Avis - Avis EZ Toll Ripoff

On first look, this program seems like a great convenience. Get the transponder, and breeze through the toll gates and have the charge put on your bill.

Great, right? Except for one thing: Avis says that they will charge you the "regular rate" for any tolls you incur. Well, in the NY Metro a large number of the bridges and tunnels charge half the cash rate for the EZPass! So Avis is bilking the customer, on a seemingly or what could be a nice feature!

Now I don't mind the fees for the system, they get a buck or 2 per toll for the use of it, but how about then charging the customer what the toll is, not what the cash toll is!!!???

Another example of Corporate greed, low moral fiber, and a general subterfuge to unknowing strangers to the toll system discounts. Shame on Avis.

Which tunnel or bridge charges half for using EZ Pass?

The tunnels are now $12.00 cash and $9.50 EZ pass.

I agree they should charge what they are charged, but you diminish your argument exaggerating the discount.

Which tunnel or bridge charges half for using EZ Pass?

The tunnels are now $12.00 cash and $9.50 EZ pass.

I agree they should charge what they are charged, but you diminish your argument exaggerating the discount.
+1, although I'm pretty sure if you look at the toll rates at those facilities that discount the cash fare for EZPass users, you'll see that the discount is intended for private, non-commercial use (which disqualifies rental car companies).

Also, I don't recall ever seeing Avis (or any other RAC agency) advertising the discounted toll rates. Rather, they use the ability to avoid the cash lanes and speed through tolls as the selling point.

No one is forcing you to use the transponder - you can leave the door closed and still pay the cash rate, avoiding the eTolls convenience charge.

Which tunnel or bridge charges half for using EZ Pass?

The tunnels are now $12.00 cash and $9.50 EZ pass.

I agree they should charge what they are charged, but you diminish your argument exaggerating the discount.

Firstly, on my April statement I've been charged $7 for the Lincoln Tunnel, which is $12 cash. If that's not EXACTLY half, it still does not "diminish" my argument.

They are charging fees, about 1 or 2 dollars per toll. OK, sure, they have to make a profit and there are processing costs of course. But to blatantly just charge the "regular cash price" is just a soak on the consumer. I would never use this EZtoll, I'd rather wait on the cash line.

I don't want to argue the point, but I just looked at my account statement as well as the toll schedule.

If you paid $7.50 for the Lincoln tunnel, then you traveled through it off-peak hours which is generally after 8pm and before 6am during the week and before 10am on the weekends. There's also another off-peak period weekdays 10am-4pm. I travel it every day, and my toll is $9.50 instead of $12.

http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html is the link to see the toll schedule.

It does diminish your argument when most people do not pay half or near half.

You have a very good point, there is no need to embellish it.

As long as they disclose the practice and give you the option of not using the transponder I see no problem. They are open about their policy and you chose to use it or not. Plus as someone else said, the discounts may not apply to commercial rental car companies.

As long as they disclose the practice and give you the option of not using the transponder I see no problem. They are open about their policy and you chose to use it or not. Plus as someone else said, the discounts may not apply to commercial rental car companies.

That's nice. So if a bank is "open" about charging 30% interest to a captive customer that's just great; and if a taxi charges triple the "regular rate" to an out-of-towner just arrived and unknowing of local rates that's hunky-dory as well, eh? As long as it is "disclosed"?

This is a bilk of a captive consumer. One who just wants it easy, or one who is from out of town and has no idea what he/she should be charged.

But the consumer is not captive. They can pay with cash or do what I do, which is to bring their own transponder with them and not use the one provided.

But the consumer is not captive. They can pay with cash or do what I do, which is to bring their own transponder with them and not use the one provided.

Or avoid toll roads. I know it's not always easy to do, but it's another alternative.

That's nice. So if a bank is "open" about charging 30% interest to a captive customer that's just great; and if a taxi charges triple the "regular rate" to an out-of-towner just arrived and unknowing of local rates that's hunky-dory as well, eh? As long as it is "disclosed"?

This is a bilk of a captive consumer. One who just wants it easy, or one who is from out of town and has no idea what he/she should be charged.

How does a bank have a "captive customer"??? And a taxi charging an out of towner is not at all the same. As another pointed out, you can always use cash or even avoid toll roads. What exactly is a captive customer anyway? Your analogies are ridiculous. mainly because they use a premise that has nothing to do with reality.

Does Avis address this issue before you use the transponder?

I'm going to go with "yes":

What is Avis e-Toll?
Avis e-Toll is our company's electronic toll collection program which makes road travel more convenient! Avis e-Toll eliminates the need for travelers to carry change or wait in long cash payment lines at toll plazas and allows Avis renters to zip through electronic toll payment lanes.

Avis e-Toll cannot be reserved in advance, but is already installed in many cars. Avis e-Toll is optional and available for a low daily fee plus the cost of tolls.

Avis e-Toll is offered in the Northeast (from Maine to Virginia), California, Chicago Area, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico.

(...skipping to the FAQs...)

Why I am being charged a $2.95 per rental day daily use fee?
Customers will be charged the standard non-discounted fee for the roads as published by the toll authority plus the convenience fee of $2.95 per rental day for each and every day of your rental or a maximum of $14.75 for use of this service.

charging outrageous fees for days you don't use the transponder is simply techno robbery.

charging outrageous fees for days you don't use the transponder is simply techno robbery.

That you agreed to when you used it. Read the terms & conditions for your rental.

That you agreed to when you used it. Read the terms & conditions for your rental.

It's awfully easy to get accidentally charged with those things, though. I did :(

It's awfully easy to get accidentally charged with those things, though. I did :(

Agreed. I just got hit with the $14.75 charge when I had the IPass (Chicago tolls) door closed and using my own IPass. Somehow the toll lane picked up the Avis IPass transponder and not mine...

Will be calling Avis today to see if I can get the fee removed.

Agreed. I just got hit with the $14.75 charge when I had the IPass (Chicago tolls) door closed and using my own IPass. Somehow the toll lane picked up the Avis IPass transponder and not mine...

Will be calling Avis today to see if I can get the fee removed.

Quick update: called customer service and explained the situation. They removed $8 of the charge but left $3 for actual toll cost + $3-4 their actual cost for paying the toll?

Small victory on principle I suppose...