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New M50 prices

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  • 17-08-2008 1:03pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭


    Directing people here:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=56931346&posted=1#post56931346

    It's going to cost a lot more to travel along the M50 when the toll barriers come down next week.

    You can register for a tag, which you have to *rent* for €12 a year (why?) *as well as* paying the €2 toll every time you go through the toll area.

    Or you can register your licence number, and then you pay €2.50 every time you go through - a 20% rise in the payment to the NTR, when they're going to *save* money by not having to employ staff at the barriers, keep the barriers running and pay the energy costs for them, or count all those coins.

    Or you can do neither and pay €3 per journey!

    Where is Consumer Affairs? Are they out there?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,559 ✭✭✭Tipsy Mac


    It's actually gone up by more than 20%, the price no longer is subject to 21% VAT as the money is going directly to the government.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,886 ✭✭✭cgarvey


    luckat wrote: »
    It's going to cost a lot more to travel along the M50 when the toll barriers come down next week.
    Like lots of other products & services!
    luckat wrote: »
    *rent* for €12 a year (why?)

    To pay for the ongoing costs associated with it (web site, invoicing, etc.). €12 might be a bit steep, granted, but there are costs involved.
    luckat wrote: »
    a 20% rise in the payment to the NTR
    Did you miss the bit in the news where the NTR contract was bought out?
    luckat wrote: »
    they're going to *save* money by not having to employ staff at the barriers, keep the barriers running and pay the energy costs for them, or count all those coins.
    Right, but they're also going to have back office system costs, licensing, credit card merchant fees, and ongoing camera/sensor/network costs to pay for (nevermind motoroway costs)

    Someone has to pay for the motorway upgrade and ongoing costs. This seems like a step forward (barrier free tolling, 3rd/4th lanes, free-flow junctions) and paid for locally. If you don't think the government is doing an efficient job, then that's an entirely different debate.


  • Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Depends on your definition of "a lot" . Most of us probably lose €12 a year in change throiugh various means.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    'Most of us' may, but if one company were to gather up all those twelveses, it would make a lot of money.

    NTR will already be getting higher fees in any case, why on earth should people have to subsidise it further.

    I keep harking back to this, but in Malaysia, an 850km motorway, including a fibre optic cable all the way along, took four years to build.

    The government contracted the job to a private company, to build and operate the road for 30 years - so the faster it built the road, the faster it could start charging tolls.

    The tolls were strictly limited by the government.

    I don't at all mind paying for a service, but paying a fee that is slapped on top of that, and for which I get nothing, annoys the hell out of me.


  • Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Luckat wrote: »
    'Most of us' may, but if one company were to gather up all those twelveses, it would make a lot of money. .

    So the companies providing the tag should do it for the love of the game?
    cgarvey wrote: »
    NTR will already be getting higher fees in any case, why on earth should people have to subsidise it further. .



    cgarvey wrote: »
    Did you miss the bit in the news where the NTR contract was bought out?

    .


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    For motorbikes anyway
    Take the hint OP, come join us :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,430 ✭✭✭JohnC.


    luckat wrote: »
    NTR will already be getting higher fees in any case, why on earth should people have to subsidise it further.

    How do you keep missing the fact that NTR are no longer running it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    I keep missing it because I didn't know it. Who's running what now?

    No, I don't think companies should do their work without profit. But I don't think they should get extra profit on top of that profit either.

    Wiki has NTR owning the M50 toll bridge, and Irish Broadband as a subsidiary of NTR; has this changed?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    luckat wrote: »
    I keep missing it because I didn't know it. Who's running what now?

    No, I don't think companies should do their work without profit. But I don't think they should get extra profit on top of that profit either.

    Wiki has NTR owning the M50 toll bridge, and Irish Broadband as a subsidiary of NTR; has this changed?

    It will change on August 31st when the Government buy NTR out of the contract. From then on, the all the toll-tag companies will be collecting the toll on behalf of the Government.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    Ah, so it's the *Government* that's going to be ripping us off. What a relief.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    luckat wrote: »
    Ah, so it's the *Government* that's going to be ripping us off. What a relief.

    How? The toll is still €2.

    OIh and the government is a real thing btw. Not some makey uppy "company"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    The toll isn't still €2.

    If you have the tag, it's €2 per journey, plus €12 a year.

    If you register your licence plate (can't see on their website how to do this without getting a tag), it's €2.50 per journey.

    If you don't register your licence plate, it's €3 per journey.

    As I said, I travel through the toll bridge about twice a month - once on my way to the airport, and once on the way back. Either I pay €1 extra a month by buying the tag, or I pay €1 extra a month by registering my licence plates. Oh, or don't register them and get to pay €2 extra a month. Free money for the comp - oops, the Government.

