Merseyfow – the new bridge with a toll-less payment system between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire – is costing fleets using traditional offline payment means.

Merseyflow’s new toll system catching fleets out

A significant impact has been witnessed by All Fleet Online, on the numbers of fines being processed and estimate in excess of £62k in penalties for customers has been paid since the toll opened in October.

If owners fail to make payment before midnight the day after crossing the bridge, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued with a £40 charge, which reduces to £22 if paid within 14 days – not often possible for fleets using traditional offline payment methods, says All Fleet Online.

Dan Mallier Director of All Fleet Online states: “Across all customers we have seen Merseyflow penalties account for over 7% of fines processed and managed nearly 3,000 since the bridge opened.

“It’s having an impact on us, but more importantly on costs and resources for our customers.

“It has further highlighted the need for a more effective, technology based solution for fine processing like Fleet Fine Online.”

The new bridge operates a system similar to that of the Dartford Crossing’s DART payment scheme, which moved to a physical toll-free online payment system in November 2014 and requires customers to either pay in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.