A 77-year-old widow has recently revealed her fears of being 'blacklisted' and facing legal action upon wrongly receiving a fine from the Tyne Tunnel.
Shirley Holman, who lives in Lancashire, received an Unpaid Toll Charge Notice (UTCN) from TT2 Limited on March 8, 2022 - for non-compliance of an alleged trip made on December 13 last year.
However, Shirley says that although she has a son who lives in Sunderland who she often visits, she was not in the North East when the incident was said to have taken place.
Read more: Kent woman who has 'never been to the North East' shocked by £175 Tyne Tunnel fine
She also said that although the Kia EV6 pictured on the letter itself was the same model as the car she drives, it was a completely different colour to hers - and she has never made a trip through the tunnel.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Shirley said: "I got it (the UTCN) probably about three weeks ago now saying that I was driving through on the 13th of December - but I was home then, and as was my car.
"They've got my car registration, but the picture that they've shown is not my car - and it doesn't show the number on it anyway.
"It isn't even the same colour as mine."
Worried that her number plates may have been cloned, Shirley said she got in touch with non-emergency police department. However, she says they told her it must be an issue with the technology.
Shirley continued: "I've got my own private number. Even if somebody had have cloned it, they'd have to have the same car - and the car I've got, there aren't that many in the country at the moment."
Shirley said she attempted to contact staff at the Tyne Tunnel regarding her query as to the UTCN itself, but had hard luck getting in contact - despite calling, emailing, and even writing in post to executives.
She added: "I've written to them, I sent it recorded delivery and I know it's been signed for, but I heard nothing.
"I'd been away for a few days, and when I came home I got a final reminder with the threat of it being passed to a third party which of course I don't want because I don't want to be blacklisted."
The Tyne Tunnel launched a cashless initiative in November of last year, in a bid to cut emissions as well as to reduce waiting times and traffic.
After toll plazas were removed from the north side of the Tunnel, drivers must pay their £1.90 crossing fee by midnight the next day – either online, with a pre-paid account, over the phone, or in shops with PayPoint counters.
Those who fail to do so face a £60 penalty that will increase to £100, plus the original toll charge and extra administrative costs, if not settled within 28 days.
TT2 Limited told ChronicleLive that they had now resolved the issue and quashed Shirley's fine.
Chief Executive at TT2, Philip Smith, said:“An incorrect Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) reading unfortunately led to Mrs Holman receiving a UTCN.
“We are very sorry for any upset we have caused Mrs Holman and we have, of course, cancelled the charge and apologised to her, for this error.
“Thankfully, due to the high accuracy of our ANPR system, incorrect number plate readings are fortunately very rare and will always be rectified when a customer appeals meaning they will never need to pay for our error.”
