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A driver recently faced an unexpected toll debt amounting to £20,000 due to what appears to have been an administrative oversight. The individual incurred this large sum after failing to provide the necessary documentation related to a change of vehicle while participating in the Local User Discount Scheme (LUDS).
Merseyflow, the company responsible for managing the toll crossings between Runcorn and Widnes, emphasized the importance of notifying them when a registered vehicle is replaced. Residents eligible for free passage under LUDS must ensure their vehicle details are current to maintain access without charge. The issue arose when the driver changed his car in June 2024 but did not submit proof that the new vehicle still qualified for the scheme.
Following the expiration of his pass in December 2023, the motorist began accumulating penalty charges, which continued until November 2024. These fines, later handed over to a debt collection agency, reportedly covered both the newly acquired vehicle and another one the driver stated he sold back in 2021. Although he eventually supplied the required evidence nine months after the change, allowing Merseyflow to reinstate his free crossing pass, the accumulated fines remained outstanding.
The driver expressed frustration, telling the BBC that he had “done all the right things” but found the situation “very stressed out.” Merseyflow’s spokesperson reiterated the necessity for vehicle owners to immediately inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) when they sell or transfer ownership, as failing to do so can lead to fines up to £1,000. They also clarified that enforcement agents become involved only after multiple unpaid notices and warned drivers not to ignore penalty charge notices, highlighting the significant cost increases once debts are escalated to enforcement stage. In 2025, the Mersey Gateway and the nearby Silver Jubilee Bridge facilitated over 27 million crossings, with approximately 84,000 vehicles passing daily
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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