This week, I had the utter misfortune to fall foul of another of the precious government's wonderful IT systems!
Since my wife and I were travelling to our French home, via the delightful Dartford Tunnel, I registered her car on my account and paid a further £10 deposit against crossing tolls. Making my total credit nearly £15.00.
When we returned home, after just less than two weeks away, my mountain of post included a Dart Charge Penalty Notice for £70! Mainly since the website had failed to populate my account with my wife's new car data.
And thus, the saga began...
The second day after my return, I immediately paid for two crossings: one for the penalty notice issued: and another for the return journey. (If the toll is paid within a short time after a penalty notice is issued then the penalty charge is vacated out). Just to be sure, I called the supposed "Helpline". In the end, I had to pay once again and since I had not, as yet received a formal penalty notice, I was obviously unable to allocate my second payment against the return crossing. The ONLY way this could -eventually - be unscrambled, was for me to pay a total of three times, and then Dart Charge would in theory, refund my third payment to my bank. I am not holding my breath, meanwhile!
The girlie at the other end of the 'phone, was, to say the least, clueless and couldn't even count, properly! At one time, until I disabused her, she was going to refund three times my payments! She did not even realise the Dart Charge fiasco was a government website! I suggested that since the web address commenced "www.gov etc" then there was a fair chance it was a government facility!
And these clowns honestly maintain they can roll out MTD!
Look! I have just seen Santa and his sleigh, drive across the sky, escorted by a squadron of Flying Pink Pigs!