'Humber Bridge fined us unfairly'

People who believe they were "unfairly fined" after crossing the Humber Bridge have criticised a new payment system.

Toll booths were scrapped in February, with drivers being asked to pay digitally, by phone or via PayPoint.

But motorist Lee Stearman, from Barton-upon-Humber, said he believed there was "a fault with the system" after he received an unpaid toll charge of £27 on 6 March, despite having sufficient credit on his bridge app to pay for the crossing.

A spokesperson for the Humber Bridge Board said the new system suffered "some teething problems" shortly after launch and encouraged anyone who felt they had been charged incorrectly to appeal.

Stearman, 37, said he immediately knew there had been an error when he received the penalty notice.

He appealed online and was told the charge would be rescinded as a "gesture of goodwill".

"They said, on this occasion, they'll let me off," he said. "It's my fault, but they'll let me off."

Stearman wrote about his experience on social media and said the post "blew up", with hundreds of comments from people, some describing similar experiences.

"This needs dealing with and it needs dealing with now," he added.

The Humber Bridge Board closed its toll booths after 40 years on 30 January.

Motorists now have to pay in advance, or before midnight on the day after their crossing, by using an app, website, phone or Paypoint outlet.

Those who fail to do so can be charged a £25 administration fee, as well as the cost of their crossing.

Mandy Osborne, 53, from Broughton, said she paid in advance using a Paypoint service in Beverley on 8 February, the day of her crossing.

However, on 6 March she received a letter charging her £27 for an unpaid toll.

"I've got the proof that the payment came out," she said. "I just thought, well, I know I've paid."

Osborne has appealed and is waiting to hear the outcome, but believes the system needs "a good shake up".

She said some people would be worried if they received a letter telling them they had failed to pay.

"People that aren't quite techy, they're going to panic," she added.

The bridge board's spokesperson said there had been an estimated 1.2 million crossings since the new system went live in early February.

"Out of these, 94% were paid for within the timescale required to avoid an unpaid toll notification.

"However, we accept that as a brand-new system, Humber Bridge Toll did suffer some teething problems shortly after launch, and therefore, some people may feel they have received the admin fee unfairly. We would encourage them to appeal the decision so we can investigate."

The spokesperson said appeals were considered on a case-by-case basis and the charge would be frozen until the outcome had been decided.

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