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poltr1Just got a third notice from the folks at ETR 407 -- metro Toronto's completely automated toll road. No tollbooths, no tickets, no coin hoppers, no surly toll collectors -- it's all automated! Could this be the future of toll roads? I hope not!
In April, I was up there for a convention -- a filk convention called FilkOntario. I didn't quite know where the convention hotel was, so I took the 407 from the 401 to the Dixie Drive exit. As I got on, and as I got off, the optical sensors picked up the image of my license plate. The total distance driven was about 11 km -- about 7 miles. And as it turned out, the hotel was right next to the 401. I should have stayed on the free road.
In mid-July, I (finally) received a bill for $6.54 (in Canadian funds). I thought about not paying it -- after all, I live in Ohio and it's not likely the RCMP or he OPP would come after me for a stinkin' $6, even though they had my address. But they'd probably revoke my driving privileges if I went into Canada again, and I'm not so hard up that I can't afford the fee. Besides, someone's gotta pay for the road construction and automated toll systems. So I went online on Sun 7/14 to pay it with a credit card. Netscape crapped out on me after entering the transaction. (Razzafrazzin ActiveServer pages!) So I fired up IE, tried again, and paid the bill. I also printed out the confirmation page.
In early August, I received another notice. That was puzzling, because I also received a credit card statement which shows that I paid $4. and change (in US funds) to ETR 407. There is no link to "customer service" on their website; just a toll-free number. I tried to call their customer service phone line, but it kept ringing and ringing as if no one was home. I finally got through on Sat 8/10, and explained my situation. The clerk I talked to said I should fax my documentation to them, and gave me their fax number. So I nipped off to a local Mail Boxes Etc. and faxed in my documentation, including the confirmation page. (Good thing I printed it out when I did.) Total cost: $5.00. On the cover sheet, I instructed them to call me when they received it. They never did.
Today (Tue 9/3), I got a third notice, and they're starting to charge me interest. And if I don't pay up in 5 days, they'll happily tack on a $30 late fee and put a note in my credit history. So I called Customer Service again, and they're closed for the night. Their message also had an apology for all the late billing, including people with regular accounts who have pre-paid and are getting bills. Looks like I'll have to call them again and fax another copy of my proof. And maybe I should demand a refund for my faxing charges. After all, it's their screw-up, not mine.
I guess the moral of this story is this: Technology is great, but only when it works the way we want it to. Also, to err is human, but to really foul up requires automated systems with little or no human intervention!
I'll report on my Labor Day weekend later.
In April, I was up there for a convention -- a filk convention called FilkOntario. I didn't quite know where the convention hotel was, so I took the 407 from the 401 to the Dixie Drive exit. As I got on, and as I got off, the optical sensors picked up the image of my license plate. The total distance driven was about 11 km -- about 7 miles. And as it turned out, the hotel was right next to the 401. I should have stayed on the free road.
In mid-July, I (finally) received a bill for $6.54 (in Canadian funds). I thought about not paying it -- after all, I live in Ohio and it's not likely the RCMP or he OPP would come after me for a stinkin' $6, even though they had my address. But they'd probably revoke my driving privileges if I went into Canada again, and I'm not so hard up that I can't afford the fee. Besides, someone's gotta pay for the road construction and automated toll systems. So I went online on Sun 7/14 to pay it with a credit card. Netscape crapped out on me after entering the transaction. (Razzafrazzin ActiveServer pages!) So I fired up IE, tried again, and paid the bill. I also printed out the confirmation page.
In early August, I received another notice. That was puzzling, because I also received a credit card statement which shows that I paid $4. and change (in US funds) to ETR 407. There is no link to "customer service" on their website; just a toll-free number. I tried to call their customer service phone line, but it kept ringing and ringing as if no one was home. I finally got through on Sat 8/10, and explained my situation. The clerk I talked to said I should fax my documentation to them, and gave me their fax number. So I nipped off to a local Mail Boxes Etc. and faxed in my documentation, including the confirmation page. (Good thing I printed it out when I did.) Total cost: $5.00. On the cover sheet, I instructed them to call me when they received it. They never did.
Today (Tue 9/3), I got a third notice, and they're starting to charge me interest. And if I don't pay up in 5 days, they'll happily tack on a $30 late fee and put a note in my credit history. So I called Customer Service again, and they're closed for the night. Their message also had an apology for all the late billing, including people with regular accounts who have pre-paid and are getting bills. Looks like I'll have to call them again and fax another copy of my proof. And maybe I should demand a refund for my faxing charges. After all, it's their screw-up, not mine.
I guess the moral of this story is this: Technology is great, but only when it works the way we want it to. Also, to err is human, but to really foul up requires automated systems with little or no human intervention!
I'll report on my Labor Day weekend later.
