Texas Toll Booths Cater To Consumers
In Dallas, the North Texas Tollway Authority, an authority that is responsible for collecting tolls, has been scrutinized for months due to its toll collecting policy. This policy charges drivers who do not pay up at the toll booth fines of hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Because the NTTA has been under fire in the public eye, it announced today two steps it says that will target improving customer satisfaction.
The first part of the plan that the NTTA took was to permit all drivers to utilize the electronic toll collection lanes, including those who do not have one. They can do this without being punished with a twenty five dollar fine.
Before this measure, drivers without toll tags that utilized the electronic lanes on the Dallas North Tollway were seen at as violators and would be fined twenty five dollars for each time they passed through an electronic toll booth, rather than a cash booth after the fact.
However, after February eighth, the drivers lacking a toll tag who use the electronic lanes will be given the opportunity to pay for the tolls before being slammed with the additional twenty five dollar fine. But these toll charges will continue to be calculated at the cash rate, which is twice as high as the rates paid by toll tag consumers.
Despite all this, the change won’t affect the NTTA’s collections policy in any other way and it will not stop consumers with no toll tags and who do not pay off toll bills sent to their homes from being charged twenty five dollars for every unpaid toll. This is a policy that can turn a week’s worth of tolls into a thousand dollar bill.
The NTTA’s second move was to appoint an internal auditor as a sort of mediator, which will be available to frustrated customers who have first complained their way through NTTA customer service hierarchy without a result that satisfied them. The auditor will then review the account and determine if customer service and billing reps have followed their own rules.
Dover Kent: Visit The White Cliffs Of Dover
The town of Dover Kent is in Kent county in the South East end of England. It is right on the narrow area of the English Channel and is across from France. Dover is a major ferry port that goes to France through the Port of Dover. The cliffs along the channel are the famous White cliffs of Dover made famous in story in song.
There is evidence that the town has been in existence from the time of the Stone Age. Many archaeological finds are from the Bronze Age and show it was a port even then. The town was part of a great communication hub developed by the Romans and you can still see some of the lighthouse forts that the Romans built in order to guide ships along the rocky shores. This area has always been an area of importance to all of Britain. It is protected because of the cliffs and high valley and was impossible to take by invaders.
The Straits of Dover is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the entire world. Lanes have been set up so that ships and ferries can safely pass through going both ways. This is all controlled by the Maritime and Coastguard of HM Customs in town. You will also see cruise ships in the straits.
Down through history many people have tried to swim the English Channel and this is the place they either began that swim or ended it if they made it. The narrow area of water between France and England make it a better shot than anywhere else on the Channel. You can find the Dover Sole, a fish that many fishermen try to catch from the channel or from the beach or pier.
Dover Castle is a great point of interest in the city. It was built during the 12th century and is a Norman style castle. The evacuation of Dunkirk was executed from the castle planned by Churchill and Lord Ramsey. Inside is the Underground Hospital utilized during the war in 1216 when the French tried to invade Dover unsuccessfully. Henry the VIII would be proud of the exhibit in the castle dedicated to his time period. On the castle grounds is a beautiful little church in Anglo Saxon style and next to it is one of those old Roman lighthouses that guided Roman vessels to the port.
In 1812 there were several different mills built to make grain to serve the English troupes that protected the town from the invasion led by Napoleon. The Crabble Corn Mill is the one that survived and is now a museum and working mill. All the mills were powered by water and once steam power became popular they faded out and were no longer used. You can take a tour of the mill and learn the history of that era and then go have a cup of tea in the tea room.
Dover Museum is worth a visit with original pictures of the growth of the town and many artifacts. There is the Bronze Age Boat Gallery that has the oldest vessel known. Another museum is the Roman Painted House which was a hotel with beautiful wall paintings and just as the Romans heated their buildings in Rome with under the floor heating this building was heated in the same manner. Also see the Dover Transport Museum that features all types of vehicles that have ever existed.
You can always take a walk through Goodnestone Park Gardens and see the several species of plants and trees in a manicured garden. There are boat site seeing trips that allow you to see the White Cliffs of Dover from the water and they are magnificent. You can hike on several trails that go through scenic areas of town. Shopping for antiques or things brand new is a popular past time town and when you get hungry be sure to try some of the restaurants in town. This area will give you a great couple days of site seeing opportunities so if you are traveling nearby make it one of your stops.
