View Full Version : Alamo - Toll Violations
We rented from Alamo in March.
A few weeks after we returned, we were notified that we were being charged for a toll violation, even though we absolutely know that we did not drive through any without paying.
We explored the possibilty of appeal but, to cut a long story short, there was no option to do so.
After some wailing and gnashing of teeth, we decided just to pay the $135 and forget about it as witholding payment may have caused problems with immigration in future visits. We did inform USA Car Hire who were friendly and polite but understood the difficulties involved.
Yesterday we were contacted by friends who recently returned (two families) and it seems they have both been issued with similar toll violation fines. They both rented from Alamo.
I guess I have two questions for people who regularly visit Orlando:
1) - Does anyone else have experience of these charges and, if so, did you rent from Alamo? (presumably there should be a similar proportion of toll violations issued by Dollar and Budget)
2) - When renting cars in the future, if we pay for the 'sunpass' option where all tolls are automatically charged, would it mean there would be no chance of the rental company wrongly invoking these fines?
We would appreciate any advice.
appinlad
16-07-2010, 18:18
Have you complained to Alamo head office? It seems to me that this is a rip off by them obviously hoping that we in the UK won't complain and they get the extra money. I would hope that anyone who gets this problem notifies the Forum so we can see the extent of it. I would suspect that the Tolls have camera enforcement and there would be a picture of the vehicle with time and date and this should have been copied to you.
I never have had a this problem with Dollar.
caroline
16-07-2010, 18:26
We rented with Alamo for 2 weeks in Feb, March and then again for 3+ weeks in April - we didn't take the sun pass option and haven't received any toll violations. We also used Alamo for a total 5+ weeks last year and again had no problems.
We get a pretty even spread of violation notices from Alamo, Dollar and Budget.
Although the rental companies do add an admin fee (usually $25), they are only passing on violation notices and fines from the highway authorities. Alamo themselves can not issue the violation notice.
There have been a couple of cases where the violation notice has been sent on by the car rental company to the wrong customer, and this has been on a day when the car has changed to a new customer but they had incorrectly logged the times and it showed as the other customer still being in posession of the car. That issue is easily resolved.
The problem with toll violations (or any other citation passed on via the car rental company) is that it can be quite hard to dispute. As the car rental company is only passing on the violation, any dispute has to be with the appropriate authority.
steph_goodrum
16-07-2010, 22:36
$135 seems an excessive amount. We rented in April and received a Toll violation letter from Dollar a week or so ago for 1.50 +$25 admin. What was frustrating was that we know exactly when it happened as hubby put the coins in the bucket and a few dropped on the floor, he went to get out to pick them up but the light went green and the car behind tooted so he assumed it must have registered the right amount. Unfortunately there was noone to ask and we didnt get round to asking during the trip, so we had no option but to pay it. In future the car behind wil just have to wait as long as it takes.
LongLeaf
17-07-2010, 01:25
Hello,
For people visiting often...
why not buying a sunpass transponder ? (cost is $25)
We have one and activate it when arriving.
the reload is automatic taken from our visa card
So we have no risk anymore [msncool]
steph_goodrum
17-07-2010, 02:08
We only every use the tolls on the way to the airpot and sometimes the beachline so don't really feel the need to get one and keep topping it up. This is the first time in 13 years that we have ever had a problem.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
$135 seems an excessive amount. We rented in April and received a Toll violation letter from Dollar a week or so ago for 1.50 +$25 admin. What was frustrating was that we know exactly when it happened as hubby put the coins in the bucket and a few dropped on the floor, he went to get out to pick them up but the light went green and the car behind tooted so he assumed it must have registered the right amount. Unfortunately there was noone to ask and we didnt get round to asking during the trip, so we had no option but to pay it. In future the car behind wil just have to wait as long as it takes.
[/quote]
This is the exact same thing that happened to us Steph. We only use 2 tolls from the airport and 2 tolls back to the airport. Still don't understand it as you have to physically hand over the money at the toll booth. Anyway didn't let it drop and did manage to get $20 back. Now everytime we go through a toll we ask for a receipt.
Never had a problem in the ten years we have been visiting and we use the toll roads a lot. We have also used all of the major car rental companies in the area, Hertz, Dollar, Budget, Alamo and can say that we have never had a problem. The amount they have charged you seems excessive though. Also my son booked twice with Alamo last year as he is a young driver and didn't report any problems.
jimiansville
18-07-2010, 16:41
We hire frequently for long periods with the major hire companies (but mainly Alamo) and have never had a problem. We do a lot of driving on the toll roads including longer journeys to Miami etc. We bought a Sunpass transponder a couple of years ago and have found it very convenient.
we were in florida in sept last year and one month after coming home we had a toll violation sent to us. we just paid it as it was 'only'! £10. we knew we had not passed through without paying, we even keep all our change near the end of our holiday for the next time. often when you first arrive you don't have any change. this was also alamo, a lot of 'just £10' could add up to a lot of money[msneek]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LongLeaf
Hello,
For people visiting often...
why not buying a sunpass transponder ? (cost is $25)
We have one and activate it when arriving.
the reload is automatic taken from our visa card
So we have no risk anymore [msncool]
[/quote]
Where can we purchase this transpoder? We are only over once a year for 3 weeks but even so it doesn't really cost much so i might as well buy one.
Thanks
John
Ps. I'm waiting for my violation :( I threw my money into the bucket and drove off....one of the coins must not have registered and I heard the alarm sound as I left....I did throw in the correct amount.
jimiansville
29-07-2010, 23:32
You can buy them in a few places but we got our transponder in Publix.
LongLeaf
29-07-2010, 23:58
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by GiZZeRR
posted by LongLeaf[/i]
Where can we purchase this transpoder? We are only over once a year for 3 weeks but even so it doesn't really cost much so i might as well buy one.
Thanks
John
[/quote]
Hi John,
We bought our Sumpass transponder at Walgreens - Regards
Thanks for the info jimiansville and longleaf, I will buy one next year.
jeansusrentals
30-07-2010, 03:19
We've had ours for about 7 or 8 years. So handy - means we don't have to sit in long lines to pay the toll! only thing to remember - it occasionally needs a new battery[msnembarrased] a couple of years ago I realised ours hadn't 'bleeped' when we went through the toll - then finally (after about the 3rd toll!) realised it wasn't working! Went to Walgreens - got a new battery and it's as good as new! Not bad - one battery in all those years, eh? Jean
LongLeaf
30-07-2010, 13:20
Jean,
Indeed they need a working battery...[8D][8D]
As our as a default and never beeps !!![xx(]
Here is what we do to test it... the first toll we pass through the paying lane
if the light turns green => the transponder is OK
After that, you can follow your usage on the Sunpass website
Slightly different angle,..... we drove in the sunpass lane in error last month as we misunderstood that thought the toll was only payable by those exiting at the junction we were on, actually the exit was through the booth but hey ho...... we realised our mistake immediately (but too late to change lanes)
At the next booth we explained what had happened and the attendent gave us a card to fill in with the road, exit, car details etc which we filled in and mailed with a US cheque for $1 to cover the fee. And we thought that would be the end of it.
Today in the mail from Alamo is a letter advising our credit card is being charged with $11 to cover the missed fee $1 plus their admin fee of $10.
Wouldn't mind but the cheque for $1 was cashed on June 23rd?????????????
I have raised an appeal with Alamo .. what a farce!