Submitted by [deleted] t3_yskkbv in RhodeIsland
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Comments
[deleted] OP t1_ivzhw3c wrote
Accurate-Historian-7 t1_ivzi19s wrote
I recommend trying to call them once they are open. There is a bridge number and also an ez-pass number. I’ve learned to just call them 3 weeks after I pass, request to have my plate looked up and I pay over the phone. They take way to freaking long with the paper billing. It’s a joke. I’ve seen other people post similar horror stories.
wormholeweapons t1_ivzifei wrote
It’s not a scam. It shipped to an address that was on file. You didn’t do what it takes to get that updated.
Scam? No. Your negligence? Yes.
Unique-Public-8594 t1_ivzijfu wrote
Again, getting your mail sent to you, locating your mail, opening your mail, paying your bills - these are things responsible adults prioritize. They prioritize it so they don’t have to pay $140 in late fees.
We all pay. You have to also.
[deleted] OP t1_ivzipnb wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_ivzivao wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_ivzjvvt wrote
It was sent to your last address where the car was registered.. when you went over the bridge without paying did you think it was just going to be a free for all? I agree the late fees are high but reach out on Monday ( bc to day is a holiday so obviously they are closed ) and don’t blame them for sending it to the wrong address
Accurate-Historian-7 t1_ivzjw9u wrote
I saw someone post almost an identical story a few months ago and I believe they were able to call and explain the situation. I think they got it dropped.
wormholeweapons t1_ivzkmz3 wrote
I don’t care what another state does or doesn’t charge. This state charges that. I had a toll charge from Texas get sent to me with a late fee applied that was from before the notice even got to me.
So. Mildly infuriating or annoying. Sure.
A scam. No.
Point blank. They didn’t mail it to god knows where because they made up the address. That was your address in the system they were given. Either by you when you signed up for ez pass. Or perhaps via your registration or the dmv. Whatever. It’s on you to be responsible and stay on top of it and keep those things up to date.
It sucks. I don’t disagree. But it’s not a scam. If it was then everything and anything any town state or federal charge is would be a scam too.
Life lesson kid. Learn from it.
saucyB52 t1_ivzkqft wrote
yea u think so
wen im sdrivin the car ez-pass always does wut its spossed to
then once my friends car broke down so in a pinch i lent him my car so he could get to work
turns out he was crossin the bridgew 2wice aday for 2 weeks then the bill from dmv hits me in the mail
$10 a pop, that was a hefty bill
RhodySeth t1_ivzl1cw wrote
It sounds like an unfortunate series of events in short order and I feel for you but you said this happened back during the summer. When did you first attempt to resolve the bill?
I'd definitely say that late fee seems steep but I guess it depends on how long ago this happened. If nothing else, I don't think you'll forget to resolve next time!
[deleted] OP t1_ivzl57x wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_ivzlfcx wrote
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wormholeweapons t1_ivzlk74 wrote
It was $30 or $35.
I think you need to look up what the definition of “scam” is. If you check the RI site for tolls. They tell you up front the late fee schedule.
It’s not a scam. The amount is irrelevant.
You are spending more time arguing on Reddit about it being a scam as opposed to just. I dunno. Get an EZ pass and connect it to a credit card. The toll will be paid every time right then and there.
DisastrousFudge3593 t1_ivzll2z wrote
Your not very nice
rhodysailor t1_ivzmd8q wrote
I agree their system is bullshit. The charge to go over that bridge is insane. I can see how the late fees stack up since it went to a wrong address, but their fees are nuts. Rhode Island has a few interesting quirks on the road to milk money from people.
