Tyne Tunnel fine exceeds £300 for 'worried' driver after confusion over toll payment system

An Edinburgh man is facing a hefty fine after travelling through the Tyne Tunnel without understanding the toll payment process.

Jim Maguire said he had cash in his hand ready to pay for his first Tyne Tunnel passage in 25 years as he made his way to North Yorkshire on June 22. But as he approached the entrance of the tunnel he was confused to see that all toll booths had been removed and there was no area to pay.

And now he has been issued with a £354.80 fine and has received a bailiff letter after having his appeal rejected by TT2, which operates the Tyne Tunnels.

The 71-year-old said: "I genuinely thought that I had given a reasonable explanation and I would be able to pay the £4.80. But they just keep harassing and intimidating. It's quite intimidating when you see the tone of the letters. I'm not that well off and I'm worried about paying this.

"Any reasonable person looking at this would have understood that there wasn't any intention to avoid paying the toll. But there's just no understanding."

Jim, who described the situation as having "a sense of Mr Bates v The Post Office about it" added: "We're up to £300-£400 now for a £4.80 toll. The whole thing is so unfeeling, unthinking, bureaucratic and blind. It's like orders must be obeyed and if they're not we'll crucify you."

Jim said that he noticed signs on his approach to the tunnel which detailed the toll charge for various vehicles, however, missed any signs explaining how to pay. As a result, he assumed that the charge had since been suspended or abolished, similar to action taken by the Scottish Government in 2008 which abolished toll roads and bridges in Scotland.

A TT2 spokesperson said the signs informing drivers of how to pay the toll are "plentiful", adding that there are 18 signs heading northbound and 16 signs heading southbound about the toll.

Jim said: "I expected there to be a toll because I was in England and I had been through the tunnel before about 25 years ago. I thought there would be a toll booth so as I approached the tunnel I was looking at the signs which gave you the amount for each car, bus and commercial vehicle. I don't remember seeing anything about paying by phone.

"I turned to my partner and said it's £2.40 so she went into her purse and got the correct money. I was driving up to the tunnel with £2.40 in my hand."

He added: "I could see a layby but it was marked for HGVs only so I just drove on, got to the entrance of the tunnel, drove through and got out the other side. I didn't see anything explaining that if you don't know how to pay go on your mobile.

"Obviously regular users of the tunnel will be used to paying by their phone. I just assumed that although they had signs up about the toll that it had been abolished in England as well, or suspended for one reason or another."

After five days in North Yorkshire, Jim returned home to Edinburgh via the Tyne Tunnel without being aware of the toll payment system and incurred another penalty notice. He received the penalty notice through the post on July 1 and decided to appeal the charge, which was rejected.

By August 26 Jim had received a final notice for £102.40 per journey as he continued to try and appeal the decision from TT2 via email. The penalty notice has now risen to £354.80 after the matter has been passed to a debt collection agency.

Jim said: "I feel like I am up against some faceless, remorseless, unfeeling monster.

"I genuinely thought it was just a hassle and I'm going to have to explain the situation and then they'll cancel it. I never thought that it would get to this."

A spokesperson for TT2 said: "The signs informing drivers that they must pay their toll by midnight tomorrow, and how to pay, are plentiful - there are 18 signs heading northbound and 16 signs heading southbound.

"The signage has been designed and approved by the relevant transport authorities, as well as independent transport body Transport Focus.

"Mr Maguire confirms that he saw the signs telling him a toll was payable but did not pay. Unfortunately, costs are incurred for every driver who does not pay their toll. Unpaid Toll Charge Notices (UTCN) are used to cover the expense of toll recovery for non-payers.

"Around 97.54% of our customers pay their toll on time. The toll pays for the operation and maintenance of both tunnels and the re-payment of the debt used to pay for building the second Tyne Tunnel."

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