Hi DX, The following quote is taken from my local newspaper.......quote. Tesco's have announced plans to 'fine' misbehaving shoppers at its superstores as part of a new 'Parking Enforcement Scheme. Evidence is the sent to Horizon Parking, who will 'fine' the motorist £25 for breach of rules! Unquote. BJT.

My local Tesco's are going to start fining drivers who park illegally in disabled bays. Staff will be able to download an app which lets them photo cars not displaying disabled badges etc. Tesco's will use a company called Horizon Parking, who will contact the owner to request the £25. Tesco's state that it is not a profit making move! My question is will they (Horizon) be able to enforce the payment? My own feeling is they won't. I think Tesco's would be better off patrolling these areas with their own staff. I have no sympathy for illegal parkers using Disabled bays. BJT.

Sorry to keep on about this, but, this will be the last post on this subject. Today I received another letter from Dart Charge, with a heading, WARNING LETTER. It goes on to say, "Maybe you didn't know about the Dart Charge scheme or simply forgot to pay? If you pay your outstanding crossing charge(s) by 28/12/2017- - we'll cancel this penalty charge notice". We only offer this option on your first penalty charge--so, be sure to pay in the future! I still can't understand why I got a PCN first? Surely the Warning Letter should have been sent out first? The mind boggles! Thanks again. BJT.

Just a quick update. I phoned them just now, to see if I still owed them, was told that the £5 was all I needed to pay as this was my first time! (Thanks DX). So, that's two confirmations from them. I'm happy now. Thanks again for your help. Regards, BJT.

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate your help, and the speed of your responses! Wishing you all a good xmas and a happy new year. Regards, BJT.

Thanks for that. So, I've paid for a crossing that might never take place! And, presumably, by what you say, I'm still liable for the original transgression? Cheers, BJT.

Doh!!! Thanks Dx. Your quite right, I didn't read the website! Just went straight to the payment section! That's good, I can order a takeaway curry now to celebrate! Lol. Thanks again, BJT.

Thanks DX, I do understand what your saying, "if it was a reminder", but, that's the point, it wasn't a reminder, it was a PCN telling me that I had 14 days from the date of the letter to pay £35 plus the cost of using the crossing i.e. £5. Their website didn't indicate anywhere that I would only have to pay the crossing fee within the 14 days. As already stated, you have until midnight the next day to pay the crossing charge, after that, you are in default, hence, £35. I've received the receipt now (online) and it clearly states Payment Type - Credit. Card Type - Visa. Type - Purchase. To me, this would indicate that all I've paid is the actuall fee, not the fine! Oh well, I'll just sit on this and wait, and if I get the notification that my fine is now increased to £70, then, at least I have my receipt to show that I tried to pay, when I appeal. Thanks again, BJT.

Thanks Renegade, no, I don't think it's wrong, I can't understand why they would send a PCN, when a reminder to pay would be sufficient. Having used the crossing, one has until midnight the following day to make the payment. Due to a lapse in memory, I didn't conform, and accepted that I would have to pay the penalty! However, what I don't want is that penalty to be doubled because I failed to respond within the 14 days. I just wonder if any one else has been in the same predicament? Regards, BJT.

Hi all, I received a PCN today from Dart Charge. I don't dispute the charge as I did use the tunnel (both ways), but, forgot to go online to pay! I go online to make the payment, fill in everything they ask for, press continue, and it tells me that £5 has been accepted and I'll receive a receipt later. The PCN clearly states £35 or £70 for late payment, The £5 is, I believe, the actual charge for using the crossing. I decide to use the telephone number they provide, and speak to an agent. Explain what I've done and how I couldn't actually pay the full amount. He tells me that that is all I have to pay because I haven't used the crossing before, and it was just a reminder to pay! It clearly states that, "in addition to the penalty charge you must also pay the applicable Road user charge of £2.50". I can't help thinking that I'll receive another PCN in 28 days, telling me that my fine has increased to £70 for failing to pay within the 14 days! The contravention date was the 3/12/17. The issue date is 14/12/17. Would they really send out a PCN, without expecting full payment? Do you think I should try and contact them again after I receive the receipt for my £5? Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks very much for your quick response. Yes, your right about the estimated mileage, but, didn't realise your company could help you there. Also, didn't realise about the additional insurance premium. I'll get her to talk to her company and contact HMRC. Thanks again. BJT.

:|My wife is a Carer who uses her car to visit clients homes. She's employed by an agency, but, doesn't receive a fuel allowance. She went on the HMRC website and filed what she thought was the appropriate form for claiming fuel allowance. She was told she would have to fill in a tax return form that would also include an expenses form. Being PAYE she had never had to do this before. So, she fills in the form, sent it off, and the next thing is she gets a letter telling her because she put her form in late,she had incurred a £100 fine and had (I think) 14 days in which to pay or it would increase on a daily basis! The fine was paid within the 14 days. We're still not sure how to make the fuel allowance claim as the HMRC sent everything back to her. Also, should she have been fined as an PAYE claimant. The mind boggles!

Whoops, parcel arrived today. It wasn't the sat-nav I expected, but something that my daughter had asked me to get for her. It was this that had incurred the Customs Charges! Needless to say I will be re-Imbursed. Lol. Having said that, GoGroopie still haven't contacted me, still won't answer the phone, and you can't leave a message as their messaging service is full, and cannot take any more messages! Cowboys comes to mind! If, and when, it arrives, I'll let you know if it really was a bargain. Cheers, BJT.

Thanks for the info Silverfox. I look forward to receiving my item on Monday, just to see if it is a bargain, which I doubt. I'll update you Monday. Thanks again, bjt.

I ordered a Sat-Nav from GoGroopie which was advertised at £129.99 reduced to £23.99 plus £4.99 postage. In with my mail today, was a card from Royal Mail, informing me that they couldn't deliver my item, as there was a Customs Charge payable, for the amount of £15.91. I checked out the company that were using GoGroopie to sell their items, and found that they had offices in Wales, but, their headquarters were based in Hong Kong. I couldn't find any telephone contact numbers for the firm. The merchants name was J&Y Ltd. My next option was to contact GoGroopie, who did have a contact number, which, when dialled, just kept ringing and ringing! Ive paid Royal Mail the money, and they will deliver on Monday. I know that even with the Customs charge, its still a good price, but, still feel that I've been had over. I would like to add that i had also emailed GoGroopie, regarding the time scales for delivery, which had been passed. needless to say, i received no reply to my enquiry. I was wondering if anybody else had encountered this sort of problem before, and whether they were successful in being refunded the additional charges?