DisastrousFudge3593 t1_ivzmscc wrote
No it’s not reasonable at all to charge fees that high and I’m not sure why people are being rude to you. You asked a question you didn’t ask them for a lecture on responsibility. Some people are just so perfect apparently they can’t help but find people on Reddit that might be having a struggle for a moment just so they can point out their perfectness by being rude and condescending to others. Everybody makes mistakes and it’s probably a computer system auto generating the bills and if you call them Monday and tell them you want to pay the toll costs and that your address mix up took place, I am sure they will wave those crazy fees. Good luck ! I have these same struggles often and it’s not bc of lack of maturity or responsibility, it’s because I have major ADHD and unfortunately missing deadlines or forgetting to update things , being late, etc are all kinda side effects :)
[deleted] OP t1_ivzng20 wrote
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Rickshmitt t1_ivzngim wrote
They will let you off. My friend had the same thing.
epal31 t1_ivznj8x wrote
I would write a letter and send a check with just the value of the tolls you were supposed to pay and leave it at that. Explain the address mix up and why the late fees should be waived. If they cash your check, hopefully that’s it.
EZ Pass is a pain in the ass to deal with. If you don’t pay within the 30 days their late service/ fees are absurd. But if you call to explain they are generally favorable or require you to write a letter explaining why you shouldn’t pay, it worked for people I know have had issues.
I had to deal with EZ Pass not notifying me that my credit card was being declined (working for other purchases). So they sent me notices in the mail to pay, but added a bunch of services fees. In the middle of fighting , they went “delinquent” and I had those late services fees charged. Essentially racking up close to 500$ for like 18$ in tolls.Called customer service got some removed , wrote a letter to customer service with a check for the actual values of the tolls and saying this is all I’m paying. Then out of nowhere I got a collections notice from EZ Pass.
Called the collections agency, explained everything and never heard from EZ Pass or the collections agency again. Never had a bad mark on my credit from having a bill go to collections , nor ever had to be all the service late fees.
Moral of the story, get an EZ Pass and make sure it’s loaded with cash.
newportsully t1_ivzny0v wrote
Same thing happened to me. It took at least 3 tries calling different days/times to get connected with someone, but they just made me pay the original fine and waved the late fees. I know it’s a pain in the ass calling and trying to get connected with someone, but definitely worth it.
wormholeweapons t1_ivzoflb wrote
That’s just not how this all works.
Clamgravy t1_ivzohzu wrote
If you don't want to pay a late fee, pay your bill on time. How is EZPass supposed to know that your registration information is out of date? Sounds like a personal problem
[deleted] OP t1_ivzp9o9 wrote
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_CaesarAugustus_ t1_ivzpfdv wrote
Completely agree with this. Also just curious: EZ Pass was mentioned in the title, but not in the story. I was confused by that.
Clamgravy t1_ivzpnid wrote
Again, if you kept your registration up to date, and paid the fee on time... This wouldn't be a problem. It's easily avoidable.
[deleted] OP t1_ivzpuj9 wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_ivzq73m wrote
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_CaesarAugustus_ t1_ivzr45i wrote
There’s a reason why you’re supposed to update your mailing address and registration address when you move. It can be mildly inconvenient, but this is obviously 10x moreso.
[deleted] OP t1_ivzr7ut wrote
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_CaesarAugustus_ t1_ivzregv wrote
Ah. It’s definitely frustrating. Having an EZ Pass for your vehicle is such a savior. Hopefully you can explain the situation to them and get some of the fees knocked off. My father was able to when this happened to him.
[deleted] OP t1_ivzrulx wrote
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Front_Recognition_8 t1_ivzs5xt wrote
My wife got a ticket for going over the bridge. She didn't go over luckly there is photo and not only does the plate not match but its a different make and model. In order to refute I had to send something via paper mail.
gnoani t1_ivzs7tl wrote
I didn't have a billing dispute, rather I signed up without the RI resident benefit and used it for months while driving for Uber. When I called to correct my mistake they prorated my previous tolls to the new, lower price, without me even asking! Sent like $180 back to my bank. Their only question was whether I wanted the money back as money or in RITBA bucks for future tolls.
