Later this month, the long awaited Mersey Gateway will open to the public. The Mersey Gateway and the Silver Jubilee Bridges will both be tolled. The tolling system is called Merseyflow and will be operated by Emovis who operate the Dartford Crossing. In the same way as the Dartford Crossing, if payment of the toll is not paid by midnight the day after the crossing a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued for the amount of £40 (plus the unpaid toll fee). This sum will be reduced to a discounted rate of £20 if paid within the first 14 days of being issued. If the Penalty Charge Notice has still not been paid after this 28-day period, then the fee that must be paid is increased to £60 if it is paid within the following 14 days. If the Penalty remains unpaid beyond this 42-day period, then the penalty will be registered as a civil debt and if unpaid after another 36 days, recovery action will begin. In the same way as the public can open a Dart Charge account, motorists using the Mersey Gateway will need to open a Merseyflow account. Their website is below https://www.merseyflow.co.uk

Today I received an invoice from the company that operates the Severn Bridge. My vehicle, which I was not driving at the time, used the wrong lane paying £6.20 instead of £12.40. The "invoice" is for £119.20, less £80 "debt recovery fee" if paid within 7 days. The "invoice" is made up of: Outstanding toll £6.20 DVLA Search fee £3.00 Admin Fee £30.00 Debt Recovery Fee £80.00 The company backs this up with reference to Section 14 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992. Again, I was not the driver, but I know who was. Any advice/help gratefully received. Section 14: 14 Payment regulations and offences. (1)The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a)designate places within the toll plaza areas at which tolls (other than tolls with respect to which a pre-payment has been made) are to be paid, (b)make provision as to the persons by whom, and the manner in which, such tolls are to be paid, ©make provision for securing that vehicles in respect of which tolls are leviable do not use either of the bridges without payment of the tolls, and (d)make provision for preventing a vehicle which, having used one of the bridges, has arrived at the place at which a toll is payable in respect of it from proceeding beyond that place without the toll having been paid. (2)Regulations made under this section shall provide for a notice, specifying— (a)the categories of vehicles in respect of which tolls are leviable, (b)the amount of the tolls in respect of each category, and ©other provisions in accordance with which tolls are leviable,to be displayed at each place designated in accordance with subsection (1)(a) above. (3)Regulations under this section may include provisions modifying the general provisions of the regulations in the case of vehicles in relation to which a pre-payment of tolls has been made. (4)A person who without reasonable excuse— (a)refuses or fails to pay a toll for which he is liable, or (b)attempts to evade payment of such a toll,shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. (5)A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of regulations under this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Just received a letter from Midland Expressway Limited saying that I have unpaid tolls due: £20.60 This is a total of 4 unpaid tolls dating from: 22nd Dec 2012 23rd Dec 2012 24th Dec 2012 1st Jan 2013 Quick explanation of these unpaid tolls, I have 2 bank accounts, the main account which I pay everything from is the card I have always used on the toll road, I never had any problems with it until around the end of November when it would spit the card out and not move the barrier. So I switched to my credit card for that time. Didn't like the thought of using a credit card for something that trivial as I always have it on hand for bigger stuff. So the next time i went (22nd Dec 2012) I switched to my 2nd account card which I use for emergencies etc, dont have to worry about paying it back and its much less of a hassle than the credit card. Had no problem with this, card went in, card came out, barrier went up, off i go. Now on the 24th of January.... I get this letter DATED 17TH JAN saying that I may or may not be aware that my card has been declined for those 4 payments and that I have until the 25th January (tomorrow!) to pay up or they will instigate legal proceedings. What I came here for is to ask: Does this mean I have all of tomorrow to pay or will they take 12:01 tomorrow morning as "I have ignored the letter"? They saw over a month ago that the card failed 3 times.... yet they wait until now!