General terms and conditions
1. Introduction:
For the use of AutoPASS as an electronic means of payment on ferries, a Central Service Provider has been established which, on behalf of the ferry companies, ensures ticketing of customers and channelling of ticket revenues to the ferry companies.
1.1 On ferry connections that are part of the national AutoPASS for ferry scheme, you will be able to pay with an AutoPASS tag or AutoPASS ferry card. See autopassferje.no for an overview of which ferry connections are included in the scheme and which means of payment is used on the different connections.
1.2 Only one discount providing means of payment can be used per ferry connection. This means that on ferry connections that use the AutoPASS tag it is not possible to pay with an AutoPASS ferry card, and vice versa.
1.3 The Central Service Provider issues AutoPASS ferry cards, but the AutoPASS tag is only issued by official AutoPASS tag issuers. See autopass.no for information about tag issuers.
1.4 The Central Service Provider handles payments made with both the AutoPASS tag and the AutoPASS ferry card.
1.5 Definitions:
- Central Service Provider: Back-end system for the national AutoPASS for ferry scheme where the customer can create and manage a discount agreement for use on ferry connections that are part of the scheme.
- Customer: Person or legal entity that enters into a ferry discount agreement with the Central Service Provider.
- Agreement: This agreement between the Central Service Provider and the Customer. Provides a discount on journeys with ferry connections that are part of the national AutoPASS for ferry scheme after prepayment has been made by the Customer in accordance with current tariff regulations.
- Tag: AutoPASS tag or other tag from a foreign issuer with similar functionality. Also called OBU unit. Ensures that correct data is registered at the payment point on ferry connections where tag payment has been introduced.
- AutoPASS ferry card: Payment card that provides a discount on ferry connections that are part of the national AutoPASS for ferry scheme where no tag payment has been introduced. For Customers who order an AutoPASS ferry card, the card is issued by the Central Service Provider after creation of the Agreement in accordance with current regulations for ferry rates.
1.6 Introductory provisions: Use of the Central Service Provider for electronic payment of ferry tickets means that for each customer with a ferry discount agreement, a customer account is created in the Central Service Provider’s back-end system. The ferry discount agreement requires prepayment regulated in the AutoPASS regulations for ferry rates and in the National regulations for ferry rates.
1.7 When using a tag or AutoPASS ferry card as a means of payment, data regarding the ferry journey is transferred from the ferry company to the Central Service Provider which processes the individual journeys according to the following rules:
1.8 When travelling on a ferry connection that uses the AutoPASS tag as a means of payment, the tag agreement and ferry discount agreement provide discounts in accordance with the AutoPASS regulations for ferry rates. Ferry payments are charged to the Customer’s account with the Central Service Provider, and the ferry company is credited accordingly. In the event of a negative balance on the Customer’s account, the transaction is transferred to the tag issuer with whom the Customer has entered into a tag agreement. (The discount is then reduced to 10%.)
1.9 When travelling on a ferry connection that uses the AutoPASS ferry card as a means of payment, the journey is charged to the Customer’s account with the Central Service Provider after the discount has been deducted in accordance with the National Regulations for ferry rates.
1.10 Any fees on credit cards, fees for paper invoices and fees for non-payment at ticket control will be charged to the Agreement. Costs for the use of a tag from a tag issuer is charged to the Customers separate agreement with the tag issuer.
1.11 On all AutoPASS ferry connections, the customer has the right to choose between AutoPASS payment or manual payment by cash or bank card (NB: See COVID-19 exceptions). When establishing a Central Service Provider and introducing electronic ferry ticketing on AutoPASS ferry connections, use of the electronic payment scheme by tag or ferry card is a prerequisite for a discount.
1.12 The Customer’s use of the electronic payment scheme is considered acceptance of these rules. Entering into formal contract and special rules on termination and cancellation etc. with regard to electronic ferry ticketing will thus be superfluous. These rules make no change to the Customer’s rights and obligations under the tag agreement and local discount agreement on roads.
1.13 The Central Service Provider shall ensure that personal privacy is safeguarded by complying with Norwegian law. The Central Service Provider only processes personal information that is necessary to be able to perform the service.
1.14 Journeys made with a tag but without a ferry discount agreement on a ferry connection where the AutoPASS tag is used as a means of payment, are directly transferred to the tag issuer for invoicing.
2. Agreement
2.1 When creating a customer account with the Central Service Provider, the Customer consents to the collection and storage of personal information as described in section 1.9.
2.2 The Agreement is valid from the date on which prepayment is registered. The Agreement is valid until one of the parties terminates the Agreement. If the Central Service Provider terminates the Agreement, it must be in writing and must explain the reason for termination.
3. The customer’s obligations
3.1 The Customer is responsible for ensuring that the information provided in the Agreement is, at all times, correct.
3.2 Private customers can register up to two vehicles on one agreement. Business customers can have an unlimited number of vehicles registered on one agreement.