Clamgravy t1_ivzs8se wrote
I'm sorry you feel ripped off. You should get upset.
jackassjimmy t1_ivztu9u wrote
Look, is it fair that banks charge between $25-45, when you overdraw your checking account, by a dollar for a coffee or some nebulous purchase? Nope. Do they do it? A million times a day. Does it make people link checking (ez pass) to another account, for overdraft protection or know how much money is ALWAYS available for purchases? Probably. Are the fees you’re being assessed exorbitant? Yep. However, the state is strapped for cash and you can’t expect the state to figure it out. The taxpayer is always going to be in the wrong. It’s Rhode Island at its finest.
RedditSkippy t1_ivztuk5 wrote
What does this have to do with EZ Pass?
jackassjimmy t1_ivzu2d8 wrote
Be grateful it’s not RI Traffic Court.
tryingtograsp t1_ivzuaeq wrote
Well you wanted to call a state agency on your day off which is a Federal Holiday, and you're upset they're closed? Relax
Also "getting around to paying it" take care of bills when they show up.
[deleted] OP t1_ivzvdqr wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_ivzwvcm wrote
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chaoticnormal t1_ivzwyxx wrote
Mass has terrible fees too, don't kid yourself. My daughter got a bill for like $1.50 she didn't pay on time and it was $6. That was just one or two crossings and you did multiple without paying on time. it sucks but they also email me when I have a low balance.
PickledBananas t1_ivzx2w3 wrote
everyone in this comment section is being a dick, like none of you have ever forgotten about a toll before. $200 late fee IS theft for a $24 toll.
askme_if_im_a_chair t1_ivzxrej wrote
Happened to me twice in the last year and I racked up hundreds in late fees. But they didn't send my bill to a previous address, they have my correct address on file, the bill just never came. I called and they wiped my late fees. I just had to pay the original price.
Proof-Variation7005 t1_ivzxss0 wrote
>The bill got shipped to a different address than where I am currently living
You're supposed to keep your address current on vehicle registration. I hope you can get the fine lowered and all that but I don't think RIDOT picked a random address and used that
ovary-achiever t1_ivzzwwn wrote
I called them and they took my fee away once! It’s worth a shot!
[deleted] OP t1_iw00vi1 wrote
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JKBone85 t1_iw036hr wrote
If you had paid any attention when you just drove over the bridge, you might have noticed that you can indeed pay in cash or card at the furthest toll booth on the right. You might have also noticed that the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority is who runs the tolling. EZ Pass is the company that makes the system for tolling. It’s free. You just need to link a checking account to it. Tolls also cost less, so your free EZ pass gets you a discount everywhere.
Your late fees are not unreasonable. The longer you take to pay them the more it costs you. This is an incentive to get you to pay your bill on time.
Sorry you aren’t getting the kind of response you expected when coming here to complain..?
[deleted] OP t1_iw03tum wrote
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JKBone85 t1_iw04b74 wrote
Last time I went over the bridge a few weeks ago they still did it. Either way, you want to get in touch with RIBTA, not EZPass per say.
Swamp_yankee_ninja t1_iw04cj3 wrote
Wait till after the new year, those toll gantries across the State will be up and running again… tolling every vehicle small and large. You think your getting screwed now, just wait.
Lunaesa t1_iw066eb wrote
Tolls are now automatically assessed and mailed to you.
TwinFinTriggerFish t1_iw0adrh wrote
Went across the bridge. 6 dollar fee. Got nothing in the mail until I get the late notice to the tube of 40 dollars. The. The bill arrived the next day after the late paperwork arrived. I think there is definitely a scam going on there
gusterfell t1_iw0b6bg wrote
Ez-pass is technically free. You have to deposit (I think) $25 when you sign up, but that goes to pay your future tolls, which are usually less than the non-ez-pass toll.
Even if you only use the Newport Bridge, Mass Pike, or any of the other various toll roads around the Northeast very rarely, the convenience and discounted tolls are worth it, IMO.
