Consumer Alert.
Albany, NY – If you often take the state Thruway, and it’s usually a short run from one local exit to another, and If your E-Z Pass Is automatically taken out of you checking account, make Sure you check your monthly Bill, The Thruway Authority is pocketing millions of your dollars in overcharges when E-Z Pass transponders malfunction.
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The Thruway Authority has confirmed to a TV Station in upstate NY that the problem is with the way E-Z Pass keeps track of how vehicles enter and exit the Thruway. Usually you pull up to the toll booth, the transponder on your window or dash sends a signal, so the light turns green and off you go. When you exit, you pull up, the light turns green, and the toll is automatically charged to your account. But if for some reason, your transponder malfunctions in the form of electronic interference, damage, or say, your account is low, and the signal reads, “Call EZ Pass.” Then you’re automatically charged as if you drove from the farthest exit. [VIN]
This is correct.
I was the unfortunate recipient of such incident when getting off at the Sharon Springs exit which at the time did not have any EZ-Pass lanes. Since I entered the Thruway at Harriman and used the EZ-Pass lane there, I had no “ticket” stub to hand the toll-collector.
They insisted on charging me the entire Thruway fee – ranging from Elmira, NY or face State Police summons. The Trooper was there shaking his head in agreement, so I paid the $13.00 dollars and “waived my rights”.