I rented from Hertz in JFK this past November. I used my own transponder (EZPass NJ). The transponder didn't register going through one of the tunnels (Holland) on 11/5/10, although it did register everything else (NJ Turnpike/GSP).

I received a notice from ATS dated 12/13/10 alerting me of the violation along with the $30 admin fee.

I immediately contacted the administrators of the Holland Tunnel (Port Authority), who told me to send a check for the toll ($8) along with a letter requesting a courtesy waive for the $50 admin fee (because my transponder didn't registered).

I checked with Port Authority in the upcoming week, and they received my letter + check, and stated that they are not waiving the $50 administrative fee because I didn't pay the $8 toll within 15 days of the initial notice (to Hertz).

So now, I am being penalized for Hertz/ATS not working fast enough... or Hertz not paying the inital bill and then passing it on to me.

I'm being forced to pay $50 admin fee to Port Authority and a $30 admin fee to ATS.

Any thoughts or personal experience from anyone?

Because of this experience, I likely will avoid Hertz/Advantage/Avis/Budget in the future due to their contracts with ATS.