tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post8505964557482303224..comments2023-11-28T10:48:10.842-08:00Comments on PriceFixer: I-495 Express Lanes "Administration Fee" ScamUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-41015728895651280742020-05-09T12:52:49.501-07:002020-05-09T12:52:49.501-07:00I don't know if you've noticed, but we don...I don't know if you've noticed, but we don't have a lot of choice regarding "our elected officials." Even if we voted every single one of them out based on this issue, the replacements would be just as likely to engage in exactly the same sort of corporate giveaway. <br /><br />As I've discussed elsewhere, corporations don't really feel shame but when they are dealing with customers they "know" that they have to conform to certain norms of conduct. The problem here is that the "business" is completely unaccountable to its "customers."PriceFixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03998562280292193075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-73487653639209879872020-01-28T07:00:12.844-08:002020-01-28T07:00:12.844-08:00Why should they be ashamed? They are running a bus...Why should they be ashamed? They are running a business and making a profit. We should be ashamed for not holding our elected officials accountable.Carwaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-65945153995401737212016-09-21T18:58:10.180-07:002016-09-21T18:58:10.180-07:00Same exact thing happened to me. Somehow wound up...Same exact thing happened to me. Somehow wound up on the Express lane off Gordon Blvd SR 123 after I tried to get back on after getting gas. <br /><br />I went to the website when I went home and entered my vehicle information and my email and they're supposed to send you a notice. Never received anything. It's a huge scam.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-26030486116748402282016-09-14T10:59:57.541-07:002016-09-14T10:59:57.541-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ingeniero Ernesto Ibáñezhttp://ernesto-consultoria.blogspot.com/2015/06/luis-caballero-mejias-inventor-de-la.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-25843724869375353662016-01-26T16:27:33.226-08:002016-01-26T16:27:33.226-08:00Per haps we're fighting the wrong war. By Virg...Per haps we're fighting the wrong war. By Virginia State Law Article 33.2-503 they can charge you any administrative fee they want provided it's below $100. So by law, they're doing nothing wrong. The problem is, it's still highly unethical for them to do this to commuters. As all of you have said, sometimes we do this by mistake. I think that article needs an amendment to force these private companies to not have an administrative fee and in fact, make it easier for people who make mistakes to pay the fee as soon as possible. For multiple infractions by a person with possibly malicious intent, take them to court and put whatever fees for lawyers and attorneys on those people.<br /><br />It's really the law that the state has that's at fault. If that law was more stringent about the services these companies provide, I think it would pressurize these private companies to work harder to provide a better service. Otherwise, why would they?<br /><br />VivekAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08581549547090295200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-79171592275032628652015-12-24T20:32:13.192-08:002015-12-24T20:32:13.192-08:00I started this post based on a similar experience ...I started this post based on a similar experience -- I got on the EZ Pass by accident, and got right off, and couldn't figure out what to do, and then eventually got their notice with the 35 cent (or whatever) toll plus the $12.50 admin fee. It would not surprise me if (as you suggest) the company is intentionally making it hard for people to figure out how to pay. These admin fees are a big money maker for them, and based on your comment, it sounds like even people who know enough to go to the EZ Pass site (I didn't know that much) get screwed. Someone should file a Freedom of Information Act Request and get some information from the State of Virginia on just how much these Australian skimmers are making off of admin fees.The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-79748212329047219162015-12-24T20:32:08.954-08:002015-12-24T20:32:08.954-08:00I started this post based on a similar experience ...I started this post based on a similar experience -- I got on the EZ Pass by accident, and got right off, and couldn't figure out what to do, and then eventually got their notice with the 35 cent (or whatever) toll plus the $12.50 admin fee. It would not surprise me if (as you suggest) the company is intentionally making it hard for people to figure out how to pay. These admin fees are a big money maker for them, and based on your comment, it sounds like even people who know enough to go to the EZ Pass site (I didn't know that much) get screwed. Someone should file a Freedom of Information Act Request and get some information from