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Report: #755503

Complaint Review: E470 Express Toll & Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP - Denver Colorado

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  • Reported By: e470disappointment — Wyoming United States of America
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  • E470 Express Toll & Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Denver, Colorado United States of America

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Im writing to add another disappointing experience with E470 and their appointed collection agency: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLC.

They seem to have a solid defensive wall where one basically has one of two options: 1) pay their assigned fees and fines 2) dont pay and face credit agency/collection issues and not being able to renew your license. 

I have not been able to discuss my circumstance and resolve my case.  Im out of state, and I can not reasonably return in-person to represent myself, and I assume that it is by design that their system isn't set up to settle any dispute over the phone.  They seem to want to make it as difficult as possible so that you just  pay $100's for them to go away rather than settle something reasonably. 

Below Ive copied and pasted a portion of my notice that they sent to one of several addresses Ive lived at in the last 18 months.  Luckilly a friend continued to live at that residence and brought the document to my attention.  My employment ended in May of 2010, and Ive moved several times since then seeking my next employment opportunity.  I received notice of late payments at a friend's address in June 2011, and that was the first time I became aware of the below charges and associated penalties. 

The strange thing is that I paid tolls that were forwarded to my current address in May 2011, and when I went online to pay them, there was no indication of past charges due.  Therefore I was surprised when in June, I received notice for charges that pre-dated those I had just paid for.  It was the first time I became aware of the prior tolls, and by that time, they had already assessed "Civil Penalties" to each individual toll. 

I dont have a problem paying the tolls.  What I was disappointed with was the $25 PER TOLL "Civil Penalty".  Not just one penalty per billing period, but one for each toll!  It changed $19 of tolls to $354!   When I called to explain, they told me I should have changed my mailing address, and that it's CO state law.  I lived in WY when I accrued the fees, and now Im living in TX until I figure out where Im going to work next.  They also said I should have set up an online account.  I wish I could go back in time and do that, but as I was out of state, I didnt intend to be a long-term user of E470.  Long story short, Im an honest person and would like to pay the tolls they have billed me as I could very well have accrued them, but the $25 "Civil Penalty" they have assigned for each individual toll is, in my mind, not fair.  Especially when I wasnt even aware of the tolls until the statement with the penalties already applied showed up. 

Im sure they would say fair has nothing to do with it; it's what they are legally entitled to.  Just because they have probably gone through great lengths to set up this "legal" system of fines doesnt make it right.  I did not blatantly ignore paying bills.  Ive paid those that I was aware of in a timely manner.  Somehow, on a few occasions, their statements didnt make it to me during my many moves, and when I first became aware of it, penalties were already assessed.  Now it seems like my choice is either to let the charges go unpaid or pay what I feel is not fair given my circumstance. Their staff will not discuss by phone or provide someone to discuss my case that would in any way serve to help resolve my dispute.  Regardless of my circumstance I was told essentially to pay the bill, nothing can be done, if you dont pay, the balance will go to a claim agency and you'll be flagged for not allowing the renewal of your driving license.    Below is a portion of the communication they sent me when I first became aware of outstanding tolls.  Note the $25 civil Penalty assessed for each toll!
___       _____    ______    ____

Your vehicle has been recorded for non-payment of the proper toll. This
photo is evidence of the alleged violation occurrence.
Su
vehiculo ha sido registrado por falta de pago del peaje apropiado.
Esta foto es la prueba de la presunta violacion occurrida.
Date/Time
Location Lane Toll Civil Penalty Other
License
Plate # xxxxxxx
2/xx/2010
12:xx:35 PM PLAZA D Lane 2 North $2.50 $25.00
1/xx/2011
6:xx:57 AM PLAZA A Lane 3 North $2.70 $25.00
3/xx/2011
3:xx:37 PM PLAZA D Lane 1 North $3.00 $25.00
3/xx/2011
4:xx:36 PM PLAZA E Lane 2 North $3.00 $25.00
3/xx/2011
7:xx:13 PM PLAZA A Lane 2 North $2.70 $25.00
3/xx/2011
9:xx:38 PM PLAZA A Lane 3 South $2.70 $25.00
3/xx/2011
6:xx:35 AM PLAZA E Lane 2 South $3.00 $25.00
3/xx/2011
6:xx:31 AM PLAZA D Lane 1 South $3.00 $25.00
3/xx/2011
8:xx:04 PM PLAZA A Lane 3 North $2.70 $25.00
3/xx/2011
1:xx:10 AM PLAZA A Lane 3 South $2.70 $25.00
3/xx/2011
8:xx:09 AM PLAZA D Lane 2 North $3.00 $25.00
3/xx/2011
8:xx:59 AM PLAZA E Lane 1 North $3.00 $25.00
Other
Fees Type
11/xx/2010
8:xx:41 PM LATEFEE $5.00
12/xx/2010
11:xx:19 AM COLLECTIONFEE $15.00
Total
$34.00
$300.00 $20.00



