Defender Toll Charges

[tonic]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has tried to fight the Class 3 rating on Defenders at the tolls. I have just sent an email asking why other 4x4 vehicles are class 2 with similar or greater GVM than a Defer, as they are telling me it is because the GVM is 3.05t. Having looked at the definitions, they are really pulling at straws to put Defers into a commercial vehicle catagory when the class three starts with "Light Commercial Vehicles. Motor vehicles that are registered for commercial use" I have sent a photo of my Defer with a note regarding the registration description " Seats:5, Registration Category: Passenger Car, Purpose of use: Private". I have since been told I should have said it was a series or perentie and this would have gotten around it, oops to late. All I can see is a weak sub definition about being inside the dimensions and boundaries of the class three, GVM 1.5 to 4.5t. My last car a Rodeo ute was 2.6t GVM, class 2 and there are heaps of other similar examples, any ideas. Thanks

[Bundalene]

The toll company I am with use the height of the vehicle and the number of axles to determine the toll.

Can't you just send back your tag, for a credit and go with another company. Surely they don't identify the vehicle in every photo to determine the $$$ ?

Erich

[pfillery]

Are you in RACQ? They have free legal advice for members which might be worth a look. It should go by the classification it is registered under. There are plenty of heavier vehicles but a defender should be classed the same as any 4x4 be it other make or other landrover. Commecrial is commercial - so if you are officially a commercial vehicle can you now park in loading zones designated commercial vehicles only? They can't have it both ways.

Fight it, all of your fellow land rover drivers are behind you.


Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has tried to fight the Class 3 rating on Defenders at the tolls. I have just sent an email asking why other 4x4 vehicles are class 2 with similar or greater GVM than a Defer, as they are telling me it is because the GVM is 3.05t. Having looked at the definitions, they are really pulling at straws to put Defers into a commercial vehicle catagory when the class three starts with "Light Commercial Vehicles. Motor vehicles that are registered for commercial use" I have sent a photo of my Defer with a note regarding the registration description " Seats:5, Registration Category: Passenger Car, Purpose of use: Private". I have since been told I should have said it was a series or perentie and this would have gotten around it, oops to late. All I can see is a weak sub definition about being inside the dimensions and boundaries of the class three, GVM 1.5 to 4.5t. My last car a Rodeo ute was 2.6t GVM, class 2 and there are heaps of other similar examples, any ideas. Thanks

[Blknight.aus]

if they are using the 1.5T as the lower cut for the GVM for class III 90% of the vehicles on the road today fall into that catagory.

Send them a copy of the rego along with an invoice for time spent at legal with regards to this matter.

[tonic]

Are you in RACQ? They have free legal advice for members which might be worth a look. It should go by the classification it is registered under. There are plenty of heavier vehicles but a defender should be classed the same as any 4x4 be it other make or other landrover. Commecrial is commercial - so if you are officially a commercial vehicle can you now park in loading zones designated commercial vehicles only? They can't have it both ways.

Fight it, all of your fellow land rover drivers are behind you.


Agreed, they cant and I intend to, thanks.

[tonic]

The toll company I am with use the height of the vehicle and the number of axles to determine the toll.

Can't you just send back your tag, for a credit and go with another company. Surely they don't identify the vehicle in every photo to determine the $$$ ?

Erich

Thanks Erich, there is only one Toll company up here.

[tonic]

if they are using the 1.5T as the lower cut for the GVM for class III 90% of the vehicles on the road today fall into that catagory.

Send them a copy of the rego along with an invoice for time spent at legal with regards to this matter.


Like the idea of the invoice back, also like the idea of parking a 1000 Defenders on top of the Gateway Bridge one morning:soapbox:. I have sent in a heap of examples of cars over 1.5T that are class 2. I also mentioned descrimination. Thanks Tony

[ramblingboy42]

there are thousands of defenders go over the gateway, just wondering why you are getting picked out. its automatic so you must have registered your vehicle differently.......

[tonic]

there are thousands of defenders go over the gateway, just wondering why you are getting picked out. its automatic so you must have registered your vehicle differently.......


No, registraion the same as everybody else. Looks like someone has ticked a box at Govia for Defers, my mate Josh the GCLRO pres knew about it as soon as I rang him, he was the one who said I should have put series or perentie down.

[ramblingboy42]

awwww, you cant believe what Josh tells ya....errrrrrrrrr, gday Josh, hows things?

[slug_burner]

No, registraion the same as everybody else. Looks like someone has ticked a box at Govia for Defers, my mate Josh the GCLRO pres knew about it as soon as I rang him, he was the one who said I should have put series or perentie down.

stick with what is on the rego papers, don't bs they'll just use it to show you don't know what you are talking about or that you are a dishonest person.

[tonic]

stick with what is on the rego papers, don't bs they'll just use it to show you don't know what you are talking about or that you are a dishonest person.


That's the way I'm going, it is just hard dealing with robots who cant think for themselves. You have to spoon feed them while resisting the erge to blow off steam.

[ericpicc]

:twisted::twisted:I am waiting for my court case involving 4 fines over Citylink.
Also it's cheaper for me to wait for the fine then call for a day pass.:mad::mad:

[tonic]

awwww, you cant believe what Josh tells ya....errrrrrrrrr, gday Josh, hows things?


I know, and drinks too much aswell, I think:D

[tonic]

:twisted::twisted:I am waiting for my court case involving 4 fines over Citylink.
Also it's cheaper for me to wait for the fine then call for a day pass.:mad::mad:


Give em hell, good luck.

