Bernd Grossmann, from Hamburg, Germany, said he did not realise he had to pay and would not have been able to pay on his wife’s mobile phone
Kristy Dawson Multi-Media Journalist
04:00, 28 Feb 2026
The Tyne Tunnel and inset Bernd Grossmann (Image: Chronicle Live)
A tourist received a demand for more than 100 Euros nearly FOUR MONTHS after passing through the Tyne Tunnel. Bernd Grossmann, from Hamburg, Germany, and his wife Renate, 79, spent one week visiting County Durham and Northumberland during a trip to the UK.
The 78-year-old said that on their return trip to Leeds, where their daughter lives, his GPS device recommended that they travel through the Tyne Tunnel. He said he did so on July 10 last year without realising he had to pay.
Bernd said it wasn’t until he received a payment demand of 105.29 euros – around £87.50 – on October 27 that he realised there was a toll charge. The demand then went up to 165 euros on December 6 last year.
The former teacher said he appealed the decision with the company’s authorised bill collector EPC and paid the £2.50 toll rate but his appeal was rejected.
A spokesperson for TT2 said EPC will have sent the charge as soon as they were able to trace the customer’s details.
Bernd told ChronicleLive: “I was not aware that I had to pay. I was not told and then found out at home by being charged 105 euros.
“I could have paid it if somebody sent me a warning. This was such a high fee.
“On a German motor system such a toll system does not exist. There is a toll system but it’s not for private cars, it’s for lorries.
“It caught me by surprise. I didn’t have any clue that things like this happened.”
Bernd was sent a demand for payment nearly four months after he passed through the tunnel(Image: Chronicle Live)
Bernd and Renate were visiting their daughter, their son-in-law and their two grandchildren, who live in Leeds, in July last year. During their visit to the UK, they decided to travel to the North East for six nights.
They spent three nights in Lanchester, County Durham, where they visited Durham and Beamish, before spending another three nights in Alnwick, Northumberland. During their time there, they visited Seahouses and went on the puffin and seal tour.
Bernd said that on his return journey he travelled through the Tyne Tunnel, which is operated by TT2. He said he was concentrating on the busy traffic, as a driver of a foreign car, and failed to notice that a toll had to be paid for passing through.
He said that, even if he was aware of the charge, he would not be able to pay on his wife’s mobile phone as they did not have access to online banking. He said: “We can’t access it. I do not have a phone outside of my home. We could only have paid it, if we were aware of it, from home.
“My wife has got the mobile but she can’t do any bank exchanges or anything like that. We have our credit cards to use but this isn’t offered there.
“Lots of foreign visitors passing through the tunnel haven’t got a choice to do that and wonder afterwards why they are charged so much.”
The Southbound A19 approach to The Tyne Tunnel in North Tyneside.(Image: ChronicleLive)
Bernd said the system is difficult for foreign visitors who don’t realise they must pay until they receive a fine months later. He feels like a lot of visitors to the area will not be aware of how it works and may not be able to pay it within 24 hours, especially if they do not have access to online banking.
He added: “A lot of people are not aware of it and have difficulty afterwards in paying. This is, in my mind, a thing that must be taken care of.
“I would have been prepared to pay the fee of £2.50 plus a moderate administrative charge if only I were informed in due time.
“Is it ok to have such a large difference from three euros to 165 euros? Is it in the interest of TT2?”
Signs displaying Tyne Tunnel Toll prices on the Southbound A19 approach to The Tyne Tunnel in North Tyneside.(Image: ChronicleLive)
A spokesperson for TT2, which operates the Tyne Tunnels, said: “We’re sorry to hear about Mr Grossman’s frustrations. While we appreciate he is not from the area, there are numerous signs, traffic signals, and markings (including payment information) to make customers aware of the toll.
“All drivers have a responsibility to observe road signs and markings including those advising of a toll. As well as online, there are options to pay via telephone or in person at a PayPoint before or after the journey.
“Mr Grossman has received timely responses to all his correspondence with TT2 and our collection partner (UK-based EPC) and his appeal against his UTCN was rejected. His penalty charge for non-payment of his toll remains unpaid.
“Unfortunately, costs are incurred for every driver who does not pay their toll. Unpaid Toll Charge Notices (UTCN) are used to cover the expense of toll recovery for non-payers.
“Around 98% of our customers pay their toll on time. The toll pays for the operation and maintenance of both tunnels and the re-payment of the debt used to pay for building the second Tyne Tunnel.”
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