Beware of Toll issues

[ymfb]

Today on the motorway between Renne and Le Mans we had a bit of a problem with the tolls. We were only on the Peage for a short distance, two motorbikes, pulled up at the credit card machine to find it doesn't take visa or maestro.

My friend was in front, pulled up, realised the issue and pressed the assistance button, no effing help. Luckily in my top box I had my work MasterCard, but by now the machine had a red flashing light on top. A worker appeared and rebooted the machine, what should have taken 30 secs took probably ten minutes.

So make sure you have a selection of cards available if using the peage.

 

[Davy F]

I got a Saga (cue the old jokes) credit card specifically for going away this year. Went through a few tolls using said card without any problems.

 

[andysdad]

Excuse the maybe dumb question, how much are the tolls compared with car rates? Same, half OR ???

I know I could Google etc.

Thanks in advance.

A

 

[wessie]

did the machine reject the card after attempting the transaction or refuse to accept a card?

I had an instance of the latter recently - this was on a machine where you gave it a ticket first before it sets the toll. I pressed the red button and the operator activated the machine which enabled me to proceed. All I can imagine that happened is that the road sensors did not recognise that a vehicle had entered the lane and had not activated itself - there wasn't a flashing LED on the card reader slot until after the operator intervened.

 

[Blackal]

did the machine reject the card after attempting the transaction or refuse to accept a card?

I had an instance of the latter recently - this was on a machine where you gave it a ticket first before it sets the toll. I pressed the red button and the operator activated the machine which enabled me to proceed. All I can imagine that happened is that the road sensors did not recognise that a vehicle had entered the lane and had not activated itself - there wasn't a flashing LED on the card reader slot until after the operator intervened.

Exactly what happened to me on one toll last week.

The machine refused to accept the ticket until I called for assistance and "magically" - the machine accepted the ticket.

The queue of cars behind me were getting trully pissed off.

Al

 

[Wapping]

Excuse the maybe dumb question, how much are the tolls compared with car rates? Same, half OR ???

Motorcycles are now illegal on French motorways, as they create queues of irate Frenchmen whilst hapless riders contact the operators seeking activation of the ticket machines. They have also been banned from ALL petrol stations as the card readers will not work, especially on Sundays. Under EU legislation, this ban will be extended to ALL member states by June 2015.

For historic data on the relative costs: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/support/toll_rates

Still can't work it out as it's in foreign? OK: http://www.autoroutes.fr/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/Tarifs 2014(3).pdf

There's a helpful picture of a motorbike on the top of the relevant column and pictures of other vehicles, too. Do you recognise them all? It's a fun game to spot them all as you ride along

 

[Den]

There is a little known thing known as cash.
It comes in the form of handily sized pieces of paper and disc shaped metal tokens.
Combinations of these can purchase most things, usually including tolls.

 

[dave hendy]

Motorcycles are now illegal on French motorways, as they create queues of irate Frenchmen whilst hapless riders contact the operators seeking activation of the ticket machines. They have also been banned from ALL petrol stations as the card readers will not work, especially on Sundays. Under EU legislation, this ban will be extended to ALL member states by June 2015.:

Don't let Brussels see this they will think its a good idea.............


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[seadog]

We are just back from the black forest and Vosges mountains, did some peage there and back, In the past I have always used my visa debit (natwest), but this time it was rejected, however my nationwide visa debit was accepted every time.


Mike

 

[dave hendy]

There is a little known thing known as cash.
It comes in the form of handily sized pieces of paper and disc shaped metal tokens.
Combinations of these can purchase most things, usually including tolls.

That works, unless the machine doesn't recognise your bike has pulled up there! That happens quite regularly


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[MikeO]

That works, unless the machine doesn't recognise your bike has pulled up there! That happens quite regularly


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So press the button

It's not rocket surgery

 

[dave hendy]

Da....obviously! But this always takes time and it always seems busy when it happens causing frustration for you and all those behind


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[Deleted account 181015003]

I thought if you go to the automatic toll gate you pay the car rate and its cheaper to use the manual one and the operator selects the motorcycle rate and charges you about half

 

[dave hendy]

Lots are completely unmanned especially at junctions, cost cuts I guess!


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[MikeO]

I thought if you go to the automatic toll gate you pay the car rate and its cheaper to use the manual one and the operator selects the motorcycle rate and charges you about half

No - just check in the display that you are being charged Class 5 - if not, press the button. The operator will see you on the camera and change it to the correct rate...

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Not used the toll roads since 2007 always use the normal a type roads thanks for the update

 

[baroudeur]

If you use them more than a couple of times a year it's probably worth getting a Sanef toll dongle (just don't use the fast lanes because sometimes it doesn't recognise the bike and it WILL charge you the full car rate no matter what).

Super simple and you pay a month later. £5 a month IF you use it during that month, no ongoing costs otherwise.

Saves a whole lot of stress with gloves and cash/cards/machines etc..

 

[Toddmeister]

No - just check in the display that you are being charged Class 5 - if not, press the button. The operator will see you on the camera and change it to the correct rate...

Now that would require me to get out my reading glasses

 

[indylead]

Another hint if you are not being recognized as class 5, or even at all - roll forward/backward slightly to get your engine over the wire sensors on the ground. If you stop too short, it won't even recognize you are there sometimes.
If you are travelling in a group, make sure you go through one at a time, and don't get too close to the bike in front - this may also confuse the sensors as to which class the front bike is.
Also if in a group and the front guy pays for all at a manned booth...they usually expect to drop the barrier between each bike...

Motorcycles are usually half (or even less) than the car rate, I think (south west France around Toulouse, at least).

 

[cookie]

make sure you go through one at a time, and don't get too close to the bike in front

side by side's good