Autoroute Tag Renewal

hitchglitch
hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
1000 Comments
edited March 2022 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

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

Comments

  • TobyLeeds
    TobyLeeds Forum Participant Posts: 146
    edited March 2022 #2

    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!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited March 2022 #3

    One of the reasons I prefer the Emovis system is that it has a UK based website is all in English!!!!! I have now given up my TAG as we don't envisage going abroad with the van and I am awaiting a refund of the deposit. If you do a lot of motoring in France using the Autoroutes a TAG, of what ever variety,  is a handy bit of kit to have.

    David

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2022 #4

    We favour autoroutes rather than N roads and it makes life a lot simpler. For ATMB you are charged a very small additional fee for any month that you use it. All charges are on the credit card with no extra fees if you use Halifax Clarity or similar. At the busy toll booths you can drive straight through the automated section without stopping. Great!

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited March 2022 #5

    I requested (and received very promptly) a "supplementary" tag from ATMB as ours is 6 years old. I'm not sure how much it will cost but understand postage cost to be €4 and a maximum of €11 for the tag although the website says this decreases depending on the total number of tags ordered.

    No charges have appeared on my account as yet - a couple of weeks after ordering.

  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited March 2022 #6

    We have a 'Sanaf' tag which we have not used since 2019 although we've paid the annual fee.  Will we be notified if it needs to be renewed?          thanks

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2022 #7

    If you go onto your Sanaf, now Emovis account, it has an indicator showing battery life. Up until this year it was green and said OK. This year it was orange and said near expiry, send for a new tag. I assume it’s purely based on age as the tag hasn’t been seen at a Peage for several years. Ours was 5 years old when it showed as orange.

  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited March 2022 #8

    Thanks SteveL, I forgot we have an account.  I signed in and discovered the tag had expired,  unfortunately they have run out of tags as the moment so I need to try again in a couple of weeks.

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited March 2022 #9

    Hi Hitchglitch 

    I've got the same problem with ATMB tag 5 years old last used 2019.

    Visiting France in June. Tried several times on their website using contact box and quoting tag number but no response.

    When they wrote to you what email address did they use?

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited March 2022 #10

    Martatin, contact phone number from UK for ATMB is +33 450 25 20 20 

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited March 2022 #11

    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.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited March 2022 #12

    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
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited April 2022 #13

    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
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 2022 #14

    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
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited April 2022 #15

    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
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited May 2022 #16

    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
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2022 #17

    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
    AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited May 2022 #18

     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
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2022 #19

     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
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited May 2022 #20

    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
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2022 #21

    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.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited May 2022 #22

    Thanks Ian.  I may look into this option when we next need a tag...

    I always think it's a pity that we can't just have one tag to cover all counties - including the UK.  I sometimes use the M6 Toll and have often wondered about getting a Tag.... however they systems are different (for the M6 Tag you have to load the card with cash before you use it - Sanef bill you after use).  I guess we're a long way off doing joined up writing for that one!!!  Perhaps one day.....

    David

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2022 #23

     I agree but think that day is a very long way off.....

    I like the fact that even though the French motorways are privatised and run by different companies, a tag provided by one will work on all.

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited May 2022 #24

    Do you plan to try the old one?

    My concern would be if both tags registered at the toll and you got charged twice.

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2022 #25

    I'll keep it in the metallised bag which should prevent that (he said hopefully)..... Maybe put it in a tin box as well.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2022 #26

    You'd have thought that it would have been simpler to make the tag so the end user could replace the battery themselves rather than having to post it somewhere to have a cheap button battery replaced.

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2022 #27

    Agreed.

  • AGOG
    AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited May 2022 #28

    Emovis/Sanef. Ordered new one on the Thursday, arrived Saturday, worried unnecessarily as it turns out. Will I remember to check account in 5-7yrs to check battery expiry?? Doubt it.

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited June 2022 #29

    Iansoady

    Have you tried your old tag yet? Cross tomorrow night and can’t decide whether to take mine or not. 

  • iansoady
    iansoady Club Member Posts: 419 ✭✭✭
    edited June 2022 #30

    The new tag works but seems to need me to get closer to the barrier than previously - in fact at the first one I ended up getting out and waving the tag around. It's also a different car so I wonder whether the signal is not transmitting through the screen as well.

    But in answer to your question, no I didn't try the old one......

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited June 2022 #31

    Used our new tag today worked fine just waving at windscreen. Brought  the old one buried in a tin beneath the bed. Might just try it at some stage on this trip. Great to be back in France after 3 years loving 27 degrees got as far as Chatelaillon La plage today from Roscoff. Did 10pm crossing seemed a lot less people than in past. 8am docked on road by 8:15 

Categories