3.3 Business customers must be able to document the right of use of the vehicle via a vehicle registration card or leasing agreement.
3.4 The right to use a tag or AutoPASS ferry card requires timely prepayment to the Agreement. The Customer is responsible for making the prepayment before the balance has become negative.
3.5 The Customer cannot use an AutoPASS tag in other vehicles than the vehicle that the tag is linked to in the Agreement.
3.6 For vehicles with a tag, ferry journeys must take place in lanes marked with AutoPASS. AutoPASS ferry cards cannot be used on ferry connections that use the AutoPASS tag as means of payment.
3.7 Installation and use of a tag must take place in accordance with instructions given by the tag issuer.
3.8 The Customer must report any change in vehicle data.
3.9 Neither the Agreement nor a tag can be transferred to other persons.
4. The company’s obligations
4.1 When the Agreement has been accepted, the Customer will receive an invoice for prepayment. The Agreement is not valid until prepayment has been made. For customers who have ordered one or more AutoPASS ferry cards, these will be sent to the Customer when prepayment is received. If the Customer wants a tag agreement but does not already have a tag, the Central Service Provider must inform where a tag agreement can be created. The Central Service Provider must offer the Customer information regarding AutoPASS for ferry.
4.2 A green light signal is given when the tag is approved upon boarding a ferry.
4.3 Complaints about incorrect pricing, classification, etc. must be sent to the Central Service Provider.
5. Surcharge and default
5.1 If the Customer provides incorrect information about vehicle data so that the Central Service Provider suffers loss, the Customer may be required to pay for the loss that the Central Service Provider has been subjected to.
5.2 The Central Service Provider has the right to terminate the Agreement if the Customer is in serious breach of the obligations of the Agreement.
6. Loss, damage or theft of the Tag
6.1 The Customer is responsible for all storage and use of the AutoPASS ferry card and tag. In the event of loss of an AutoPASS ferry card, the Central Service Provider must be notified. In the event of loss of a tag, the Customer is responsible for notifying the tag issuer.
7. Termination of the Agreement
7.1 The Customer has the right to terminate the Agreement at any time. Upon termination of the Agreement, the remaining prepayment shall be refunded. Refunds will not be made until after 21 days.
7.2 The Agreement can be terminated by the Central Service Provider if the time of the last transaction is over three years or the balance is negative and the customer has received a payment reminder.
7.3 Upon termination of the Agreement, any remaining prepayment shall be refunded. Refunds will not be made until after 21 days.
8. Changes to the Agreement
8.1 The Central Service Provider may make minor changes to the Agreement. Significant changes must be announced or sent in writing to the Customer.
8.2 Changes during the agreement period will only be possible as a result of decisions made by political authorities or other extraordinary circumstances beyond the Company’s control. Such changes will be announced no later than 4 weeks before the change takes effect. Changes in tariffs and other prices are announced in accordance with regulations issued by the Ministry of Transport and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
9. Privacy
9.1 The purpose of registering information about the Customer is to carry out an agreement on discounted payment for travel on ferries that are part of the national AutoPASS for ferry scheme.
9.2 When entering into an agreement, information will be registered about the Customer that is necessary to carry out the agreement on discounted payment, meaning correct ticketing and any complaint processing.
9.3 Use of a tag and AutoPASS ferry card will be registered in connection with payment control.
9.4 Use of photography can be carried out to document the vehicle’s class or length in connection with the ferry discount agreement or unregulated ferry journeys.
9.5 Information about the Customer and travel data is only used to administrate AutoPASS for ferry.
9.6 Information about each ferry journey is deleted as soon as possible after the invoice has been paid. In the event of a dispute over the obligation to pay, the information is stored until the claim has been settled or decided in court.
9.7 The Customer may at any time request access to stored information about themselves.
9.8 The Customer may at any time request that stored information about themselves be deleted. The Customer then agrees to any consequences this may have for the implementation of the Agreement.
9.9 Upon termination of the Agreement, all data will be deleted in accordance with current rules on privacy and accounting.
9.10 By entering into this Agreement, the Customer gives consent for information about ferry journeys to be transferred between the issuer and the operator when processing a complaint about a ferry journey.
9.11 Ferry journey data will be used for anonymised traffic statistics.
10. Communication
10.1 Inquiries from the Customer to the Central Service Provider regarding the Agreement shall be sent in the form offered by the Agreement.
10.2 Unless otherwise described in the Agreement, notifications from the Central Service Provider to the Customer regarding the Agreement shall be sent by mail or e-mail to the address provided in the Agreement. Messages can also be included in invoice mailings and any payment reminders.
10.3 Complaints about charges made for ferry journeys must be submitted no later than 30 days from the time when the Customer became aware of the charge. Legal disputes concerning complaints shall be settled in the court to which the Central Service Provider’s permanent legal address determines that legal disputes must be dealt with.