Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-05-2018, 02:35 PM   #1
"Curmudgeon"
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Zebulon, NC, NC
Posts: 289
Send a message via MSN to Trawlerphil Send a message via Yahoo to Trawlerphil
"A Cautionary Tale"

We are a pair of retired septuagenarians living in North Carolina who decided to take our 5th wheel out to the west coast to visit children, grandchildren, and National Parks this last summer. Since we are retired, we had no schedule and we stuck to it. We allowed up to 12 weeks for our journey, secured our home, and had our snail mail held by the post office until we returned.

On Tuesday July 10th we crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to Indiana on the John F. Kennedy Bridge on I-65. We saw signs indicating there was a toll, but there was no toll booth where we could pull over and pay the toll. We continued on across the bridge into Indiana. For the next two months we continued our west coast trip and returned to Aurora, NC on September 9th.

We evacuated our home on September 11th to avoid hurricane Florence and returned on September 18th. We picked up our mail from the post office and over the next week Carolyn did her bills paying the $7.18 to River Link for our bridge toll which explained why there was no toll booth. There were two toll notices in the mail, the first bill sometime in August, the first late notice on 9/6 which had a $5 additional toll notice charge, and the second toll notice on 11/10 which had a $25 violation notice added resulting in an additional $30 bill. River Link cashed Carolyn’s original $7.18 toll check on 10/17.

When Carolyn called River Link about the additional $30 invoice due on 12/9, she explained we were seniors on an extended trip out west and were hit with a hurricane when we returned. Carolyn asked them to please waive the penalties. The customer service person said she was sorry, but we had to pay the $30 bill in addition to the $7.18 original toll bill.

River Link’s process seems to be to take a picture of the vehicle crossing the bridge, acquire the owner’s address from the North Carolina DMV, and send the owner a bill. If it isn’t paid by River Link’s due date, they continue adding toll notice fees and violation penalties until the bill is paid. For seniors on an extended vacation across country, this is tantamount to an extortion annuity for River Link since they declined to forgive the penalties after we gave them a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time.

Even banks have the ability to waive penalties if there is a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time and many did waive penalties as a result of hurricanes and floods. River Link should be ashamed of themselves. Punishing travelling seniors is not a good strategy for Kentucky or Indiana to promote visitors to their states. All we can do is publish our cautionary tale to all of the RV forums and copy the Attorney’s General and Better Business Bureaus of both states. I expect these types of business practices are the reasons tolls declined in many states since the 1700s and the term “highway robbery” evolved. Like sergeant Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues said—“Let’s be careful out there!”
Trawlerphil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 03:29 PM   #2
D W
Senior Member
 
D W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,594
No big surprise here. It's a money making scheme. It was set up for just that purpose!

We crossed-off everything east of the Mississippi long ago.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
D W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 03:43 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
jd50i's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maryville, Tn.
Posts: 594
Get a GPS and set it up to avoid toll roads.
__________________
2016 F150 XLT 4X4 SCREW 5.0

2014 Grey Wolf 21RR
jd50i is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 03:43 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,031
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trawlerphil View Post
We are a pair of retired septuagenarians living in North Carolina who decided to take our 5th wheel out to the west coast to visit children, grandchildren, and National Parks this last summer. Since we are retired, we had no schedule and we stuck to it. We allowed up to 12 weeks for our journey, secured our home, and had our snail mail held by the post office until we returned.

On Tuesday July 10th we crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to Indiana on the John F. Kennedy Bridge on I-65. We saw signs indicating there was a toll, but there was no toll booth where we could pull over and pay the toll. We continued on across the bridge into Indiana. For the next two months we continued our west coast trip and returned to Aurora, NC on September 9th.

We evacuated our home on September 11th to avoid hurricane Florence and returned on September 18th. We picked up our mail from the post office and over the next week Carolyn did her bills paying the $7.18 to River Link for our bridge toll which explained why there was no toll booth. There were two toll notices in the mail, the first bill sometime in August, the first late notice on 9/6 which had a $5 additional toll notice charge, and the second toll notice on 11/10 which had a $25 violation notice added resulting in an additional $30 bill. River Link cashed Carolyn’s original $7.18 toll check on 10/17.

When Carolyn called River Link about the additional $30 invoice due on 12/9, she explained we were seniors on an extended trip out west and were hit with a hurricane when we returned. Carolyn asked them to please waive the penalties. The customer service person said she was sorry, but we had to pay the $30 bill in addition to the $7.18 original toll bill.

River Link’s process seems to be to take a picture of the vehicle crossing the bridge, acquire the owner’s address from the North Carolina DMV, and send the owner a bill. If it isn’t paid by River Link’s due date, they continue adding toll notice fees and violation penalties until the bill is paid. For seniors on an extended vacation across country, this is tantamount to an extortion annuity for River Link since they declined to forgive the penalties after we gave them a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time.

