Old and new

It took ten days, but I finally got a replacement tag from EasyTrip (which EazyPass are now part of). I came through the East Link toll booths on the 18th, returning from wine and chat in Carl's, but turned back immediately because crowds were disgorging from the Point Theatre and traffic was chaotic. Strangely, the zapper which worked just fine and raised the barrier for me going north went on strike when I tried to use it in the other direction. I frantically waved my tag holder at the booth attendant, she beckoned me over, waved it up and down and from side to side at the sensor and had no more success than I'd had. 'It must be your battery, she said. 'There's nothing I can do, I'm afraid. EazyPass no longer have an office here, so you'll just have to contact them for a replacement.' Mumbling and grumbling (internally, of course, since it wasn't her fault), I suffered the indignity of actually handing over coins to get through the barrier.

So I got on to the tag crowd last week. Details were taken, account info was looked up, and I was told a replacement would be sent on 'within a day or two'. I asked if I could collect the replacement, so as to avoid the postal delay and was told I'd be contacted when the new tag was available. Two days later I got a voice message asking me to contact Anna in EazyPass/EasyTrip to sort out a problem arising from the fact that 'the system' showed me as having two tags in operation. I spoke to Anna the next day, assured he I only had one operational tag, and she was happy with that. 'I'll send out the replacement', she said. At that stage I didn't bother reminding here that a note had been taken of my earlier request to collect rather than wait for postal delivery.

So, the replacement arrived today. My goodness, but I must have my previous a long time -- since the nineteenth Century, by the look of it! When I opened the replacement package I thought they'd made a mistake and sent me a tag which wouldn't fit my holder. But it's actually a completely new tag, complete with mini holder. Certainly much neater. Hopefully this one will actually adhere properly to the windscreen. Several previous holders kept falling off, as a result of which I've stored the thing loose in the door pocket, which is not such a good idea when you have to drive with one hand through the new automatic toll point on the M50.