EZ Pass tag stolen from old vehicle in salvage yard

[fstep2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

My car was totalled 3 months ago, the insurance company took it to it's salvage yard, some time later someone removed the EZ-pass tag i left in the vehicle and ran up over $300 in fees while i was out of the country. To issue credit EZ-pass is asking for a police report but the police won't give me one claiming that because the vehicle was not under my ownership but the insurance companies i can't file a report.

What can i do about this? I know it's not much money but i'm a college student. Can i sue EZ pass or is that a long shot? Can i sue the salvage yard?

 

[justalayman]

was the tag used, at all, prior to the transfer of ownership to the insurance company?

If so, then it is back to you being the owner when the crime of theft took place.


How long of a period of time were the charges incurred? How long were you out of the country? How did you become aware the pass was being used?

 

[ecmst12]

Shouldn't the police report from the accident be sufficient?

 

[fstep2]

was the tag used, at all, prior to the transfer of ownership to the insurance company?

If so, then it is back to you being the owner when the crime of theft took place.


How long of a period of time were the charges incurred? How long were you out of the country? How did you become aware the pass was being used?

well i used the tag for years before i got in the accident then someone else removed it at their salvage yard and used it

the charges were over a 2 week period and i was out of the country for most of that time but ez-pass claims that doesn't matter because it's still my responsibility. i became aware when i saw multiple charges from ez-pass on my credit card (i forgot to close the account).

 

[fstep2]

Shouldn't the police report from the accident be sufficient?

No that only shows the car got in an accident, it doesn't show anything about the tag being removed from the vehicle which happened some time after

 

[justalayman]

well i used the tag for years before i got in the accident then someone else removed it at their salvage yard and used it

the charges were over a 2 week period and i was out of the country for most of that time but ez-pass claims that doesn't matter because it's still my responsibility. i became aware when i saw multiple charges from ez-pass on my credit card (i forgot to close the account).

so, was the pass used prior to you giving ownership of the vehicle to the insurance company or not?

 

[xylene]

I don't get this.

How did 300 in tolls get racked up?

EZ is linked to your credit card. Why didn't you just de-link it and then contest the credit card charges?

 

[LillianX]

I don't get this.

How did 300 in tolls get racked up?

EZ is linked to your credit card. Why didn't you just de-link it and then contest the credit card charges?

This is the part that I'm not understanding. She states the charges happened over a two week period.

the charges were over a 2 week period

I don't even think that's possible, unless someone was just driving up and down the Turnpike 24 hours a day.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

My car was totalled 3 months ago, the insurance company took it to it's salvage yard, some time later someone removed the EZ-pass tag i left in the vehicle and ran up over $300 in fees while i was out of the country. To issue credit EZ-pass is asking for a police report but the police won't give me one claiming that because the vehicle was not under my ownership but the insurance companies i can't file a report.

What can i do about this? I know it's not much money but i'm a college student. Can i sue EZ pass or is that a long shot? Can i sue the salvage yard?

Why would you sue EZ Pass for your charges when you didn't do your own due diligence and close the account after your car was wrecked?

 

[fstep2]

I don't get this.

How did 300 in tolls get racked up?

EZ is linked to your credit card. Why didn't you just de-link it and then contest the credit card charges?

it got racked up in a very short period of time while i was on vacation and didn't check my statements (probably a trucker or something drove cross country who knows...)?
credit card company won't contest the charge without a police report either, already tried.

i'm from new jersey, a daily trip to nyc would pretty much cover that.

 

[fstep2]

so, was the pass used prior to you giving ownership of the vehicle to the insurance company or not?

yes it was, it's my pass...

 

[LillianX]

i'm from new jersey, a daily trip to nyc would pretty much cover that.

Over 2 weeks? No it wouldn't. The toll from the Delaware Memorial Bridge all the way to the GWB is $9.80 during peak hours. Off peak, it's $6.80. So even assuming someone drove the entire length of NJ, round trip, every single day for 2 weeks, and somehow managed to do this during peak hours every week day, you're looking at $250 max.

 

[fstep2]

Over 2 weeks? No it wouldn't. The toll from the Delaware Memorial Bridge all the way to the GWB is $9.80 during peak hours. Off peak, it's $6.80. So even assuming someone drove the entire length of NJ every single day for 2 weeks, and somehow managed to do this during peak hours every week day, you're looking at $250 max.

i was estimating, i have no idea where they drove or how they did it but i do have the charges over that period of time.
so what can i do about this? would going after the salvage yard it was taken from work?

 

[Antigone*]

i was estimating, i have no idea where they drove or how they did it but i do have the charges over that period of time.
so what can i do about this? would going after the salvage yard it was taken from work?

You can't prove the pass was taken from the salvage yard.

Ultimately you are responsible for the security of your EZ pass. I know who you can sue.


... Look in the mirror.

 

[swalsh411]

$300 in two weeks would be very easy for an 18-wheeler or other large truck. All the estimates here are assuming a two axle vehicle. The EZ-pass toll for an 18-wheeler on the NY Thruway between NYC and Albany (a trip you could easily make twice a day) is about $30.