Bluefoam · 20-01-2009 12:56PM

Bluefoam wrote: »

Okay, I've had enough... Am going to register, but am thinking of going for the video option...

Can anyone suggest the best method & operator for me...

I work very near the toll on the M50. When I travel southbound I go through Lucan & if I go northbound I go through Blanchardstown - so I rarely need to use the toll. However, on occassion I do, but where I work and in the surrounding areas, there is nowhere to pay the toll & I have been caught out a couple of times and had to pay the ****ty fine.

Is the video option worth while & can it be used on other toll roads?

Had a read back through the thread and decided to register for a video account - the website wouldn't even let me fill out the form, let alone submit it. Every time I clicked on the video option the site crashed. So I rang them, account now registered - let the problems begin!

Rainman1 · 20-01-2009 01:02PM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I went through the M50 tolls on Friday and forgot to pay the fee the next day, what are the penalties like? Do I really have to wait to get a penalty in the post to find out what it is? Is there any point in paying the toll now?

Do nothing for the moment, you're outside the time limit so will be hit for a €3 fine anyway (€6 total), if you volunteer the €3, they will probably hit for another €3. However, their system is so crap, your car might have slipped through, or the plate misread and some other unfortunate billed for your crossing, so I'd have a tendancy to wait for the letter.

Slig · 20-01-2009 01:42PM

Sorry for being lazy but there is 54 pages and I only got through the first 6!!!
Is there any way to register to cross the troll bridge without a tag. I'll only be using it twice (once to the airport and once back) so I dont want to buy a tag.

The registering for the video recognition with e-flow sounds the best suited but is there still a €1 per month maintenance fee?
if so
Is there a payzone area at the airport?

thecommander · 20-01-2009 01:47PM

Slig wrote: »

Sorry for being lazy but there is 54 pages and I only got through the first 6!!!
Is there any way to register to cross the troll bridge without a tag. I'll only be using it twice (once to the airport and once back) so I dont want to buy a tag.

The registering for the video recognition with e-flow sounds the best suited but is there still a €1 per month maintenance fee?
if so
Is there a payzone area at the airport?

First Google Result

Seth Brundle · 20-01-2009 03:06PM

http://payzone.ie/

Voodoomelon · 20-01-2009 07:09PM

Rainman1 wrote: »

Do nothing for the moment, you're outside the time limit so will be hit for a €3 fine anyway (€6 total), if you volunteer the €3, they will probably hit for another €3. However, their system is so crap, your car might have slipped through, or the plate misread and some other unfortunate billed for your crossing, so I'd have a tendancy to wait for the letter.

Thanks for that. How long do they take to send out the letter do you know? As in, as the days/weeks go by with me waiting, presumably the fine increases?

el diablo · 21-01-2009 01:59AM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Thanks for that. How long do they take to send out the letter do you know? As in, as the days/weeks go by with me waiting, presumably the fine increases?

usually straight away.

towger · 21-01-2009 09:44AM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Thanks for that. How long do they take to send out the letter do you know? As in, as the days/weeks go by with me waiting, presumably the fine increases?

They are really on the ball ...... in many cases they send it out BEFORE you have even driven on the M50 ..... they are psychic !:p

Savman · 22-01-2009 06:58PM

Have to say the new eazypass/etrip site is absolutely horrendous.

Voodoomelon · 23-01-2009 02:14AM

Well, I got my fine, €6 on top of the €6 I should have paid. The gits got me!

confuzed · 26-01-2009 03:45PM

sorry guys, if it has been asked before.
Actually I was overcharged €49 in the month of September and after couple of letters and numerous phone calls, still waiting for my refund.:mad:

I complained consumer association and got reply- we are receiving large number of complaints against eflow that are under investigation; your complaint will be dealt as a part of general enquiry.

Is there any law or agency in this country who can stop these muppets.

