Ripped off drivers outrage at toll overcharging

There was anger and disbelief amongst ripped off local motorists this week after it emerged that 1,500 motorists were overcharged at the Drogheda toll plaza.

Electronic payment tag holders who left the motorway for less than three hours before resuming their journeys should not have been subject to a second charge on returning to the motorway - yet 1,500 customers were charged for 2,000 transactions amounting to €6,000 since April of last year.

Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Fergus O’Dowd, said customers’ trust will be hard won again after 1,500 motorists were overcharged.

In December, Deputy O’Dowd raised concerns with toll operator Celtic Roads Group that motorists were paying over the odds for their journeys.

‘I have just received a letter from Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirming a full audit will be carried out following my representations.

‘I also called for the toll operator- Celtic Roads Group- to face financial penalties for the issue, and TII has confirmed this will take place.

‘Affected customers will also get their money back, but it is not good enough that we cannot trust the toll operator.’ Deputy O’Dowd added: ‘ There are serious questions to be answered here. This incident will also surely raise concerns about toll operations elsewhere in the country.’

Drogheda Councillor Kevin Callan said the latest revelation was an example of ‘extortion at play’. ‘I am absolutely disgusted to learn that people have been overcharged at the automated tolls in Drogheda,’ he said. ‘I have a tag myself and will be checking if I have also been overcharged.

‘ This behaviour is not only negligent but amounts to total lack of procedures in ripping the public off. I have made contact with Transport Minister Shane Ross about this.’