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Debt collectors seeking unpaid Dart Charge fines have been accused of harassment and intimidation by drivers who claim the fines were issued in error. National Highways, which oversees Dart Charge, has stated that it is “working hard” to address these problems. Reports suggest that some drivers have faced account problems and hefty penalties. National Highways argues that the majority of fines are paid on time and that “enforcement agents are only used as a last resort.”
One driver from East London, Rachel Canning, reported that she had received six penalty notices for the Dart Charge. Although four of these were overturned, the other two had not appeared on her online account. When she challenged these two, she received no response from Dart and assumed they were cancelled. However, she later received a notice demanding £385 from Dart contractor, CDER Group. A bailiff from the company then arrived at her home and demanded £620, threatening to clamp her car if she did not pay.
Aneta Wasilewska from Grays in Essex is another driver who claims to have suffered. Despite being on the resident discount scheme, Ms. Wasilewska’s account was closed without her knowledge. She unwittingly incurred 39 fines which did not arrive until late November, and when she subsequently contacted Dart Charge, her efforts to resolve the issue failed. Eventually, a CDER Group bailiff came to her home, claiming she owed £7,800.
Firefighter Andy Coote had Dart Charge problems spanning more than 10 months. While he had an automatic top-up account for commutes between Kent and London, he was initially unaware that he had received any fines since his post was being redirected to his daughter’s house for personal reasons. Later, he was told he owed £2,500, and he accused the CDER Group of using “intimidating” practices.
Over the past five years, bailiffs have collected £112 million for 2.3 million penalty notices on behalf of Dart Charge. During the first nine months of 2024, the number of fines and cases passed to enforcement firms was higher than in any of the past five years. Baliffing fees are set by law, and National Highways claims that “enforcement agents are only used as a last resort.
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