the State of Virginia on just how much these Australian skimmers are making off of admin fees.The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-6006410266758474252015-12-23T08:35:21.869-08:002015-12-23T08:35:21.869-08:00I recently entered the toll lanes without my trans...I recently entered the toll lanes without my transponder (early morning, different car, on lack-of-coffee auto-pilot), and almost immediately after I got on the toll lanes, I knew I made a mistake. As soon as I got to work, I went to the 95Express Lanes website to see if they had my trip information by my license plate so I could pay my toll. Well, the information was not there. Matter of fact, I looked every day for the next two weeks, and their system never showed me or my vehicle as having used the toll lanes that day. Three weeks later, I receive an invoice in the mail with my car tag photo, the toll charge and an administrative fee of $12.50 tacked on for good measure. I am very confused by all of this. Their website states that if you missed a toll, your trip information should be available online within 48 hours, and that you have 5 days to pay your toll without a penalty being assessed. If your information is never made available, and if you call in to their call center and they don't even have your trip information, how are you supposed to pay? To solve this problem, the website says that you can leave your credit card information with them along with your trip information and they will process the payment for you as soon as the trip information becomes available, but if even the representatives don't have the information, that option is impossible. Not only that, but I am very uncomfortable leaving my credit card information with a company that cannot even verify how much they will charge me. I know of others who have come across this, as well. Is the toll company purposely withholding this information from the accidental users until past the five-day deadline as a way of getting additional money in the form of "administrative fees"? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-28839128884025728132015-12-02T19:11:53.756-08:002015-12-02T19:11:53.756-08:00No resolution yet...
I received another email r...No resolution yet... <br /><br />I received another email response from the Capital Express Lanes following my second dispute, requesting I give their customer services a call.<br /><br />I called, explained the situation (charged tolls when I was clearly driving HOV-3) and was told that I needed to pay the tolls. <br /><br />I asked to speak to a supervisor and again explained the circumstances. Again, I was told point blank, that I needed to pay the tolls. I asked what was the basis for their denial of my dispute - and was told that they weren't denying it - but I still needed to pay the toll. Clearly the supervisor's sole job is to do nothing more than compound your frustration with their bogus dispute process...<br /><br />I've submit a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, but I don't think it will help.<br /><br />I've also submit a 3rd dispute - which I'm sure I will receive another generic reply...<br /><br />I'm nearing the due date for the invoices and I'm reaching the point where they are forcing this & clearly want this to go - to collections, tacking on additional fees and pushing to get me to cave in and pay the $22 in bogus tolls.<br /><br />Capital Beltway Express is very proficient with their scams...Disgustedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00184593815392859138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-48281371862790790152015-11-24T04:10:22.991-08:002015-11-24T04:10:22.991-08:00Thanks for sharing this. There hasn't been mu...Thanks for sharing this. There hasn't been much activity on this post lately, so i've started to assume that EZ pass has been getting better. But your story shows that they are still geared toward ripping off their honest customers, and making things very inconvenient for them to get a fair shake. It sounds like their computers and their employees are all "programmed" to assume that the customer is wrong, even when, as in your case, the customer is dead right. <br /><br />It's a good thing you're dealing with it now though -- if you let it slide, you can bet that before too long you'd get an invitation to come to court and fight against thousands of dollars in fines, like everybody else.<br /><br />I think the problem is that their technology just isn't nearly as good as they think it is. As another example, the transponder on my daughter's car now works only about 50% of the time, as she figured out on a recent trip up to New York. Although she could tell that it didn't register in the EZ pass lane, there was nothing she could do about it once she had chosen that lane. So she collected 6 or 7 fines from three different states for that one trip, and they've been coming in the mail, one at a time, over a period of more than a month. New Jersey sends a nasty letter for each one of them, saying that we owe the $2, plus a $50 fee. Luckily, when you go online, you learn that the $50 fee falls away if you can prove that you actually had a transponder. But it's still a major pain, and waste of time to have to deal with it. And the threat of a $50 fine for a $2 toll is pretty outrageous (Maryland, by contrast, just wants the toll money)..