EZ Tag Ripoff (Houston: bill, car, place)

[Dumb Toll Lady]

HCTRA Administrative toll violation fees/charges are inflated and a profitable way of choking customers. Who set the "amount". They are laughing all the way to the bank.
Check the administrative fees and you will see how much of a scam is allowed by the "business".

[RCH99]

Originally Posted by Dumb Toll Lady

It was my fault not keeping up with the toll fees.

yep. that's pretty dumb dumb toll lady.

[huma281]

If the toll access on my vehicle is free, does that include trailers as well?

[Dopo]

Just want to say thank you to all the people that have given us all this dumb toll roads

[gwarnecke]

Other than the HCTRA-operated roads, are there ANY toll roads out there (without toll booths) that tack on huge "administrative" fees if you drive on the road without a toll tag? To me, this is the most aggravating aspect of Houston's toll road system. Avoidable if you have a tag, but a pain for out-of-towners/those who aren't familiar with our road network. Heck, as a local even I've been caught out before (was driving a rental car in the I-10 HOT lanes with a passenger, forgot that they charge a toll from 11 AM - 2 PM).

Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, etc let you pay by mail, after driving on the toll road without a tag. The price is very slightly higher than the "tag" price, but it lacks these ridiculous fees.

Also, $15 per EZTag is silly when TxTags are free and work just as well.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by Dumb Toll Lady

Beware of unscrupulous charges! They will charge a ridiculous amount in penalties (Over $25.00) for each toll passage if you do not contact them and pay when they send a notice. We had family members in ICU and didn't realize Fort Bend Toll fees were not being drafted from our account. I received a couple of notices but assumed the amounts were deducted from my husband's debit card. However he was in a bad accident and could not function. We now owe over $1,700.00 in collection fee rip offs for $43.50 in toll fees. They amount charged for administrative fees are astronomical per toll passage. How can EACH toll booth passage in a day amount to a Fort Bend Toll Road fee of $25.00 plus collection company fee (PBFCM Attorneys)? Like I said...They can and will rip you off and there is nothing you can do but pay the gauging collection fees. They can and will issue warrants for one's arrest for collection of even one violation. It was my fault not keeping up with the toll fees. I do not dispute that. What I find horrifying is the bogus administrative fees charge for $43.00 in toll charges. It turned into $1,700.00 in six months.

That will happen when you ignore the letters and don't contact them.


Your failure to respond to the first two written warnings does not mean that they're ripping you off. It means that you're not paying attention.

[DSL_PWR]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

That will happen when you ignore the letters and don't contact them.


Your failure to respond to the first two written warnings does not mean that they're ripping you off. It means that you're not paying attention.

Please do not cloud this magnificent thread with facts and responsibility.

[trbstang]

Just to elaborate on the overcharging due to trailers and extra axles, I was charged for a trailer with one axle when driving my car with one of those hitch mounted cargo carriers. I passed through two toll booths on BW8 and if I remember correctly, they charged me one time and not the other. Probably because it was empty the first time and had a big box on it the second time. They did go back and remove the charge, but if I hadn't looked at the detail, I might not have noticed.

[BrianH]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

Other than the HCTRA-operated roads, are there ANY toll roads out there (without toll booths) that tack on huge "administrative" fees if you drive on the road without a toll tag? To me, this is the most aggravating aspect of Houston's toll road system. Avoidable if you have a tag, but a pain for out-of-towners/those who aren't familiar with our road network. Heck, as a local even I've been caught out before (was driving a rental car in the I-10 HOT lanes with a passenger, forgot that they charge a toll from 11 AM - 2 PM).

Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, etc let you pay by mail, after driving on the toll road without a tag. The price is very slightly higher than the "tag" price, but it lacks these ridiculous fees.

Also, $15 per EZTag is silly when TxTags are free and work just as well.

Do they definitely fine out of towners ? The first time I was in Houston with my NM plates I went through probably 5 tolls and didnt receive a bill.

I agree, I have TxTags and its a better option imho.

[DRob4JC]

Originally Posted by BrianH

Do they definitely fine out of towners ? The first time I was in Houston with my NM plates I went through probably 5 tolls and didnt receive a bill.

Ooooh... I'm telling ....