Please Read All Instructions Carefully Online
Payments: Go to www.expresstoll.com
and follow the online instructions. You must have the Notice of Toll Violation
(Notice) number, license plate number as it appears on your violation (no dashes or
spaces), and credit or debit card information to make a
payment online.
Payment by Mail (full payment only):
1)
Enclose a check, cashier's check, or money order payble to
EXpressToll for the full amount due, as shown on the Notice; and 2)
write the Notice number on your check, cashier's check or money order.
Instructions for Sold/Transferred Vehicles:
If the vehicle was sold/transferred or stolen at the time of violation
stated in this Notice, you may:
1)
Mail the Notice with required documentation to EXpressToll Service
Center, 22470 E. 6th Parkway, Suite 140, Aurora, CO 80018; or 2)
Fax the Notice and required documentation to 303-537-3404.
Dispute Documentation Required Sold/Transferred
Vehicle Certificate of Vehicle Title Transfer or Revocation of
Registration issued by the appropriate state agency or a
Court Order transferring ownership of the vehicle.
Stolen Plate or Vehicle A police Theft or Recovery Report identifying the
date of theft or recovery or an Insurance Policy (Theft) Payoff
report.
Failure to include the appropriate documentation may result in a Final Order
of Liability, as outlined below.
Instructions for EXpressToll Customers: An
EXpressToll customer may have received this Notice if your
transponder was not properly registered
or your vehicle information is not up-to-date. If you had an
EXpressToll account in good standing (at the time of the violation
stated in this Notice), the toll amount can be deducted from your account.
Please call 303-537-3470 and a Customer Service
Representative will assist you in updating your account information. Please have the
following information available when you call: 1)
complete name as it appears on your EXpressToll account and/or EXpressToll
account number, 2) transponder number (found on the bar
code label located on the transponder), and 3) all current license plate
numbers.
Failure to Respond to Notice: Failure to pay the total amount due within 30
days of issuance this notice will result in this notice
automatically constituting a complaint to appear for a hearing. Failure to file an
answer and request a hearing anytime after
issuance this notice and up to the date five days after this notice becomes a
complaint may be deemed an admission of liability
and a waiver of your right to a hearing. Furthermore, this may result in
a Hearing Officers Final Order of liability in default for
the total amount due plus an additional $20 Adjudication Fee being issued
against you.
Instructions to Request a Hearing:
C.R.S.
43-4-506.5 authorizes the E-470 Public Highway Authority to
adjudicate toll evasion violations administratively.
You have the right to request a hearing to contest
this violation by phone or mail. Please
note that the purpose of this hearing is solely
to determine whether or not a violation has occurred. The Hearing
Officer does not have the legal authority to negotiate, waive or
lessen the mandatory civil penalty amount, extend the mandatory payment period,
or grant a payment plan. There may be additional court costs
assessed to the full violation amount by the court if the Hearing Officer
finds you liable. Failure to satisfy any civil penalties and unpaid
tolls and/or Late Fee and, if applicable, Adjudication Fee after entry of a
Hearing Officers Final Order may result in the additional fees,
Colorado Department of Revenue preventing vehicle
registration and/or your account may be assigned to an outside
collection agency.
If you wish to contest the violation(s) and request a hearing, please
call 303-537-3470. Please have the following information available
when you call: 1) Notice number, 2) name, and 3) license plate number. You
may also formally request a hearing by mail. Please include
the Notice number, your name, and license plate number along with your
contact information including a valid phone number.
Please note that toll evasion may be deemed a theft of service. The
following are not legal defenses or mitigating factors under Colorado
law:
1) the Violation Notice was not sent sooner, 2) the driver did not
know they were on a toll road, or 3) someone else was driving the
vehicle.


By signing below, I, acknowledge that I am liable for the toll
violation(s) as the registered owner of the vehicle(s) with
the license plate number(s) listed on this civil penalty assessment
notice. By signing this acknowledgement, I agree to pay the amount

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/19/2011 10:43 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/e470-express-toll-linebarger-goggan-blair-sampson-llp/denver-colorado-/e470-express-toll-linebarger-goggan-blair-sampson-llp-impossible-to-deal-with-denver-755503. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
12Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#12 Consumer Comment

Just another liar chiming in

AUTHOR: svaz - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Call me a liar if you will.  I am another out of state residen facing very similar issues.  A few months ago, I visited the Denver area fir the first time in several years.  I purposefully and knowingly traveled on E470, knowing it was a toll road, expecting to pay the toll at a toll booth like I had on previous trips.  Imagine my surprise when the toll booths were closed and cordoned off with no explanation of why.  I remember thinking that it was odd, and thinking that they must not be collecting tolls for that stretch, but hoping I hadn't accidentally blown a toll.  Several months went by, and this incident was all but completely forgotten.  I had received NOTHING to indicate that I owed any fees for my brief trip on E470.  And yes, I do keep my address on my registration current. 