    But if you're happy to be charged extra, that's fine. I'm happy for you too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    luckat wrote: »
    The toll isn't still €2.

    If you have the tag, it's €2 per journey, plus €12 a year.

    If you register your licence plate (can't see on their website how to do this without getting a tag), it's €2.50 per journey.

    If you don't register your licence plate, it's €3 per journey.

    As I said, I travel through the toll bridge about twice a month - once on my way to the airport, and once on the way back. Either I pay €1 extra a month by buying the tag, or I pay €1 extra a month by registering my licence plates. Oh, or don't register them and get to pay €2 extra a month. Free money for the comp - oops, the Government.

    But if you're happy to be charged extra, that's fine. I'm happy for you too.


    The toll is still €2. Te €12 is the service charege on the account for the tag.

    How is the government making more?


    If your making more than 12 journeys a year it's cheaper to register. Why would you not register?

    €12 a year is not going to bankrupt anyon who can afford a car and the toll in the first place. Especially when you factor in th reduced cost of time and petrol from not sitting for hours queing.

    luckat wrote: »

    But if you're happy to be charged extra, that's fine. I'm happy for you too.


    Whos going to pay the companies to supply and run the tags and billign systms?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    The toll is not more.

    The price *is* more.

    If the company were charging in what I personally would regard as a correct way, it would charge a small fee for issuing the tag, but not charge rent for it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,611 ✭✭✭✭Sam Vimes


    agreed. I have no problem buying a tag but this idea of renting it is really pissing me off. I'm paying for the inconvenience and cost involved in having my personal details stored in a database somewhere. Bullshit tbh


  • Registered Users Posts: 18,990 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    luckat wrote: »
    The toll is not more.

    The price *is* more.

    If the company were charging in what I personally would regard as a correct way, it would charge a small fee for issuing the tag, but not charge rent for it.
    Sam Vimes wrote: »
    agreed. I have no problem buying a tag but this idea of renting it is really pissing me off. I'm paying for the inconvenience and cost involved in having my personal details stored in a database somewhere. Bullshit tbh

    You can buy a tag off tolltag.ie for €30, but they will charge you a 10% commission on all the toll roads if you use this.

    The toll is a scam and unfortunately the only way not to pay it is to not use the M50. The goverement fcuked up and now we the public are paying for it, but there is nothing we can do as they have already signed the deal.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,611 ✭✭✭✭Sam Vimes


    Del2005 wrote: »
    You can buy a tag off tolltag.ie for €30, but they will charge you a 10% commission on all the toll roads if you use this.

    The toll is a scam and unfortunately the only way not to pay it is to not use the M50. The goverement fcuked up and now we the public are paying for it, but there is nothing we can do as they have already signed the deal.

    so my choices are pay money for nothing or pay more whenever i use the bridge to avoid paying money for nothing. would i be right in saying that the government could have built the bridge for a fraction of the money that's been given to NTR?

    i now have to do a calculation: if i use the m50 more than 60 times a year, i'd be better off paying the money for nothing than paying the 10% surcharge


    i wish we lived in france. their government doesn't get away with bollocks like this because the whole country grind to a halt because the people have just set fire to large parts of it

    edit:my new route:
    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=M50+%4053.351109,+-6.385638&daddr=Lower+Lucan+Rd%2FR109+%4053.363289,+-6.440571+to:Clonsilla+Rd%2FR121+%4053.383011,+-6.409778+to:Blanchardstown+Bypass%2FN3+%4053.389787,+-6.377259+to:53.389671,-6.351589&hl=en&geocode=14120338630293444766,53.351109,-6.385638%3B18296663419815347112,53.363289,-6.440571%3B986030379400087125,53.383011,-6.409778%3B3832749307073778066,53.389787,-6.377259&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=17&sll=53.388793,-6.353896&sspn=0.004754,0.013947&ie=UTF8&ll=53.377901,-6.365204&spn=0.076085,0.22316&z=13

    i'd rather do that than pay the 20c to those c*nts


  • Registered Users Posts: 252 ✭✭STUBBORNGIRL


    Sorry for being clueless about this but i only use the M50 on odd occasion - bout 4times a year if even that!HAve i gotten this right?? if i register for the tag that is costing me 12euro and 2euro for every time i use ithe M50 so lets say 4*2=8euro so overall my cost in the year is 20euro! Now if i dont register its 3*4 = 12euro! that is a saving of 8euro!! AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE???

    Sometimes i miss the exit for liffey Valley and end up at the toll to pay (rarely happens but i have been known to do it) if i havent bought that tag how do i pay the 3euro??

    Again im sorry but it doesnt make much sense to me at all!


  • Registered Users Posts: 18,990 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Sorry for being clueless about this but i only use the M50 on odd occasion - bout 4times a year if even that!HAve i gotten this right?? if i register for the tag that is costing me 12euro and 2euro for every time i use ithe M50 so lets say 4*2=8euro so overall my cost in the year is 20euro! Now if i dont register its 3*4 = 12euro! that is a saving of 8euro!! AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE???