[deleted] OP t1_iw0bfju wrote
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whatnodeaddogwilleat t1_iw0bh2h wrote
Unpopular opinion, you're not missing anything. There's boats and water.
whatnodeaddogwilleat t1_iw0biy8 wrote
Where did you hear this?
Swamp_yankee_ninja t1_iw0cm1d wrote
Well, the State was successfully sued and the judge ordered the State to stop charging truck tolls. They knew this was coming and will likely appeal. The State will loose the appeal and go back to plan B, toll everyone.
brianv83 t1_iw0fl3o wrote
This same thing happened to me, I filed a dispute form that is on the website, called to make sure they received and still haven’t heard back. I never got an original bill, just the one saying I had late $40 late fees, and I have an EZPASS on top of it which they said “appeared to be deactivated” … yeah okay.
babith t1_iw0fnqf wrote
Agree with this except RIDOT isn’t in charge of tolls.
agreensandcastle t1_iw0fuls wrote
Today is a national holiday. It’s not surprising they were closed. In Chicago when I used to do this there was a website to go find it and pay it on time, because you knew you had to pay, is this not the same here? I just got to the area. It sucks, but I also don’t find a lot of this surprising.
agreensandcastle t1_iw0g8y8 wrote
True enough. But I just moved here and can’t switch my dl or plate because I don’t have a place to live here. Housing market is nuts right now. I couldn’t even be a roommate here for what I paid for a 2 bedroom with a garage in WI. I’ve raised my budget, but it’s still hard to find a place. My mail is forwarded to family currently.
babith t1_iw0gnhh wrote
No they won’t.
babith t1_iw0gokl wrote
They just made it up 😒
Swamp_yankee_ninja t1_iw0n8be wrote
I got some bad news for you, the Gina Raimondo Rhode Works infrastructure plan was bonded, the work has been done however it is not paid for. Trust me, they will get our money one way or another.
mattyrugg t1_iw0p2ee wrote
>you might have noticed that you can indeed pay in cash or card at the furthest toll booth on the right
Sorry, This hasn't been true since October 2021. Edit: corrected date.
kyden t1_iw0pr7y wrote
It’s to go over a bridge. there are bridge tolls on the west coast too.
Sleuthiestofsleuths t1_iw0qgam wrote
An actual person has the job of taking calls for this exact thing. Nicely explain what happened and that you want to pay the toll, but are on a tight budget with everything going on right now. They're human, they'll help you. *For reference, I know someone who did this job during college and she always helped everyone who was nice to her. Assholes, not so much. 😊
[deleted] OP t1_iw0ra1f wrote
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babith t1_iw0t074 wrote
Nope. It was never in and won’t be in the plans to toll passenger cars.
Swamp_yankee_ninja t1_iw0t7fo wrote
Well, they won’t be tolling trucks… so they will need to find another way to tax us. Unless the State defaults on the bonds.
babith t1_iw0tbub wrote
Not going to happen. That’s not how it works.
Swamp_yankee_ninja t1_iw0tnrd wrote
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how it works, State goes out to bond, fixes infrastructure and collects taxes to repay the bond. That money will come from our pockets.
baxleybean t1_iw0u6yo wrote
How you can live in New England or even the Eastern Coast and NOT have an ezpass transponder, blows my mind!! I moved here 13 years ago and the first thing I did was get a transponder for local bridges and highways. You're expecting bridge authority workers who make maybe $18 an hour to care about matching up your address with your plate, that you didn't update, and care about your story when you read the signs that said you would be billed by mail but you never checked... get a transponder and keep it updated just like I do for all our vehicles and motorcycles. No sympathy here.
ananda_yogi t1_iw0xlxq wrote
I once racked up over $700 in fees after failing to change my credit card after mine got compromised... called and they knocked off all fees and charged me the original 60 something I actually owed. Just wait until you can tallk to someone, I'm sure they will help you out
epal31 t1_iw0xomr wrote
Ohh well. I sent a letter explaining my case after several customer service calls. I never got a call back or response to my letter, but they cashed my checks that I sent with letters. Can really tell where that company’s stance and customer service lies….
