The Toll Roads

Can you please fix the issue with the 241 and put up a divider way up at the top so we don’t have dangerous and time wasting people cutting everyone off? It is taking me 2 ½ hours to get home today bc you haven’t figured out a better, safer, system.

Legalized mafia is what this is! They can’t have people to collect money onsite. They won’t put in a card reader onsite so you can charge it right there (without their lazy people having to work). They won’t take phone calls. If you get a transponder, they will charge you a monthly maintenance fee. Whats’s worse, you get on the toll roads directly from the freeway… automatically! May the God Bless America!

This toll service… what is this, the mafia? Why is every «toll» I get considered a «violation»? Why do I get «penalty» fees of 50+ dollars if it hasn’t been 30 days yet? Was it because the cameras caught me picking my nose while driving?
That’s it, I’m driving off-​road. Who’s with me?

I haven’t used a toll road for several years, so I had no idea. I thought the trip would cost me $ 3 – 4, but it cost about $ 7.50! Rip off! Of couse, you don’t know that until you pay online after. If the county is saving themselves money by getting rid of all the employees to man physical stations, or taking out the stop-​and –pay stations, then you would think the cost of the toll would be cheaper. Most things government-​run is such a disservice to the public, but people are lazy to do anything about it.

This is the best government or semi-​government agency I have dealt with. I have been a patron since the Toll Roads opened, and the OC Toll Roads has been the best.
I can usually take care of everything online, but once in a while I have to visit this office. The staff is excellent … efficient, professional, and courteous.
My most recent visit was a citation from the LA Metro Fastrak lanes. I had my transponder, but at one of the checkpoints it must not have registered. (I took it the whole way, but only got cited at one location.)
I found out that LA and OC do not share license plate registration data for «pay-​by-​plate». A gentleman by the name of Angel helped me out. He faxed over a form to LA stating I have an account with OC Toll Roads to LA Metro, and my citation was reduced to just the unpaid toll amount.
After that, I registered my license plates at LA Metro’s website, too.
Hopefully, LA and OC will start sharing pay-​by-​plate info, in the future.
In any case, every time I go into this office, the issue is resolved quickly by a courteous staff.
Thank you, and please keep up the excellent service.

Kudos to The Toll Roads for doing the right thing. I take toll road every morning as it is a necessary evil given the traffic on the 405 freeway. The $ 2.65 saves me time and knowing that I will get to work sooner justifies this spend.
Unfortunately on Friday the 13^th, there was CalTrans work going on, changing light bulbs on the ²⁴¹⁄₁₃₃ interchange during morning peak rates, that prompted a delay of 20 minutes to work.
While I initially got no resolution from my Customer Service call, when I filled out a dispute claim, it eventually got honored.
The Toll Roads spends good money advertising using such catch phrases as turn rush hour into rush half-​hour. It is nice that they are good with their word to back it up with action.

Ok this is an updated REVIEW. The site is easy to use compared to 2014 when it first launched. I was able to «Go to 1. My account, 2. Vehicles, 3. Add a Vehicles (the one you drove or one you about to drive)» after you enter the license plate, it immediately picks up the amount that is owed «three days ago» from my trip entering 91 and exiting Jamboree toll charges. It is such a REMARKABLE improvement since I still have the $ 30 bucks from the two years… you just hit «pay» and it auto deducts from the Toll Balance. I am very satisfied. IT PICKS UP THE AMOUNT OWED OR DUE [BUT THEY CALLED IT THE PENALTY] ONCE YOU 1. REGISTERED THE ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL AND 2. ADDING A VEHICLE YOU DROVE in the Vehicle section.
I give you a Five Star when 1. THETOLLROADS Organization does not act like a bank and keeping my transaction balance. 2. It links my credit card /​debit card to my car license plates. and 3. It debits or charges the account instantly at the «point of exit» (since you have the technology right now) so I won’t have to «remember» to log into my account and hit the pay button within 5 days after using THE TOLL ROADS, which stands for The Total-​Optimized-​Local-​Levy Roads; however, it is not totally optimized yet.

Used to me a member back when the 91 toll way opened. We moved out to San Diego 20 years ago and kept the transponder and minimum membership so we can use the tolls when we go to Oc. The toll company started to raise the monthly membership to where it was not economical for us. Had to return the transponders but the only locations were up in Oc. What a pain in the rear.
The new system with the automatic license place reader and payment is much better. But I had to pay for my motorcycle when riding the 91. Seems like motorcycles should be free.