    Sometimes i miss the exit for liffey Valley and end up at the toll to pay (rarely happens but i have been known to do it) if i havent bought that tag how do i pay the 3euro??

    Again im sorry but it doesnt make much sense to me at all!

    Your best bet is to go with video registration. It charges you €2.50 whenever you cross the bridge, taken from your bank. So instead of paying €20 you'll pay €10.

    http://eflow.ie/Payment/OpenAccount.aspx


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,215 ✭✭✭galah


    and all the tourists, foreign reg cars and tampered-with license plate holders go free (on top of not paying road tax) - that annoys me the most.

    Also, is it just me or does the government consistently miss opportunities to make money?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 18,990 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Sam Vimes wrote: »
    so my choices are pay money for nothing or pay more whenever i use the bridge to avoid paying money for nothing. would i be right in saying that the government could have built the bridge for a fraction of the money that's been given to NTR?

    i now have to do a calculation: if i use the m50 more than 60 times a year, i'd be better off paying the money for nothing than paying the 10% surcharge


    i wish we lived in france. their government doesn't get away with bollocks like this because the whole country grind to a halt because the people have just set fire to large parts of it

    edit:my new route:
    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=M50+%4053.351109,+-6.385638&daddr=Lower+Lucan+Rd%2FR109+%4053.363289,+-6.440571+to:Clonsilla+Rd%2FR121+%4053.383011,+-6.409778+to:Blanchardstown+Bypass%2FN3+%4053.389787,+-6.377259+to:53.389671,-6.351589&hl=en&geocode=14120338630293444766,53.351109,-6.385638%3B18296663419815347112,53.363289,-6.440571%3B986030379400087125,53.383011,-6.409778%3B3832749307073778066,53.389787,-6.377259&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=17&sll=53.388793,-6.353896&sspn=0.004754,0.013947&ie=UTF8&ll=53.377901,-6.365204&spn=0.076085,0.22316&z=13

    i'd rather do that than pay the 20c to those c*nts


    Yep, the goverment are screwing us and the route you've shown is the only other option. The only problem with that route is there is no way in hell that it can be done in 9min, even in the middle of the night.

    My question is how much do you value your time? Because you are wasting a lot of it and petrol/diesel to spite the goverment 20c. Also you would proberly give the goverment more money if you drove that route as they get most of the price you pay for fuel.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,611 ✭✭✭✭Sam Vimes


    Del2005 wrote: »
    Yep, the goverment are screwing us and the route you've shown is the only other option. The only problem with that route is there is no way in hell that it can be done in 9min, even in the middle of the night.

    My question is how much do you value your time? Because you are wasting a lot of it and petrol/diesel to spite the goverment 20c. Also you would proberly give the goverment more money if you drove that route as they get most of the price you pay for fuel.

    it's grand for me because i live down that way anyway so i would never really be doing the whole route. i often go that way anyway to avoid traffic but you're right that in the middle of the night it'd be faster to go the m50 way


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,123 ✭✭✭stepbar


    I signed up for one of the etoll tags. I only use the M4 once or twice a month. Even with the admin fee, I will save money a "small" amount of money. TBH I don't have a problem with the toll on the M4. With the M4 I save a hour on my journey. As for the east / west link I'm not so sure.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,716 ✭✭✭brightkane


    galah wrote: »
    tampered-with license plate holders go free


    I would imagine a big increase on tampered with plates, using masking tape on digits ect. I know alot of it gos on with the fill up and drive off at petrol station racket.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,430 ✭✭✭JohnC.


    What other roads have tolls? The ads say these tags work on all the toll roads. The only one I am actually aware of is the M50. I know the new Waterford bypass will have one when that eventually opens. Are there many more?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    There's one on the way to Galway, anyway. I think there's one on the road from Bray into town.


  • Registered Users Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Sam Vimes wrote: »

    i wish we lived in france. their government doesn't get away with bollocks like this because the whole country grind to a halt because the people have just set fire to large parts of it

    France is full of toll roads.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,641 ✭✭✭paconnors


    personally myself i'd prefer the tags it will stop some cu*t robbing my plates. the Nra can't rebill you if you have signed for a tag can they


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    Oh, I'd much sooner the tag. But it shouldn't be a way of breastfeeding the government and the company money.

    You should be able to buy it, flat - and then pay tolls using it.

    The idea that 'administering' a million e-accounts is more expensive than counting coins, paying the energy for toll barriers, having staff costs on the toll 'plazas', etc is a makey-uppy.

    It's just that the word 'robbery' comes so naturally to the lips of our betters when they hear the word 'highway'.


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