We now live in a brave new world of unmanned tollbooths. B, for one, is not a fan. He rented a car recently, and Enterprise didn’t make EZ-Pass transponders available to customers. He crossed a bridge that had two options for paying its toll: automatically charged to your license plate through the mail, or EZ-Pass. Since it was a rental, he got slapped with a $18 convenience fee for the toll on just one bridge.

The problem for B. wasn’t having a bill automatically mailed to him. That’s cool. The problem was that the toll collectos didn’t mail the bill to him…they mailed it to Enterprise. Enterprise passed it on to him, but slapped on a $18 “convenience fee.”

Enterprise rents cars in New York City, a place where many people do not own cars or have their own EZ-Pass units. Enterprise should know that many of their customers will be escaping from Manhattan using a bridge or a tunnel that carries a toll.

I rented a car from Enterprise in New York City in early January 2013.

I crossed the Henry Hudson Bridge, which no longer has toll booths. All tolls are collected by EZ-Pass or by mail. Enterprise does not provide EZ-Pass as an option with their car rentals.

The bridge authority mailed a bill for the toll to Enterprise, and Enterprise turned around and charged me an $18 convenience fee. They sent me a letter, dated 1/28/13, that I received more than 2 weeks after the date of issue, saying that my credit card would be charged within 15 days of the date of the letter. The letter referred me to a website for further information.

The website states:

If you or any driver operate the rental vehicle in areas not served by TollPass and generate any unpaid toll(s) then you will be charged for all unpaid tolls and an administrative charge of up to $25.00 per rental.

I would assume they are doing this to all renters in New York City who cross bridges that have this new toll system.

There was no indication in the letter that I only had 15 days to contest the charge (only that my credit card would be billed 15 days after the date of the letter). When I called, they said it was too late to contest the charge. They said this was a standard processing fee for tolls. They did not know anything about the new toll system, but this was not their problem. They said it is not Enterprise’s responsibility to provide EZ-Pass to their renters.

I think they should refund this fee to all drivers who have been assessed for bridges and tunnels that have eliminated toll booths and are charging by mail. Going forward, they should institute a direct pass-through payment for tolls, or provide EZ-Pass to renters.

If you need one right away, you can buy an EZ-Pass On The Go at a number of retailers. My local grocery store has them as an impulse item at the checkout for some reason. Somehow, we don’t picture Enterprise selling them as an add-on item when you rent a car, though.

RELATED:
Hertz Alienates Longtime Customer With $10 Convenience Fee For 75 Cent Toll
Trapped In A Tollbooth Without Money: What Do You Do?
Would You Risk A $200 Ticket To Save $2 In Bridge Tolls?

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