Live in Ontario? Randy takes on the 407 toll road
Toronto uber-blogger Randy Morin is sick and tired of the 407 ETR, or at least their wacky billing systems. He's in the process of escalating a complaint through the premier's office, trying to get his bill sorted. And in the process he's tossing around lots of loaded words like "racketeering". Pull up a chair and enjoy the fireworks this May 24 weekend…
May 16th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Thanks Alec. I just don’t know what I can do. The police won’t do anything because it’s only $82. Hiring a lawyer would be $250/hr. I’m stuck with paying $82 that I don’t owe. Not that I can’t afford $82, but hell if I’m gonna pay some scammers $82 just to make them go away.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I told the Ministry of Transportation yesterday that I was suing them, the Ombudsman of the 407 and the 407. Today, the 407 agreed to drop all amounts owing. I still might sue them.
June 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Congrats!
June 28th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I made the mistake of jumping on the damn thing to get out of trafic for about 3 or 4 KMs a few times 7 or 8 years ago thinking that they would bill me later. Irresponsible ? yes! no question here! The pace of life back then was fast, (work hard,pay hard.) Nothing came until I moved out of province for while to work. I came back to find that they have been collecting interest on those very short trips ever since. The result 3 separate accounts (I drove 2 different cars) 1 for over $400 another for $488.00 and finally another for $508.00 they have blocked me from getting plates and now are on my credit report! The amounts owed are about 95% interest!!! I had no choice but to pay the first 2 so that I could drive. The third one is now about to block my plates as well! These dogs have had their way with me. I am so mad that all I want to do is join or start some sort of protest to make people aware of what our governing thieves are capable of. I think 21% or 22% (who knows ) interest is sick! but The common sense revolution still biting hard! Thank you mike!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
A search online for 407 related disputes led me to this page.
I was shocked to see how dead end the 407 deal was. It just seems like one big mismanaged ripoff with more problems than a $2.99 webhost.
My story is outrageous. I can’t even explain it because the amount of time it would take to explain the ordeal that the 407 group has put me through over $49 dollars is not worth it.
All I can say is that in 3 weeks of dealing with them they have let me down 4 times, provided false or unknown information several times and gave me customer service equivalent to a third world country.. you just have to take my word for it , they failed in every possible way. they seem to have a database issue or an overwhelming amount of customers problems they can’t get to.
from reading other stories it is very clear how this company runs things. they go after big bills with heavy handed tactics and for the small bills such as mine they jerk you around for weeks until you eventually have to pay it to get your plates..
I’ve seriously thought about suing them but again its $49 and just not worth it. I already spent several hours of real time talking to them during the last 3 weeks or reading the procdures and claims on the website..
The reason I took it online today was because my wife got a call at 7:19 AM from a collection agency CBCL . During this dispute the 407 said they would call in 24 hrs, then in 48hrs,, they did not call ONCE !!! I gave them the wifes cell and they passed it on to canadian bonded credits limited.
The 407 tactic is here is clear , they ask for your phone number to update the database , I said I don’t think my phone has anything to do with your toll company, they need to call for a review ! fine here is my wifes cell.. 416-******* … there is no review , no call ever, its easier to give false information to get your phone number and let heavy handed CBCL collections deal with.. I don’t even want to get into that but it would seems the most corrupt and mismanaged spanish company running in Canada is also partners with the worst reputation collection agency..
They dicked me around for weeks while reviewing something,, they fail to ever make the review , so finally I call so many times to see what the hell is going and they put me on hold for 5 minutes while a review is made , obviously stating exactly the opposite of what I want to hear on an issue not even releated to me.. outright pathetic..
PS: these are just the outlines , If I explained each ordeal through the last 3 weeks your stomach would turn.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I live up in North Bay haven’t been to Toronto in 6 years since I’ve moved up here, I paid all my bills in full with the ETR with a consalidated loan i got 6 years ago. 6 years later I can’t get plates cause they say I never payed them that they want to see the receit from 6 years ago. WHO THE F*** ARE THEY TO PUT A HOLD ON MY MTO ACCOUNT WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. Why don’t they have to use a collection agency like every other tax paying canadian company. I live 64 km away from work and am a single father and may be without a van to get to work. there are no buses or trains or even cabs where we live. did i just loose my rights as a canadian? they don’t take your licence away from a dead beat dad if he needs his car. even if he owes 50,000$ but they will take your right to drive away over a 5-600$ bill that might not even be legit. please help me with this matter. tomputman@canadianphonebrokers.com
October 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hi
I billed for $ 8000, where I used my car 8 years ago. the amount was $36. Can anyone help me to nail down this monsters? Please help me………….
Thanks,
Jeg Ratnam
November 4th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
From 1999 - 2002 I was charged ridiculous amounts from the 407, i called and waited on hold for hours, never getting through. I wrote letters of complaints to the company without response. I still received bills with various account numbers on them with all kinds of outrageous charges. I even had to put up with collectors calling at all hours of the day harassing me.
I did not owe the 407 these amounts, nor did I have any more than one set of plates so how I was being charged for various accounts was beyond me.
I have since moved about 5 times, have a new car and a new set of plates. Last year I had to pay $50 to the MTO for 407 charges, which I paid because I probably owed about that. Just last week I went in to renew my sticker agin, just one year after paying the $50 charge. Guess what? MTO says I owe the 407 over $6300 now. HUH? I may have driven that road about 9-10 over the past year, so you are telling me that from Mississauga to Scarborough and back costs about $630? Wow.
I contacted the 407 immediately and was told that there was an old account from 2002 that was for over $5000 which had been closed and I am to pay this. I could not get any information on this account because they said the account was closed.
I hate this company, always have and always will.
Now what do I do? I have two children and I have to drive to work, I guess I will be doing it illegally now? How else will I get to and from work or the doctors or grocery shopping?
Let me know when we will take this company down as they so deserve!!
fiercebubbles@gmail.com