If you’ve rented a car from Dollar or Thrifty in the state of Florida at any time since 2011, you may have some money coming to you. Here’s why and what to do about it…
Background: With rare exception, what rental car companies charge customers for toll road access is pretty much highway robbery (did you see what I did there?). Joe and I might be a little bit biased, but we highly recommend our post that explains how much each major rental car company charges for you to go through tolls in Central FL (that’s all of ’em, from the company that charges you for a transponder whether you want it or not [on top of the actual tolls, of course], all the way down to the one that only charges you for the tolls you incur and nothing else). But apparently Dollar and Thrifty (who are owned by the same company), have been playing dirty pool in Florida when it comes to the company they use for toll transponders, PlatePass. So the Florida Attorney General sued.
For the uninitiated, PlatePass is a nationwide automated electronic toll payment service that enables rental car customers to use the country’s high speed, cashless toll lanes via a camera that reads each car’s license plate. According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, those two companies exploited the situation and took advantage of their customers. Apparently they weren’t open about what they charged their customers who drove the rental cars through Florida toll lanes, with consumers saying they were misled about the need for PlatePass to guard against fines or traffic infractions (it’s not), or about the costs of PlatePass or the per toll charges imposed by Dollar Thrifty.
“Companies owe it to their consumers to be upfront about all of their services and the prices and fees that accompany them,” said Moody. “This case not only affected Floridians, but people visiting Florida from all over the country. I am hopeful that this settlement will provide relief to consumers harmed by the company’s actions and prevent future harm.”
The agreement requires both Thrifty and Dollar to clearly and conspicuously disclose its toll fees and PlatePass fees to consumers who are going to rent their cars. Clear disclosures of the charges and fees must be on the company websites, online reservation paths, confirmation emails and at the rental counters. Dollar and Thrifty must also explain how consumers can avoid these charges.
How To File A Claim
If you rented a car from Dollar or Thrifty between January 1, 2011 and January 7, 2019 and were charged and paid for either the Pass24 or PlatePass All-Inclusive (a.k.a. “PlatePass”) service or fees related to tolls in connection with incurring an electronic toll during your rental with either company, you may be able to be compensated for your overpayment.
You must be able to provide your rental car agreement number and the Dollar or Thrifty pickup location you used and claims must be filed by July 6, 2019.
Here’s more information about the settlement and how to make a claim:
Good luck!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