Nearly five months later, out of the blue, I receive a letter from a collections agency.  Big flashy yellow paper, trying to get me to purchase an Express Toll account.  I honestly nearly threw it away as an advertisment, but then decided to look more closely.  My roughly $6 toll had turned into over $30, and my good credit is being threatened.  Customer service at E470 is of no help.  No one has the authority to waive any ridiculous fees, and supervisors are never available.  They offer to transfer you to a supervisor's voice mail, but they never returen your calls.  Emails also go unanswered.  I have offered again and again to pay the fee for the road usage, which I expected to pay when I got on the road, but they won't take it unless I pay all of the additional fines. 

Call it a scam, or don't call it a scam.  Semantics, schmeantics.  It's clear that these excessive "fees" are a big part of their business model and how they make their profit.  It may be legal, but it's certainly unethical.  But then again, I'm just another liar.

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#11 Consumer Comment

Got my justice

AUTHOR: blivinghere - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, December 29, 2011

@tellthetruth...........I don't really know why i'm responing to someone who sounds like a paid apologist for this toll bunch, but here goes. After receiving a bill for late charges and penalties without prior notice i contacted the toll people who pretty much blew me off. Did a google search out of curiosity ( would suggest you do the same ) and saw many  similar complaints. Don't plan to use the road in the future, so i don't really care past that. All i can say is i got their bogus fees dropped by filing a complaint with the Colo AG and would advise others to do the same. I still believe it is a scam for the simple reason that they could use certified mail for their notices for proof of mailing but they don't. Very convenient if you ask me. YOU want ME to prove they dropped the fees ?????    THAT is very funny .....I think the the toll trolls are the ones that need to prove anything .

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#10 Consumer Comment

Mistake/Scam: Same thing when their dispute process is impossible.

AUTHOR: Jessie - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, December 29, 2011

E470 has sent me bills when I have never driven their roads.  Yes, it's possible they misread a license plate, but they won't admit to it until you threaten legal action.  Also, they have made this mistake multiple times and have sent my name to their collections agency on one of those occasions, after assuring me that the mistake would not happen again.

I also sent a complaint to the Colorado A.G.'s consumer complaint division.  The response was the following:
     "Although we do not have immediate supervision of the toll authority (it is comprised of three county and four municipal jurisdictions that jointly regulate the activities of Express Toll), we do appreciate your efforts in bringing your concerns to our attention."

It went on to read:
    "To ensure that your concerns are voiced to the proper authority, we will forward your complaint to the Customer Service Manager: Jim Harlan, Customer Service Manager, 22470 E. 6th Parkway, Aurora, CO 80018, jharlan@e-470.com."

I have yet to hear from this Jim Harlan person.

TelltheTruth, why do you insist on basically calling us liars?  Do you work for the turnpike authority?  If so, why is E470's staff so incompetent that they repeat the same mistake with the same non-customer over and over?

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#9 General Comment

A Mistake is not the same thing as a Scam

AUTHOR: TelltheTruth - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, December 29, 2011

Blivinginghere maybe the Authority made a MISTAKE which is much different then trying to SCAM you.  I know you must be perfect and never make MISTAKES but if you did would it be fair for someone to say you were a SCAMMER because of your mistake.  I don't know the true details of your situation you could be saying anything to try and get people on your side maybe you are telling the gods honest truth who knows but you.  Keep in mind hundreds of thousands of people probably drive E470 each year and only a fraction of a percent probably complain about billing; if there were some sort of organized scam don't you think more than half the people that use the toll would complain?  Maybe you should publish your AG complaint and their response and something showing they waived all the late fees to confirm your details.

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#8 Consumer Suggestion

Resolved

AUTHOR: blivinghere - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 28, 2011

@Tellthetruth........................ If this isn't a scam please explain to me why they dropped all th bogus added on charges to my tolls after i filed a complaint with the Colo Atty General ?? The toll people contacted me and told me that after searching they could not actually find where they had sent me prior notices before the late charges and penalties were added.Strange that they didn't want to discuss it earlier..... so that is my suggestion ........... file a complaint with the atty general ..... takes some time but you might get a little justice ..  gl

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#7 Consumer Comment

Comments

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 28, 2011

First to TellTheTruth not sure what toll roads you are familiar with but there is no "running" the Toll both on this road because it is a "Cashless" toll road.  If you don't have an account they bill you based on your license plate.  But the rest of your comments are valid, they know they are on the road so the should know that they will be owing tolls.