Alun · 26-01-2009 03:47PM

I was overcharged too, or rather they double charged me, and got it sorted out literally in a couple of weeks.

leon8v · 26-01-2009 08:09PM

Alun wrote: »

I was overcharged too, or rather they double charged me, and got it sorted out literally in a couple of weeks.

I was also overcharged by about €90. Rang up asked for supervisor, told him it was not acceptable and if it wasnt sorted straight away, I would be cancelling the direct debit and throwing the tag in the bin. It was sorted within a week.
Also had some guy on their unhelpful phoneline tell me that I was legally obliged to pay a fine if it came to it, so I asked him what date I signed for the fine notice, he obviously couldnt tell me as its not sent by registered post so he then backed down.
Surely the whole thing has to be near scrapping at this stage!
When will the annual report be released for 2008?

Alun · 26-01-2009 08:16PM

leon8v wrote: »

I was also overcharged by about €90. Rang up asked for supervisor, told him it was not acceptable and if it wasnt sorted straight away, I would be cancelling the direct debit and throwing the tag in the bin. It was sorted within a week.

I achieved exactly the same result by being polite and patient and without getting irritated or threatening to the person on the other end of the phone, who has got nothing to do with the mess their systems are in. Do unto others etc. Karma and all that.

leon8v · 26-01-2009 08:28PM

Alun wrote: »

I achieved exactly the same result by being polite and patient and without getting irritated or threatening to the person on the other end of the phone, who has got nothing to do with the mess their systems are in. Do unto others etc. Karma and all that.

I was polite, patient and didnt get irritated for probably the first 30 or so times I have been onto them. When you are dealing with them on an almost daily basis its hard to remain patient with all of their mistakes.
I told the guy on the phone that I wasnt blaming him personally but at the same time I wanted it sorted.

I wouldnt really find them sorting the problem "literally in a couple of weeks" as being acceptable either.

qwert2 · 29-01-2009 09:17PM

I got a letter in the post today from eflow's solicitors asking me to pay a fine of 147 euros. I remember paying the toll fee of 3 Euro online. However I got a number of letters since from eflow reminding me to pay it and charging me 40 euro for late payment. When I phoned them and told them I did pay it online thay said that's grand, once I can provide proof of payment. Anyway I checked my bank statements today and can't find evidence of the 3 euro payment for the toll. I'm ****ed, looks like I'll have to pay the 147 :mad:

Carawaystick · 29-01-2009 11:52PM

Well if you have one er, witness who can remember you paying, that's one more witness more than they have.

remember only a court can fine you.

ART6 · 30-01-2009 03:48AM

If you paid it on line, there should be a record of it hidden in the dark recesses of your computer I would expect. Computers have, as Gary Glitter discovered, a habit of recording everything in hidden files;)

leon8v · 30-01-2009 10:11AM

I am just looking at one of the online payment receipts from the huge file of Eflow crap i have accumulated since it started. There is a reference number and a payment number, an amount and a date and the last 4 digits of a credit card.
There is no mention of a reg number or a time of travel or indeed the original toll notice. Only for I stapled it to the toll notice I would have no idea which one it relates to.
If you were able to produce " a receipt" from that time, I know the reference number when checked would show a different reg number when investigated but surely a good solicitor would be able to argue the amount of mistakes their system makes means it cant be relied on to be completely accurate?
Not suggesting this but rather just throwing it out there for discussion!

Stky10 · 31-01-2009 01:17AM

ART6 wrote: »

If you paid it on line, there should be a record of it hidden in the dark recesses of your computer I would expect. Computers have, as Gary Glitter discovered, a habit of recording everything in hidden files;)

Gary Glitters "special" files weren't all that hidden according to reports based on the number of files he had.

@qwert2 you can try searching your browser history, but its probably been deleted by now, and would only show up the page link rather than its contents.

Run_to_da_hills · 02-02-2009 03:37AM

It will be interesting to see if the ANPR's will recognize snow covered registration plates.

The M50 Barrier Free Tolling Thread

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