E-ZPass Charge You Fee When It Malfunctions

The Red Tape Chronicles has an interesting story from Kathy Sunato, a Pennsylvania driver who noticed that E-ZPass was charging her strange $5 fees.

It turned out that every time the E-ZPass device couldn’t figure out when she exited the toll road, what is called an “orphan exit,” she was assessed the $5 charge.

To get her $35 refunded, Sunato had to fill out seven different forms, one for each fee. She had only discovered the error in the first place because she checked her bill online. Paper bills cost ezxtra.

If you use E-Zpass, be sure to check online if you’re getting assessed any “orphan” fees, which can arise from low batteries in the device, waving it front of your windshield instead of mounting it, or system errors.

ON E-TOLL ROADS, BEWARE ‘ORPHAN EXIT’ FEE [The Red Tape Chronicles]
(Photo: Phoosh)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.