Now back to the OP, what proof do you have that they didn't mail it out?  It seems just as likely if not more likely that in all of these moves some of your mail that was legitimately sent out was lost.

I have moved to where the people before have put in a change of address and still occasionally get their mail.  It then takes me to give it back to my Carrier and let them know the person no longer lives there.  Can you really post here saying you are 100% certain that in the several places you lived that no one got and kept your mail and every piece of mail that was sent was forwarded to you?

With the exception of 2 Tolls they all seem to be from March 2011.  Not knowing what you paid in May, it is possible that because of the amount of time of the delinquency or just the fact that they are violations that they don't show up on the same statement as other violations/tolls.

Now, the Toll Authority where I am is not "cashless" and if you don't have an account you can "run" the toll booth and have to pay a pretty heavy fine, I think it is up to a little over $100 for a $0.50 toll.  But if you get a "violation" they allow you to get an account and they waive the "fine".  Do they offer this with this Toll Road?  Even if they don't you seem to travel it quite often so why didn't you have an account?  As far as I can tell they only require a $35 deposit but no other fees and they give you 20% off your tolls.

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#6 General Comment

Comment # 5 is non-sense

AUTHOR: TelltheTruth - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Seriously you think that E470 could be in business and do what you are suggesting??? Get a

clue and act like an adult your comment doesn't present any facts or even sound plausible.  You diminish the cause of this site which is to report actual scammers.



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#5 Consumer Comment

#4 Is Completely Wrong About This

AUTHOR: Jessie - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 27, 2011

I have had the same experiences.  However, I live nowhere near Denver and I have never used these toll roads.

They send bills out of nowhere for supposed tolls from months before, always with late fees attached.

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#4 Consumer Comment

Take responsibility for your actions

AUTHOR: TelltheTruth - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The bottom line is it's not a scam you ran the toll and didn't pay timely.  You knew you were on E470 and you knew it cost money to use it.  I understand the frustration when a bill increases from the original amount.  It's your responsibility to change your address with the DMV and also file a NCOA form.  You didn't do what you were supposed to do so instead of learning from your mistake you rant that this is a ripoff.  Be honest with yourself and the readers and take responsibility for YOUR ACTIONS and learn from it so it doesn't happen again.

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#3 Consumer Comment

Bogus mumbo jumbo

AUTHOR: blivinghere - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 11, 2011

I KNOW the above statement by "Emloyee" is false. All my contacts are current . Notices mysteriously don't arrive and yet the final notices with fees and panalties miracously just appear out of nowhere. Give me a break . What a lame transparent scam. They must surely like the " He said, she said " scenario they are relying on concerning mailing of the notices. All they have to do is print up bogus copies of mailings that were never mailed for their so-called proof of mailing. Certified mail would surely put them out of business with this scam.

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#2 Consumer Comment

Unethical practices

AUTHOR: Herb - (United States of America)

POSTED: Sunday, July 31, 2011

E470's practices are not ethical. Several folks report that the authority holds tolls after they determine a bill is delinquent, then months later send a huge bill with supposed "civil penalties". They do not reply to requests for proof of debt, and seem to have a system intended to collect exorbadent fees rather than operate in a reasonable manner. My experiences are just like the others. I do pay all of my bills, and have excellent credit, and have never had an experience like this. I will not settle based on principle and will take every means to expose this practice and the board of this highway authority.

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#1 UPDATE Employee

Customer's responsibilities

AUTHOR: E-470truth - (USA)

POSTED: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

E-470 mails a toll statement to the address on file with the department of motor vehicles in which the vehicle is registered. Before it is mailed, the address is also run through NCOA (national change of address). If the owner has not updated their mailing address with the DMV or filed a change of address, the mail will be returned. E-470 will run skip trace to find another address. The unpaid tolls continue to age through the billing/violation process while everything is done to find a correct address.

The registered owner is responsible for updating his/her address. After the second month of nonpayment, the tolls are moved to the collection process. The collection agency uses many methods to find a good address such as checking magazine subscriptions or utility bills. When a current address is found, the next piece of E-470 correspondence is mailed with the appropriate fees and/or fines that have accrued during nonpayment of the tolls. Customers with questions or issues regarding their tolls should contact the EXpressToll Service Center in a timely manner. 

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