Westreacher t1_iw0xzll wrote
Well, it is the only toll for passenger vehicles in the entire state. They’ve only got one chance to screw you, so they tend to take whatever advantage they can.
dogsandpeaceohmy t1_iw0zlpq wrote
If you drive to Maine it will save you money. They give a decent discount for using ez pass.
StarKickMeadowDancer t1_iw100au wrote
When you call, Be Nice!! It’s not the operator’s fault. You could also send a letter making a formal request, including a payment for the original amount, if calling is difficult for timing reasons
RunEnvironmental4932 t1_iw1344g wrote
If you Google RI EZPass Violation Dispute Form the correct form comes right up. I would fill that out and email it to them ahead of time since the hold times for EZPass are usually high and that will make the process much faster. They will waive the late fees. If you live in Rhode Island, it's a good idea to get the EZPass anyways since residents pay 83 cents instead of $6. Eventually you will use it in MA or RI. You can get one online or at a AAA location, even if your not a member.
SilentKaos713 t1_iw1cy03 wrote
Agreed. Such a high fee is punitive and unreasonable. On top of that, why is it even tolled, are they still paying off the bridge? Do they use the money for road maintenance? 😂 Are they trying to discourage the use of a road? There's no other option! Yup, total scam.
backbaydrumming t1_iw1jzz4 wrote
I had like $130 something worth of toll fees in New Jersey due to my own negligence. I forgot to take my transponder out of my old car and hadn’t gotten a new one. I just called EZ pass New Jersey and very nicely and calmly asked for them to wave all the fees. To my surprise the woman I was talking to let me just pay the original one. The original toll was like $12 I think so I saved more than a hundred dollars
beasmygod t1_iw1ni75 wrote
i complain about those too but they impacted my day to day a lot less
quahaug1945 t1_iw2k5jw wrote
I recommend notifying the Registry of Motor Vehicles expeditiously when you change your address. The toll bill was mailed to your address of record on your vehicle registration.
JKBone85 t1_iw2m2pp wrote
Good thing I’ve got an EZPass then.
degggendorf t1_iw32ul2 wrote
The fees are to scare you into taking action, and it seems like they're working.
In my experience they'll readily waive them if you call and ask.
They really just want to collect the base toll.
[deleted] OP t1_iw33o69 wrote
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bbpr120 t1_iw3ehxm wrote
As long as you get one from Rhode Island- it's effectively free to own minus the account minimum requirement. Some States (NY/NJ/Maryland) charge a monthly maintenance fee if you don't meet some usage requirement, RI doesn't as long your statement is delivered by email. And as a RI resident, with RI plates it'll get you over the bridge a lot cheaper than the pay by mail option (once you provide the support documentation).
ChedwardCoolCat t1_iw3qn7i wrote
Ha this reminds me of the time someone dropped a ticket on my car for a meter violation.
I had paid the meter, the problem? They put the plate in wrong (one number was off). I contacted the city and reported it (with photos of my plate and the ticket, and the paid meter) to make sure they didn’t start racking up fines on some random person.
Waluigi3030 t1_iwvv517 wrote
Boohoo, I thought you were a big shot, you can't afford a little bitty toll?
Hey everybody, get a look at the broke moron over here who can't figure out how tolls work!
Unique-Public-8594 t1_ivzhm2c wrote
Federal holiday today. Of course they are closed.
Not fun but these are the consequences of ignoring your mail after driving over a bridge and knowing the bill for that bridge would be coming in the mail.
Hard lesson but I imagine, going forward, you won’t ignore your mail, especially when you are expecting a bridge toll.
Get an EZ Pass.