A Quebecer who went to New York in October to attend an NFL Jets game thought he would pay $52.90 CAD for his trips on the highway. He fell out of his chair when he received his bill: $451.52.
“I only received one letter. No warning, nothing,” says the man in his forties who does not want to be identified because he occupies a strategic position in a large company.
The New York State Thruway Authority, which manages the highways he took, charged him US$302 in late fees. The problem? It was the organization’s first communication with him, swears the New York Jets supporter.
If he had received a letter before, he would have noticed, insists the Quebecer, who describes himself as “very in his business”. Especially since the Thruway Authority envelopes are bright orange!
photo julien mcevoy
Highway tolls in New York State operate like those on the 25 bridge in Quebec. If you do not have a transponder, you will receive an invoice by mail.
This is what happened to our man, who was asked to pay for five trips made on October 10, 2023 and October 13, 2023. Total trips: US$342.08 or $451.52.
The five tolls were expected to cost US$40.08 ($52.90) before fees of US$302 ($398.62).
screenshot provided by our source
Contacted this week, the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) declined to comment on the matter. More than 408,000 Canadians and 111,000 Quebecers had to pay to use its highways last year, said a spokesperson.
“This is the first time we’ve heard a story like this,” the Thruway Authority also said.
Quebec a little lost
Neither the Consumer Protection Office (OPC) nor CAA-Québec nor the SAAQ knew quite what to respond to the Newspaperthis week.
“We have not found similar cases in the complaints handling system, which does not mean for sure that we cannot have had them,” the OPC told us.
To the extent that we are talking about collection activities carried out with Quebec debtors, the Act respecting the recovery of certain debts could apply.
At CAA, members are offered to purchase the transponder for them and show them how to pay online in advance. We also offer to help people build their itinerary.
That’s very nice, retorts the Jets fan, but you can’t even create an account on the E-Zpass system to pay or receive alerts.
“They offer the option for Quebecers, but it gets stuck when entering the postal code. A beautiful cabochon system,” he exclaims.
Get the plate number
Bad payers in Quebec can sleep peacefully. They will not be disturbed at home by a bailiff for their tolls not paid in the United States.
Under the agreement between the SAAQ and the NYSTA, Quebec cannot send information to the United States in the event of non-payment.
All the American agency can do is send the SAAQ a list of license plate numbers of vehicles that have not paid toll fees on a highway.
All the SAAQ does is transmit the contact details of those whose license plates were captured by the NYSTA during a pass.
The SAAQ then transmits the necessary information which allows the NYSTA to claim payment and possibly take legal action.
Our Quebecer paid the $452 to put an end to the NYTSA. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have, but given their incompetence, I didn’t take the risk,” he said.