Even banks have the ability to waive penalties if there is a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time and many did waive penalties as a result of hurricanes and floods. River Link should be ashamed of themselves. Punishing travelling seniors is not a good strategy for Kentucky or Indiana to promote visitors to their states. All we can do is publish our cautionary tale to all of the RV forums and copy the Attorney’s General and Better Business Bureaus of both states. I expect these types of business practices are the reasons tolls declined in many states since the 1700s and the term “highway robbery” evolved. Like sergeant Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues said—“Let’s be careful out there!”
Sucks for sure , they could waive it if they wanted but they don't give a rats puttuty . worse things is many of these tolls are not operated by the states but are private companies they send a small portion to the state and keep the rest . This should not be allowed . but it is . sometimes you just have to bend over and take it like a man and move on . when i head cross country i avoid all tolls which can be done very easy except one and that's the Topeka turnpike but they have booths set up for payment when you get off .
MR.M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 06:28 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Deland, Florida
Posts: 354
I had my GPS set for no toll roads. Programmed my next destination said the trip was 4,000 miles and some change. Reprogrammed 3 times always the same result. Took off avoid toll roads and it was 164 miles. I paid the toll.
__________________
Rockwood 2604WS
Ford F250 Diesel
Blue Ox Sway Pro
allenb12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 06:47 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,031
Quote:
Originally Posted by allenb12 View Post
I had my GPS set for no toll roads. Programmed my next destination said the trip was 4,000 miles and some change. Reprogrammed 3 times always the same result. Took off avoid toll roads and it was 164 miles. I paid the toll.

ok no way around a bridge other then driving 4000 miles . get a new GPS .
MR.M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2018, 08:51 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trawlerphil View Post
We are a pair of retired septuagenarians living in North Carolina who decided to take our 5th wheel out to the west coast to visit children, grandchildren, and National Parks this last summer. Since we are retired, we had no schedule and we stuck to it. We allowed up to 12 weeks for our journey, secured our home, and had our snail mail held by the post office until we returned.



On Tuesday July 10th we crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to Indiana on the John F. Kennedy Bridge on I-65. We saw signs indicating there was a toll, but there was no toll booth where we could pull over and pay the toll. We continued on across the bridge into Indiana. For the next two months we continued our west coast trip and returned to Aurora, NC on September 9th.



We evacuated our home on September 11th to avoid hurricane Florence and returned on September 18th. We picked up our mail from the post office and over the next week Carolyn did her bills paying the $7.18 to River Link for our bridge toll which explained why there was no toll booth. There were two toll notices in the mail, the first bill sometime in August, the first late notice on 9/6 which had a $5 additional toll notice charge, and the second toll notice on 11/10 which had a $25 violation notice added resulting in an additional $30 bill. River Link cashed Carolyn’s original $7.18 toll check on 10/17.



When Carolyn called River Link about the additional $30 invoice due on 12/9, she explained we were seniors on an extended trip out west and were hit with a hurricane when we returned. Carolyn asked them to please waive the penalties. The customer service person said she was sorry, but we had to pay the $30 bill in addition to the $7.18 original toll bill.



River Link’s process seems to be to take a picture of the vehicle crossing the bridge, acquire the owner’s address from the North Carolina DMV, and send the owner a bill. If it isn’t paid by River Link’s due date, they continue adding toll notice fees and violation penalties until the bill is paid. For seniors on an extended vacation across country, this is tantamount to an extortion annuity for River Link since they declined to forgive the penalties after we gave them a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time.



Even banks have the ability to waive penalties if there is a rational explanation of why the bill wasn’t paid on time and many did waive penalties as a result of hurricanes and floods. River Link should be ashamed of themselves. Punishing travelling seniors is not a good strategy for Kentucky or Indiana to promote visitors to their states. All we can do is publish our cautionary tale to all of the RV forums and copy the Attorney’s General and Better Business Bureaus of both states. I expect these types of business practices are the reasons tolls declined in many states since the 1700s and the term “highway robbery” evolved. Like sergeant Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues said—“Let’s be careful out there!”


I’m just wondering what would happen if you don’t pay the bill
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 05:21 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
nomad297's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
I’m just wondering what would happen if you don’t pay the bill
It goes to collections and is reported on your credit reports.

Bruce
__________________
2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
nomad297 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 06:18 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
whirledpeaz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 318
We got hit with this same scam a couple of years ago crossing the same bridge. Crap like this is infuriating.

According to some of the documentation I read, they can possibly hold up the registration of your vehicle when you go to re-register.
__________________
2020 Rockwood UltraLite 2608BS
2017 F250
whirledpeaz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 06:40 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 606
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297 View Post
It goes to collections and is reported on your credit reports.

Bruce
Dont see how, no social security number linked. I know if you dont pay out of state tickets it sometimes pops on a tow companys list if they hit ur plate with a scanner. Then they tow the vehicles, but thats rare.
cmysstailights is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 07:58 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
nomad297's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmysstailights View Post
Dont see how, no social security number linked. I know if you dont pay out of state tickets it sometimes pops on a tow companys list if they hit ur plate with a scanner. Then they tow the vehicles, but thats rare.
They have no problem getting a mailing address from the state. They also have no problem reporting your bad debt to the various credit report agencies.