<br /><br />Anyway, if you have time, please send another post letting us know what their reply was on your second online dispute. The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-72364505875739791222015-11-23T20:58:06.542-08:002015-11-23T20:58:06.542-08:00I commute daily from Stafford to the Pentagon. Gr...I commute daily from Stafford to the Pentagon. Groundhog Day… I pick up slugs off of Rte 610, jump on the first Express Lanes entrance (between Stafford and Quantico) and exit to drop my slugs at the Pentagon; no change to the routine, the EZ Pass Flex setting remains in the HOV On position, the EZPass Flex stays in the same mounting position (appropriate location on the windshield). Additionally my EZPass account has never dropped below $15 (on very rare occasions I’ve driven the vehicle back to Ohio via the PA turnpike). <br /><br />This month I received two invoices from the Express Lanes billing me for 3 tolls that they showed occurred during my morning commute (oddly enough with different entry/exit points) totaling $63.70 ($37 in administration fee’s – second invoice).<br /><br />I checked my EZPass account, which showed I used the Express Lanes on the dates of the invoiced tolls. The EZPass account also showed that I incurred a $0.00 toll for all 3 days (driving HOV). Additionally my account had a balance that would have covered the tolls if my EZPass Flex were to have some ended up in the wrong switch position (though I have no idea how that could happen). Finally, the EZPass account showed that I commuted on the days just prior and after the invoiced toll dates – with no tolls charged (EZPass flex was clearly set to HOV the day before and after each invoiced toll). <br /><br />I submit an online dispute as soon as I received the two invoices (they were both delivered on the same day). I explained the situation as clearly and concisely as possible (comments are limited to 800 characters…) About a day later, I received an E-mail from the Express Lanes “Team” notifying me that they would waive the administrative fee as part of their “first time forgiveness” program – but they still attempted to charge me for the tolls. Thanks, now pay the tolls that you don’t really owe…<br /><br />I’ve submit a second online dispute against the tolls – once again explaining that it would appear that the toll was the result of a malfunction of their transponder system and not due in any part to anything under my control.<br /><br />Waiting to see their reply.<br /><br />Pretty disgusted at this point – at the time I’ve put into looking into the situation, at the idea of paying a toll for using the HOV and the potential that I may deal with another bogus invoice in the future… <br />Disgustedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00184593815392859138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-91155836158029803162015-05-21T04:31:35.577-07:002015-05-21T04:31:35.577-07:00Wow. Thanks very much for that detailed writeup. ...Wow. Thanks very much for that detailed writeup. You make a very convincing case that this is essentially their business model: They have gotten themselves in a position where you owe them 35 cents without knowing it, and then they are somehow able to legally multiply that liability by a factor of about 10,000, plus police involvement, with the help and cooperation of the state government. Really sickening, and I'm sorry for your $1200 loss. That's the other problem -- most of us are simply too busy with the rest of our lives to fight this, and they get away with it.<br /><br />As I've suggested to others, you should contact Lisa Marie Comras (lmsdigiulio@gmail.com) to see if she is still pursuing a class action. The comments here on this issue have tailed off, so maybe Transurban has cleaned up its act somewhat (maybe also thanks to Emily Miller's exposes), but Transurban is still sitting on piles and piles of money that they have essentially stolen from hardworking citizens like you. <br /><br />It's all just a disgusting example of how crony capitalism and political corruption ends up screwing over the people.The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-35303738149454621102015-05-20T09:13:40.441-07:002015-05-20T09:13:40.441-07:00Let me also make some additional points:
1. There...Let me also make some additional points:<br /><br />1. There is absolutely nothing in the Hot Lanes to indicate whether the EZ-Pass was accepted or rejected. A toll booth flashes red and at least gives you a chance to call right away and right it or if you are going past an EZ Pass where an operator sits even stop in time and pay in cash instead. At the very least, you should no immediately if your EZ Pass was accepted or kicked back.<br />2. Worse yet, this is layered into their system since EZ Pass doesn't administer the system, even once it registers your EZ Pass, it then has to go hit EZ Pass to find out at some apparently later whether the funds are there. Ok, so WHY? This is 2015, we certainly have the technology for a direct connection. Or develop your own passes or let EZ Pass control the flow of monitoring and gathering the funds and then transfer to the owning company. But wait... if they do it that way they can't justify the criminal loan shark (ok I'm being hard on loan sharks here) fees they charge.<br />3. Then why is a letter that ups a collection of a toll of possibly only 35 cents immediately hit with at least $12 and apparently another $100 in administrative fees pretty quickly thereafter not mailed via certified USPS or FedEx requiring a signature (they've already collected more than enough money to pay for that)? Oh wait, but then that might stop it in the hundreds. If we just mail it and hope it gets lost or overlooked, better chance of upping those fees into the thousands of dollars. <br /><br />In summation, it is clear by the design of the system in comparison to the technology of 2015, this has been designed to maximize the likelihood that a small error will be disproportionately escalated to a level that allows Transurban to steal an exhorbitant amount of an individuals money and profit from this obviously legally sanctioned criminal enterprise. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-15552996252241230762015-05-20T09:10:15.238-07:002015-05-20T09:10:15.238-07:00I began a new job in McLean April, 2013. I had not...I began a new job in McLean April, 2013. I had not used the new Hot Lanes up to the point, and had not been on the Dulles Toll Road for some time. As it turned out my EZ-Pass Credit Card update information needed to be updated. I had started using the HOT Lanes on some occasions to drive to the Fairfax area for lunch. Within about two weeks, I used the Dulles Toll Road and was given indication that I did not have funds on my EZ-Pass, which I was then able to determine was due to a change of my credit card number on file, which had not been updated. So I fixed this, and asked about the HOT Lanes. They gave me the 495 Express Lanes number. When I spoke to 495 Express I was told there were no violations showing at that time but that I would be mailed a letter with the fees if there was a violation, no mention of "this could be hundreds or thousands of dollars." Fast Forward: about a year and a half later, a Deputy with the court in PG County where I live knocks on my door and serves me a notice from Fairfax County that Transurban is taking Civil action against me: four violations that occurred on two consecutive days, to drive one or two exits on the hot lane to and from lunch - so this is like two 35 cent tolls and a two that were maybe a couple of dollars. This was about a grand total of $3-$5 in tolls for two trips (to and from) on two days. The lawsuit was alleging that a letter had been sent requesting the tolls plus at least $100 per trip on the Hot Lane (so four of these, two to location and then back to work later). But NOW, because they had to take Civil Action for the $400+ letter I never received that was sent to collect their $3-$5 in tolls, I was being fined in the escalating civil cycle others have mentioned, which hits $1000 on the fourth one (I think it went something like $100, $250, $500 and then $1000), with the $400 still added on, totalling somewhere around $2200 to collect $3-$5 in tolls. I called the 495 Express toll number and was given an amount of around $1200 to pay them directly and avoid court. I was working a long commute at a different location now driving Bowie to Aberdeen (60-70 miles one way) and a bit overwhelmed. Although it was a crunch, I dug into some savings and paid the $1200 to get them off my back, which still irritates me, and always will. There's no other way to say this but that it is a Government-sponsored criminal conspiracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-33388026082964837332015-02-28T21:26:07.772-08:002015-02-28T21:26:07.772-08:00Well, you can either pay them off, or contact Lisa...Well, you can either pay them off, or contact Lisa Marie Comras (lmsdigiulio@gmail.com) and join the class action!The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-36249161268335305912015-02-28T13:30:22.607-08:002015-02-28T13:30:22.607-08:00I just got one of these letters. Was in the NOVA ...I just got one of these letters. Was in the NOVA area on a Saturday visiting, am somewhat familiar with the area. Was coming back home hoping to take the 66 exit to the left, but got caught up on an exit lane that took me up to 29/Lee Highway. Now I've just received a letter saying I owe money for an EZPass violation for using this lane, I guess. No toll booth, no gate, on a Saturday no less. Makes me mad considering I kind of got swept up into the exit lane. It's not where I wanted