How do I avoid a charge from the rental car company for not fully paying a toll in Orlando, Florida?

Question

This past Friday night (Dec 12), I was driving a rental car on the W. Osceola Parkway. At the exit (N. Poinciana Blvd), there was an unmanned toll booth which required coins to pay for the $0.75 toll. I had only $0.48 in coins which I threw into the collector, but still owed $0.27. Since there was no other way to pay for the toll (ie no option of paying with bills or credit card), I had no choice but to go through without fully paying the toll.

Since the toll violation, I have contacted the FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation), and am sending them the $0.27 that I owe. But the the FDOT said that the rental car company (Sunshine Rent a Car) may still end up getting a toll violation letter. If this should be the case, the rental car contract states that they will charge me "$30 per day administrative fee for processing and billing fines and penalties relating to the Florida toll system." When I dropped off the rental car at Sunshine, the employees weren't particularly helpful when I explained my situation. Is there anything I can do now to prevent this charge from the rental car company?

Answer 1

You can try and dispute the charge, but unfortunately, by signing the rental contract, you agreed to the terms listed, like the one that stated that they would charge you ""$30 per day administrative fee for processing and billing fines and penalties relating to the Florida toll system." Your cannot prevent the charge from the rental car company; you can pay it and then deal with their customer service department and demand a reimbursement, or not pay it and try and dispute the charges upfront. Keep in mind that if you choose the second option, and they put the charge into collections, it can affect your credit rating.



You may not have the second option available to you, as the car rental company may simply charge the credit card that you used for the rental, rather than sending you a bill for it. Whatever the case, do attempt to get a reimbursement if you feel that you were unfairly charged.



Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 2

Sounds to me as if you are going to have to pay it. If you are fully aware of the fact that you did not pay the full amount of the toll, which you are, then you will be reprimanded for it once they catch up with you. By signing that rental contract you are agreeing to ALL of the terms in that contract. Because you rented the car, took the car and drove it with no other complaints the rental company has upheld their end of the deal by providing you with a reliable vehicle. You must now uphold your end and stick to the contract terms that you signed your agreeance to. If it charges $30 per day it would be in your best interest to pay immediately. Arguing about it for a week iwould only be increasing the amount due.



I'm sorry, but if you were to dispute it I think you will lose. If it clearly states the fee in the contract (look at your copy) and you signed the contract... I think you will be s.o.l.



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Just out of curiousity... if YOU were the person driving, and YOU were the person that did not have enough money to pay the toll why do you think that YOU shouldn't have to pay the toll violation fee and the rental company should? They weren't driving and it isn't their fault you didn't have enough change. All they did was loan you the vehicle on terms you accepted. I'm a little confused on that...

Answer 3

Your best bet here is to tell the rental company that you'll happily pay the fee with the understanding that you will never use their rental service ever again and that you will tell all of your friends, family, neighbors, and strangers that you meet in topless bars and pool halls that you received very poor service from this company and they should never use it.

Answer 4

there are many toll exits which only take exact change or sunpass. There are also many tourists who come in and have no idea you need the exact change to pay the toll. What are they supposed to do once they are there?? It seems to me there should at least be optional methods of paying the toll such as credit cards. This system is absurd!!

Answer 5

Sad to say it is a cash cow for all car rental companies.

No way around it.

Pleas will fall on deaf ears.

http://orlandotouristinformationbureau.com/