Bruce
__________________
2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
nomad297 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 08:07 AM   #12
Wait till next year...
 
n-e-d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Southern Worcester County
Posts: 1,135
Well I understand your irritation at being charged an additional late fee,but why didnt you check at your first chance on how the fee was collected? There appear to be plenty of signs that a toll would be charged. River link appeared as soon as I googled the bridge with multiple ways to pay. I dont see how the fault lies with Kentucky or Indiana at all. While I avoid toll roads whenever possible, I find the removal of Toll Booths definitely a plus
__________________
Mary and Me
2015 2650s "Finally" SOLD
2015 Jeep Cherokee Toady
2023 Geo Pro FD19 "Almost there"
2022 Race Car Red HR Long Ford Transit 250 "The Iwish Roamer"
n-e-d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 08:18 AM   #13
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
Phillip--

1st you should call river link again and ask to speak to a supervisor. If a supervisor is not available ask for one to contact you.

Ask if there is some sort of appeal.

I just visited their website and they have a facebook link at the bottom.
When I clicked the FB logo it took me to their FB page where I could send them a private message.
If your follow up calls fail to get some relief you should send a message thru FB. Be polite but firm. Do not get angry! Make them WANT to help you.

Failing all those PM me and I will try reach out myself. I know they have a spokesperson who shows up in our newspaper every so often.

AND I agree with n-e-d being able to drive across those bridges at the speed limit rather than having to stop at a toll booth is way better. At rush hour those booths would be nearly impassable!!!

AND I wonder about the wisdom of leaving your mail un-monitored for 3 months??? Even with auto bill pay you're bound to get something that needs attention during that length of time. Do you have a friend or family member that could check your mail for..... things like this river link bill that need attention before your return??
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 09:38 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,247
I loathe these "public-private partnerships." They basically hand government power over to companies. They give a private corporation the ability to access your government info and use the power of the government to coerce you. Quick story:


Sold a truck. Got a toll notice a few weeks later. Called and told them I sold the truck. Don't worry, it'll update when they register. Few weeks later, another notice with late fee added. Called again. Don't worry. Several more weeks go by. Another notice with warnings. Bill now gone from like $6 to $50. Called again. Was told that I showed to own the truck at the time. Called Regional DMV- new owner registered truck as having bought a couple months later than actual. Had title pulled- he had changed the date on the title. Was clear he had and they agreed it had been tampered with. MADE ZERO difference. They did remove the late fees but forced me to pay the original toll. Tampering with the title is supposedly a felony offense, but they made no charges. Told me I was supposed to get a form "123- yadayada" when I sell a car. Asked how I would have known this. And what was the point of signing and dating the title if it was pointless to do so? Crickets.
dustman_stx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 11:16 AM   #15
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
Follow up question to Phil--
I note you are in NC.
Do you have an Ezpass transponder??
Do you ever encounter other toll roads or bridges?
This currently includes roads in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia,West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 11:43 AM   #16
Camp Bartender
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, PA
Posts: 289
Quote:
Originally Posted by D W View Post
No big surprise here. It's a money making scheme. It was set up for just that purpose!

We crossed-off everything east of the Mississippi long ago.

You're 100% Correct, many of these "companies" actually pay that states for the right to collect the tolls and then slam you with every fee under the sun that they can. Nothing short of an opportunistic money making scam.
__________________
2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn, 5.7L HEMI
2015 Forest River Wildwood 28DBUD

2015-2018: 20 Trips, 61 Nights Camped
2018: 5 Trips, 15 Nights Camped
2019: 2 Trips, 10 nights so far......
stevensmith2859 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 11:52 AM   #17
"Curmudgeon"
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Zebulon, NC, NC
Posts: 289
Send a message via MSN to Trawlerphil Send a message via Yahoo to Trawlerphil
They are sending us the form to contest the penalties. I don't disagree the service is valuable, only their business policies.
Trawlerphil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 11:59 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 9,097
Thanks for the cautionary tale. We'll pay more attention in the future.

I too like the removal of toll booths. I just wish that there was one toll tag that worked in all states.
__________________
2015 Dynamax REV 24TB class C
Reverse_snowbird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 12:14 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Chatham County, NC
Posts: 121
Since you are in NC there is a road around Raleigh like that NC540. They send you the bill in the mail. If you don't pay they flag your tag renewal and you can't renew the license plates until you pay the tolls/fees/etc. It is a nice road with hardly anyone on it because no one wants to pay for it. Especially since the northern side I-540 was never toll. The people on the south side don't think it is fair and refuse to pay for it.
__________________
2017 Wildcat 327RE
2005 Chevy Silverado

2016 Nights camped in wildcat(14) didn't count previous trailer
2017 Nights camped (44)
2018 Nights camped (29) that's too low. Must work on it.
maskins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2018, 05:27 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 606
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297 View Post
They have no problem getting a mailing address from the state. They also have no problem reporting your bad debt to the various credit report agencies.

Bruce
Ive never heard of that here in ny.
cmysstailights is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:16 AM.