M6 Toll road. Help!

[allen-uk]

Went to Birmingham, got lost, got onto the M6 Toll road, didn't see anywhere to pay, came off it again.

What happens now? Tried phoning the M6 Toll Road and General Robbery helpline but only manned Mon to Friday.

Does Big Brother send me a large bill? How much? (I was driving a car).

Any helpful advice much appreciated...


A.

 

[buggi]

don't think you have worry about it, you prob won't have to pay, you either weren't on the M6 toll or you didn't go far enough. the exits have tolls on them. sounds to me like you weren't on it, and also its more of a by pass than a motorway. I've never seen a Birmingham Exit on it. i could be wrong but i shouldn't worry too much.

for the records cars are about £4.50 although that was before it went up recently so its prob about a fiver

you mght have been on m42 which runs parallel for a while (sort of)

 

[Black Sheep]

from what i remember of the toll road there are actual toll booths, think the fee is about £6 for a car.

personally its a bit of a scam, local signs direct you onto the toll without making it clear its putting you on a motorway never mind the toll road!

not meaning to be condescending, you do know there's the original M6 which is free to use don't you

 

[allen-uk]

Get your own road!

Now I see what you mean. Get a toll road!

No, definitely the toll road. All the canny Brumiggans hurtled left, I went right down this beautifully empty bit of motorway. For about 5 miles or more, until I could get off the bleeder. But no toll booths, or anything as obvious!

A.

 

[buggi]

are you thinking its like the congestion charge? as PT says, you have to actually go through the booth to be charged. its not like when they take a picture of your reg and then send you a bill.

can't agree about the signing though, "M6 Toll" gives the game away for me. however, it's very easy to end up on it because the shiny new tarmac pulls you in! you're happily going along watching the tarmac wondering where the potholes are and you forget to look up to see which motorway your heading for

 

[buggi]

Now I see what you mean. Get a toll road!

No, definitely the toll road. All the canny Brumiggans hurtled left, I went right down this beautifully empty bit of motorway. For about 5 miles or more, until I could get off the bleeder. But no toll booths, or anything as obvious!

A.

this is EXACTLY what i'm talking about! the shiny tarmac is like a drug... it just pulls you in, like a black hole.

the toll heading north is at the other end near Staffordshire. It's a big wide thing and you just can't get past it. i believe you may have come off just before you hit the "from here you pay bit" don't worry, it's doubtful they will chase you for the cash (but let us know if you do)

you have to admit though, it's really nice to drive down init!

 

[Black Sheep]

can't agree about the signing though, "M6 Toll" gives the game away for me. however, it's very easy to end up on it because the shiny new tarmac pulls you in! you're happily going along watching the tarmac wondering where the potholes are and you forget to look up to see which motorway your heading for

coming on from tamworth in the middle of nowhere

if your on the M6 the signage is very clear, the signage from A roads makes it look like the A road route.

 

[buggi]

ah, never been that way, only came on by the M42

 

[allen-uk]

We were coming up the M6 from London, keeping eyes open for J6, but then the J numbers appeared to get out of sequence... well, maybe SatNav might on this occasion have been handy.

We got onto the Toll road, yes, lovely and empty etc., and came off about 8 miles up, near Coleshill, then meandered back south again until we picked up a sign for the M6. Still got lost going into Brum proper, but I think that might be par for the course.

Thanks for the ideas, and yes, I'll let you know if I do get chased.


A.

 

[oxbob]

Looks like you got onto and left the toll before the charging booth(these are at the end not start of the M6 toll)

 

[Rhythm Thief]

If you got off it without paying, you weren't on the M6 Toll. There are toll booths on every exit, as far as I know. Not that I ever use it.

 

[Black Sheep]

If you came off without going through any toll booths then you don't have to pay. You have to go on the M6 toll if you want to go to Tamworth via the M42.

Sounds like you came off just before you have to pay.

i never have,

M42, A38 i think was my route

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Sounds like you dropped of the M6 around junction 4a onto the section of the M42 that leads to the M6 toll and came of just before the junction where the M42 and the M6 Toll go their different ways, theres a couple of places round there you can drop of the motorway, its a bit complicated round there.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Sounds like you dropped of the M6 around junction 4a onto the section of the M42 that leads to the M6 toll and came of just before the junction where the M42 and the M6 Toll go their different ways, theres a couple of places round there you can drop of the motorway, its a bit complicated round there.

Certainly the Eastern European lorry driver who I saw reversing (yes, really )up the outside lane of the M6 at the point where it splits off into the M6 Toll/M42 North seemed to have found it confusing.

 

[buggi]

We were coming up the M6 from London, keeping eyes open for J6, but then the J numbers appeared to get out of sequence... well, maybe SatNav might on this occasion have been handy.

We got onto the Toll road, yes, lovely and empty etc., and came off about 8 miles up, near Coleshill, then meandered back south again until we picked up a sign for the M6. Still got lost going into Brum proper, but I think that might be par for the course.

Thanks for the ideas, and yes, I'll let you know if I do get chased.


A.

yep, coleshill is before the pay zone.