Dart Charge Extends Payment Deadline After Website Chaos
Dart Charge, the system handling payments for the Dartford Crossing, has pushed back its payment and card re-validation deadlines following major website glitches.
Technical Troubles Leave Drivers Stranded
After recent maintenance, thousands of drivers struggled to log into the Dart Charge website. The site’s downtime meant many could not pay for their journeys, sparking fears of hefty fines as the original deadlines loomed.
Deadline Moves to August Amid Apologies
In response, National Highways, responsible for the crossing, apologised to customers. They announced new deadlines:
- Account holders have until 31 August to update card details.
- Non-account holders who crossed between 27 July and 14 August must pay by 15 August.
Pay As You Go users and account holders must revalidate cards to avoid penalties. The initial cut-off was 28 July.
System Upgrade to Blame — but Help is on the Way
Dart Charge revealed the disruption came during crucial system upgrades. Vehicle ID, payment, and account management are shifting to new provider Conduent, while Emovis continues handling penalty charge queries.
“The websites and customer contact centres are all operating. We apologise for the service issues users have faced over the last few days and have implemented service improvements,” a Dart Charge spokesperson said. “While customers may still experience short delays, the average online wait time is now less than 5 minutes.”
“We have further extended payment deadlines to ensure everyone has sufficient time to pay the charge.”
Dart Charge and National Highways thank drivers for their patience and stress that the maintenance is essential to keep the system running smoothly going forward.
