Despite having an automatic top-up account for commutes between Kent and London, firefighter Andy Coote’s Dart Charge problems lasted more than ten months.
He was initially unaware he had received any fines because, for personal reasons, his post was being redirected to his daughter’s house.
By early May, he realised he had 34 fines. He paid them and contacted Dart Charge to ensure there were “no more in the system”.
But two days later he received an enforcement notice from CDER Group demanding £875 for 10 unpaid PCNs.
Two more penalties followed and, along with bailiff fees, Andy was told he owed £2,500.
He set up a monthly payment plan to try and clear the bill.
Andy, who admits he is not “good with computers”, says his boss was “amazing” and took time out to help him challenge each of the outstanding fines.
The stress of the Dart fines was “10 times more” stressful than his experiences as a firefighter, he says.
He accuses the CDER Group of using “intimidating” practices.
“I used to get four or five texts a day, the first one normally being at 06:00,” he says, adding the messages would warn him of “outstanding finances”.
“Then 15 minutes later the same thing, you get that four times a day, every day,” he adds.
CDER Group says it received “10 separate instructions” from Dart Charge to enforce warrants on Mr Coote which contributed to the number of letters and texts he received.