[The ho har's]

Interesting...our 130 and 101 FC are both class 2

Mrs hh:angel:

[tonic]

Interesting...our 130 and 101 FC are both class 2

Mrs hh:angel:

Yer I know, that's what I am trying to tell them. It all started when I went on line to change the Tag details from my old Rodeo ute to the Defer, the system would not let me. I emailed them to ask why and that's when the trouble started. I got a condecending email back about the Defer being a class 3 because it had a GVM of 3.05T. My first attemp at fixing it lead to a second more condecending email with a link to the class references. I am waiting for a reply to my Friday night emails.

[101RRS]

I have no problem with my 101 (both higher and higher GVM than a Defender) in either NSW or Vic - so I might stay away from Qld toll areas even though my NSW RTA E-Tag is supposed to work anywhere in Aust.

I thought NSW was the rip-off state but it would seem that QLD has taken over.

Garry

[tonic]

I have no problem with my 101 (both higher and higher GVM than a Defender) in either NSW or Vic - so I might stay away from Qld toll areas even though my NSW RTA E-Tag is supposed to work anywhere in Aust.

I thought NSW was the rip-off state but it would seem that QLD has taken over.

Garry


Yet to see Garry, the fight has only just begun.

[Sleepy]

My 101 and Def fit into the "passenger vehicle" status with city link in melb. Not sure what vic class as a truck.

Used it in SY in a QLD with no dramas.

Maybe solution is to get a Melb tag and use reciprocal rights?:cool::angel:

[tonic]

My 101 and Def fit into the "passenger vehicle" status with city link in melb. Not sure what vic class as a truck.

Used it in SY in a QLD with no dramas.

Maybe solution is to get a Melb tag and use reciprocal rights?:cool::angel:


Great idea, will keep that in mind if all else fails.

[tonic]

For those who may be following, no replies to my emails to Govia today. Will be going away with work for the rest of the week. Next post Friday night or Saturday Morning.

[solmanic]

My Defender tag is with Flow and only classed as a car. I think you're just with the wrong tolling company.

[tonic]

My Defender tag is with Flow and only classed as a car. I think you're just with the wrong tolling company.


Thanks, been out of touch with work away, was not aware we had a choice in Brisbane:bangin:. Well now I can keep them honest or change. Still want to push the issue for the sake of all concerned.

[p38arover]

Also it's cheaper for me to wait for the fine then call for a day pass.:mad::mad:

Why is it cheaper to wait for the fine before you call up for a day pass?

Or did you mean "than"? :confused:

[Hoges]

Did you know that there is now an Ombudsman for Tolling Customer Complaints.. (wonder if he/she is an Ernest Hemmingweay fan...as in "For Whom the Bell Tolls":eek::D:wasntme:) sorry I digress...

Anyway: this may assist: the devil is in the detail as they say.
https://www.govia.com.au/via/home/Whats+new/Media+centre/go+via+Terms+and+Conditions+updated

GoVia define a category 2 vehicles as 4 wheel motor vehicles including taxis which are not commercial vehicles. There is no definition for "Commercial Vehicle" that I could find in their non-helpful website...certainly not in the T's & C's .
I have a GoVia tag on the P38: it is classified as a private "car" (Cat 2)

[tonic]

Hi All

This is the result of my efforts:

"I can confirm I have been investigating this issue for your since your first email, and have received a response from our management advising that although your vehicle GVM meets the criteria for class 3, as it is registered privately we will automatically charge the vehicle as a class 2 even if it is listed on your account as a class 3.

Please note I have changed the make and model listed on your account to "unspecified" so it shows on your account as class 2, other wise the registration would still appear on your account as a class 3 when we enter Land Rover Defender."

A special thanks to solmanic who advised me of the Flow option. When I mentioned this in my final email before leaving for work their email with the above snipet came first thing the next day.

They did not give me an answer as to why Landcruisers and Patrols do not have this problem with similar or greater GVM to Defers, nor did they answer a few other questions, who cares.

Notice that it says "class 3 when we enter Land Rover Defender", so check your Govia accounts people, you may being paying too much.

Tony

[JDNSW]

In other words, they have admitted that their systems are faulty. I wonder how many other faults are hidden in their charging system?

John

[Blknight.aus]

plenty, I got hit for an overdue fee because the idiot that I spoke to to pay on the phone typed my rego in incorrectly and I wound up paying someone elses trip (which wasnt even on the same day). It took them 3 months to send me the bill, hit me for it for 3 times in the one go (once for the trip, then once per month that I hadnt paid for it)

endless phone calls and production of toll photos and finally a bank receipt and I got an apology along with a stern telling off that I should really have one of the automated tags because then they don't have to worry about wasting their time sorting out these kind of mistakes.


I dont think my reply indicating that perhaps they should just do their job properly in the first place or at least spend their money to hire people that speak clear english, can type, are literate and semi competent was appreciated.

[tonic]

Did you know that there is now an Ombudsman for Tolling Customer Complaints.. (wonder if he/she is an Ernest Hemmingweay fan...as in "For Whom the Bell Tolls":eek::D:wasntme:) sorry I digress...

Anyway: this may assist: the devil is in the detail as they say.
https://www.govia.com.au/via/home/Whats+new/Media+centre/go+via+Terms+and+Conditions+updated

GoVia define a category 2 vehicles as 4 wheel motor vehicles including taxis which are not commercial vehicles. There is no definition for "Commercial Vehicle" that I could find in their non-helpful website...certainly not in the T's & C's .
I have a GoVia tag on the P38: it is classified as a private "car" (Cat 2)


Try looking this up https://www.govia.com.au/via/home/About+go+via/Toll+costs+by+tolling+point/ (https://www.govia.com.au/via/home/About+go+via/Toll+costs+by+tolling+point/)

The only reference to class 3 that comes close to defenders is at the bottom of class 3, about fitting into perameters under GVM. So what, most large 4x4's will. I would say someone at some stage has decided that defers are commercial vehicles and has put it on their system that way.