The Dart Charge payment extension, introduced to assist drivers facing service delays, officially ends today. The additional time was intended to give motorists a chance to pay for crossings made over the past month and avoid fines, but technical problems continue to affect users.
Drivers without a Dart Charge account must pay for crossings made between July 27 and August 14 by midnight on August 15. Those with an account have until August 31 to validate card details for automatic payments.
National Highways has issued a clear warning that failure to meet the deadline or update payment information could result in fines being imposed promptly.
The issues began when the Dart Charge website crashed between July 28 and 30. Although the site was restored, heavy traffic caused significant difficulties for drivers attempting to make payments. Long queues formed on phone lines and online services, prolonging delays.
Social media platforms have seen numerous complaints, including reports of lost balances, missing journey records, failed card revalidations, and even deleted resident permits. National Highways assures that crossings from 6am on July 26 were recorded to accounts, but many users may not see these until after today’s payment deadline.
A National Highways spokesperson said, “We thank road users for their patience during essential maintenance. The average online wait time is now under 5 minutes.” The organisation apologised for the disruption and highlighted ongoing improvements, including the transfer of Dart Charge responsibilities to new provider Conduent. They expressed confidence that these changes will enhance system performance.
Despite the challenges faced, authorities remain committed to improving the payment process for all drivers crossing Dartford.
Originally published by UKNIP.