to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-89212751543733375502015-02-21T16:23:26.345-08:002015-02-21T16:23:26.345-08:00If you're mad about it, join the class action....If you're mad about it, join the class action. It wouldn't surprise me if the real money for Transurban was in these predatory admin fees -- people pay them without putting up a fight, because it's just not worth it. But the "class" of people who have been ripped off this way by Transurban is probably in the tens or hundreds of thousands, which means hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars of potential recovery for the class action. The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-5949494664582108032015-02-21T14:51:47.915-08:002015-02-21T14:51:47.915-08:00$12.50 admin fee per toll and I doubt Transurban e...$12.50 admin fee per toll and I doubt Transurban even pays their employees $12.50 per hour. This is a scheme. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-60637685583640571912015-02-11T18:23:10.602-08:002015-02-11T18:23:10.602-08:00I put your contact info at the top of the original...I put your contact info at the top of the original post, a few days ago; I just added some more info just now. And I also added it to the top of my other posts on this topic. I hope it helps!<br /><br />PS -- it looks like Emily Miller of Fox 5 DC is staying on top of this thing; at some point, you might want to contact her . . . .The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-10625163290227362102015-02-11T09:50:17.349-08:002015-02-11T09:50:17.349-08:00Trent - if you are interested in joining our feder...Trent - if you are interested in joining our federal class action, email me lmsdigiulio@gmail.com<br />I will send you the questionnaire that our attorney has created for whomever is joining our suit.Lisa-Marie Comrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021047544391949145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-48561966724756651872015-02-11T09:48:36.934-08:002015-02-11T09:48:36.934-08:00Yes, we have. We are working on a strategy to get...Yes, we have. We are working on a strategy to get those going in and coming out. We have our suit moving forward - can you post my email again - this, for me, is not about getting any $ - but transurban/ffx court/etc have to have some transparency and they have been left to run unchecked for far too long. <br />lmsdigiulio@gmail.com<br />Our attorneys have a questionnaire for anyone interested in joining. <br /><br />Lisa<br /><br />BTW - thank you for having this site for folks like me. You are an inspiration!<br />Lisa-Marie Comrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021047544391949145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-5446947252365598462015-01-30T05:13:38.334-08:002015-01-30T05:13:38.334-08:00I just added a mention of the class action and you...I just added a mention of the class action and your email address to the very front of the original post -- the post is still getting a few dozen hits every week, maybe this will help get people's attention and get them over to you. The Price Fixerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585377604470156643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-70765142497925556272015-01-29T06:08:00.810-08:002015-01-29T06:08:00.810-08:00Thank you! Thank you! Lisa-Marie Comrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021047544391949145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-10348595284590353582015-01-29T06:07:14.509-08:002015-01-29T06:07:14.509-08:00Hey everyone - I am still here! I have met with o...Hey everyone - I am still here! I have met with one attorney and have a meeting with another next week. There are currently 15 of us that are going in on our class action. <br /><br />We cannot let this continue.<br /><br />Anyone interested - email me - and thank you to The Price Fixer for all of your help! :)<br /><br />Lisa<br /><br />lmsdigiulio@gmail.comLisa-Marie Comrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021047544391949145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559822487861319749.post-23702941704071963332015-01-29T06:05:30.647-08:002015-01-29T06:05:30.647-08:00I am renewing my search to find folks interested i...I am renewing my search to find folks interested in joining me and 15 others in a federal class action lawsuit. We HAVE to stop Transurban, Fluor, 495 Express Lanes AND the commonwealth of VA. This "First Time Forgiveness" policy is being implemented sporadically - they aren't following the "rules" they created. It is only going to get worse now that the 95 corridor lanes are open.<br />I had $14.20 in tolls (on a fully funded, properly mounted EZPass) that is now a $10,751.40 JUDGMENT and I will lose my license because I REFUSE to pay. <br /><br />IF you are 100% interested, email me at lmsdigiulio@gmail.com - give me general overview details on your experience. <br /><br />Lets put an end to this.<br /><br />Lisa ComrasLisa-Marie Comrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021047544391949145noreply@blogger.com