EZ Tag Ripoff (Houston, Dallas, West: credit, attorneys, costs)

[HoustonRonnie]

Don't know how many of you take the time to review your billing from HCTRA, but I just found a hiccup in the system that may be costing you money too.

I don't know how many of you pull a trailer around, but, if you do, the tolling system actually "tries" to count the number of axels you have in order to charge you. In other words, it costs more for you to pull a trailer on the tollroads than it does for just your truck or car. I say "tries" because it messes up... alot!!... never under counts, just over counts the number of axels. Imagine that! Hmmm...

Anyway, I pull a one axel trailer around alot when I shoot sporting clays...I have a clays cart I wheel around on it. I pull it with my pickup so there are three axels to be counted. I don't have a billing sent to me by HCTRA and I peruse it occasionaly from their website. Lo and behold, since the beginning of the year I was getting charged for 4 axels (and extra $1.50 per reading) about 1/2 the time. WTF?

Now, mind you, those ladies that answer the phone over there are WAY nice and VERY helpful and I got everything refunded, but the kicker is that their system can't read properly. For example, I went through one reader on the Westpark Tollway and it counted 3 axels then 4 minutes later I go through the next one and it reads 4 axels. I must be Houdini. I can mount an extra axel on my trailer going 65mph in less than five minutes.

Anywhoo... check your billing if you pull a trailer around, especially if you pull it back and forth on the Westpark Tollway.

Just sayin'...

Ron

[TFW46]

I posted here, a few months ago, about checking your EZTag statement regularly for erroneous billings. I hadnt used my EZTag for months following extensive foot surgery and so didnt think to check my account online for a while. When I finally did, I found that I had been billed for using a tollway in the Dallas area a couple of times Customer service was very good about checking it out and told me that someone with a plate very similar to mine should have been billed. My account was credited promptly.

So, yes, anyone who uses the toll roads should check his/her EZTag account online monthly.

[Waytoodeep03]

I thought this was about that $15 initiation fee for EZTag. Now that is a ripoff

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by Waytoodeep03

I thought this was about that $15 initiation fee for EZTag. Now that is a ripoff

Never had to pay that. Must be something new.

[astrohip]

Thanks for the warning. My wife pulls her horse trailer sometimes; I'll make sure and dbl check next time she does.

I check my EZTag statement online every month. I do a quick review to make sure the dates, times and places match up with how we tend to use the tollways (we have three tags in our family). I'm sure there can be the occasional error I won't catch, but I look for things like tollroads we don't use, times we never drive, etc.

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by astrohip

Thanks for the warning. My wife pulls her horse trailer sometimes; I'll make sure and dbl check next time she does.

I check my EZTag statement online every month. I do a quick review to make sure the dates, times and places match up with how we tend to use the tollways (we have three tags in our family). I'm sure there can be the occasional error I won't catch, but I look for things like tollroads we don't use, times we never drive, etc.

Just run through the column that has "# of axels". When I see 4, I know it's overcharged.

Ronnie

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by HoustonRonnie

Just run through the column that has "# of axels". When I see 4, I know it's overcharged.

Ronnie

I just checked online, and saw a few charges with 4 axles. Bingo, I thought! Got them overcharging me! Then I looked at a pic I had of her trailer, and realized it IS four axles.

[HoustonRonnie]

Yep, that's four alright. 5 if it counts the spare.

[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.

[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.