Autoroute Tag Renewal

hitchglitch replied on 20/03/2022 12:25

hitchglitch

Posted on 20/03/2022 12:25

Just a reminder for those who use tags for the French Autoroute, the battery has a limited life. I contacted my supplier, ATMB, through their website asking for a new tag holder for the windscreen (“support de badge” in French) and asking whether the badge needed replacing. They sent the holder immediately and advised that the badge battery life was 5-7 years and as mine was 7 years old they recommended replacement to avoid failure en route. The email was in French and it requested that I post it “envoi suivi” which corresponds to “Tracked” in the UK. All very efficient except that it cost nearly £9 to send it!

Worth the effort and cost to avoid an embarrassing queue at the first toll booth.

1 person likes this

34 replies

Tammygirl replied on 31/03/2022 10:35

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer from Perthshire

Posted on 20/03/2022 12:25 by hitchglitch

Just a reminder for those who use tags for the French Autoroute, the battery has a limited life. I contacted my supplier, ATMB, through their website asking for a new tag holder for the windscreen (“support de badge” in French) and asking whether the badge needed replacing. They sent the holder immediately and advised that the badge battery life was 5-7 years and as mine was 7 years old they recommended replacement to avoid failure en route. The email was in French and it requested that I post it “envoi suivi” which corresponds to “Tracked” in the UK. All very efficient except that it cost nearly £9 to send it!

Worth the effort and cost to avoid an embarrassing queue at the first toll booth.

Posted on 31/03/2022 10:35

We contacted ATMB and was advised to return the tag to them, address given. OH packaged it up took it to PO and duly paid £6 over a month later it came back to us with a French label on it saying refused delivery. OH got back in touch with ATMB who apologised for French post. They sent us a new tag which we received in a couple of days. No idea why it was refused.

Martatin replied on 01/04/2022 11:42

Member

Martatin

Motorhomer from Cheshire

Posted on 31/03/2022 10:05 by iansoady

Martatin - if you have an account with ATMB set up you can log into that and request a supplementary / replacement tab. I did that a few weeks ago and all very smooth - received the tag after a few days.

Posted on 01/04/2022 11:42

iansoady - there are individual boxes for

Demandez un badge supplementaire

Replacez un badge defecteux

Did you just go for the supplementaire one ?

Other comments seem to suggest you need to return badge if you go for Replacez. But reading through the thread returning badge seems problematical and costs £9. Whereas new badge appears to be 11 euros plus postage so not a lot of difference in cost.

Is there any ongoing cost if you have 2 badges ?

Eurotraveller thanks for tel number but my French is not great

Tammygirl replied on 01/04/2022 12:45

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer from Perthshire

Posted on 01/04/2022 11:42 by Martatin

iansoady - there are individual boxes for

Demandez un badge supplementaire

Replacez un badge defecteux

Did you just go for the supplementaire one ?

Other comments seem to suggest you need to return badge if you go for Replacez. But reading through the thread returning badge seems problematical and costs £9. Whereas new badge appears to be 11 euros plus postage so not a lot of difference in cost.

Is there any ongoing cost if you have 2 badges ?

Eurotraveller thanks for tel number but my French is not great

Posted on 01/04/2022 12:45

After our first attempt at sending the tag back for replacement, which got returned to us refused delivery.

We called ATMB the lady OH spoke to did speak English and understood the issue. She arranged there and then for a new tag to be sent out which we got a few days later.

iansoady replied on 02/04/2022 09:56

Member

iansoady

Caravanner

Posted on 01/04/2022 11:42 by Martatin

iansoady - there are individual boxes for

Demandez un badge supplementaire

Replacez un badge defecteux

Did you just go for the supplementaire one ?

Other comments seem to suggest you need to return badge if you go for Replacez. But reading through the thread returning badge seems problematical and costs £9. Whereas new badge appears to be 11 euros plus postage so not a lot of difference in cost.

Is there any ongoing cost if you have 2 badges ?

Eurotraveller thanks for tel number but my French is not great

Posted on 02/04/2022 09:56

Yes, went for asking for a supplementary badge. As far as I can tell there is no ongoing cost - just the small monthly charge for any month in which the tag is used plus of course the tolls themselves.

There are still no charges on my account although I'm expecting at least the postage to appear at some point.

Martatin replied on 11/05/2022 14:05

Member

Martatin

Motorhomer from Cheshire

Posted on 11/05/2022 14:05

Just had an email from ATMB charging 4 Euros on my account

Frais d'expédition - Shipping costs

All straight forward obviously have to wait to see all ok at first toll booth in June

hitchglitch replied on 11/05/2022 21:06

Member

hitchglitch

Motorhomer from Buckinghamshire

Posted on 11/05/2022 14:05 by Martatin

Just had an email from ATMB charging 4 Euros on my account

Frais d'expédition - Shipping costs

All straight forward obviously have to wait to see all ok at first toll booth in June

Posted on 11/05/2022 21:06

Sorry I missed your earlier post but it looks like you have sorted it out. We are off in 10 days and hopefully the new tag will work.

AGOG replied on 14/05/2022 13:45

Member

AGOG

Caravanner from Essex

Posted on 20/03/2022 12:56 by TobyLeeds

If I remember rightly the company automatically reminded me to change tags when the battery expiry date approached. This did not stop the “heart in mouth” moment at the first toll booth!

Posted on 14/05/2022 13:45

They didn't me. So glad I saw this chat. Mine is expired!! They don't have any in stock right now and we go in 5 weeks, feels a bit touch and go. Can't be the only ones in this post covid scenario, good if club published a nice big warning in the mag.

iansoady replied on 15/05/2022 09:54

Member

iansoady

Caravanner

Posted on 11/05/2022 14:05 by Martatin

Just had an email from ATMB charging 4 Euros on my account

Frais d'expédition - Shipping costs

All straight forward obviously have to wait to see all ok at first toll booth in June

Posted on 15/05/2022 09:54

Me too and the tag is safely in its pouch in the glovebox. I still have the old one as well just in case.....

DSB replied on 15/05/2022 13:11

Moderator

DSB

Caravanner from Staffordshire

Posted on 15/05/2022 13:11

I've sent our Sanef tag back this year, too We've not used it until 2016 so battery will have gone. Also, we have been paying the yearly fee and have not been using it. Sending it back is probably the best way to ensure we will need it - it's a bit like the weather - I'll take my coat everywhere and the weather is great..... the moment I leave it at home thexrain comes down with a vengeance!!

David

iansoady replied on 15/05/2022 17:08

Member

iansoady

Caravanner

Posted on 15/05/2022 17:08

I'd suggest getting the ATMB tag - no monthly or annual fee except €1.90 for any month in which the tag's used and you pay for the autoroute trips you make. I don't think there is an enrolment fee either - at least there wasn't when we got ours.

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