Beware! Do yourself a favor if you drive the toll roads and pay as soon as you get off. California got rid of the toll plazas (eliminating jobs) and now it’s up to the driver to go online and pay.
I don’t drive these toll roads a lot and I forgot to pay within the five day limit. I’ve done this in the past, and you could still go online and pay the fee plus a daily penalty for not paying within five days.
Now, you can’t do that… They make you wait until you get the notification via snail mail… Basically pumping the fine up.
I was born and raised in this state and this is the type of scam that just makes me sick. Again, I take full responsibility for not paying within five days but making me wait now while the fine grows is total BS.
Thank you Moonbeam! May I have another?

These are crooks. A lawsuit needs to be brought on them. They will not even let you reach a human when you have a question. This is the worst company I have ever dealt with. I would give these ass holes a negative 10 stars if I could. If there is a violation it is a problem to talk to somebody. They are taking advantage and should be investigated by the state and federal agencies. I will report them.

CROOKS! And I will not stop here. Somebody has to stop them from harassing people and extorting money from citizens.
There is no information anywhere on how and where to pay those tolls. They expect you to know from a genie that you have to go to their website and pay it within 3 days. Not only that, you have to know exactly the entry and the exit point. If the genie doesn’t tell you all that, you’re up for a big surprise. You’ll get a violation letter with hundreds of dollars in fines. Yes, your $ 3 toll becomes hundreds of $$$. You call them in panic and they tell you not to worry and that they will settle with you, but always for 5 times your original toll. This is such a SCAM! I feel violated, and am planning to put complaints wherever I can, I’m so outraged.

So I called the Toll Roads today to resolve some of the issues I had. The lady was nice and accommodating so I was able to pay these 2 tolls outside the 5 day window without much penalty. I also registered to receive a monthly statement that allows me to pay all my tolls at once. It costs $ 2/​month and is itemized so I believe the money is worth it.
We’ll see how things go from here but I have to improve my review based on the above. Give credit where credit is do.

Pay online within 5 days or expect a $ 115.00 penalty!
With so much money getting into their pockets everyday, is it too much to ask to hire people to charge onsite?
We pay all sorts of bills and services online, mostly on automatic charge. You’d better write on the palm on your hand: pay the toll roads too, pay the toll roads too, before these abusive people rip you off.

Crooks!!! They charge fees every month for having a transponder, also if you don’t use it enough. Also, my car was STOLEN and they would not make an exception to waive the lost transponder fee of $ 30! It’s a cheap plastic 4 inch square. I even have a police report showing the car was totaled.
Check your statements, hidden fees!
With all the nickel and dimes they do, it should be illegal to take advantage of people who are already paying customers.

I have a love /​hate relationship with the toll roads.
I love to use them and save time and avoid jerky drivers… I hate how expensive they are.
They literally save me so much time. I feel like anywhere I need to go, out of RSM is a minimum of a 20 minute drive. Its 20 minutes to the freeway. I make it to work in 20 minutes when I take the toll road… if I was to take the freeway it would probably be about 40 minutes.
So, I love them for the convenience. I just wish it wasnt so much money!
I have noticed the last few months there are a lot of CHP officers waiting near the toll bar… catching people ALWAYS going through with no license plates. I
am so curious what that fine is. I am sure its hefty!
The new transponder I have now lets you set it for 1 person, 2 people or 3 people. Thats pretty cool — Im not sure what the rate break is for carpooling as Im often by myself but its a nice idea.

TheTollRoads has no indication of where the toll actually starts and gives no option to choose other toll-​free roads. When you see a very ambiguous sign that says toll roads it’s already too late.
There was no way you can pay in person at the toll booth because there is no toll booth at all. They will mail you a Notice of Toll Evasion after 10 days of your ‘violation’ with a $ 63.5 bill on it, which grows to $ 163.5 in 30 days if you somehow miss the bill (rental car, mail forwarding etc).
The bill instructs you to pay online however that is only available after 5 days after the ‘violation’, in other words, you cannot pay online despite their instruction (The website blocks you). BTW, if you try to pay online before getting the bill, you can’t, because you need the reference number on the letter to pay the bill. Your only two options are: 1. mail back the bill (hoping that they actually charge you $ 63.5 instead of ignoring your mail and bill you $ 163.5 a month later. 2. Call their not-​toll-​free number and wait in line for an hour to just pay the ‘violation’.
This is a scam and they are blatant about it. It is infringing on the right of the customer to know what they are entering into and before they know it, they have already lost hundreds of dollars. We need a riot and a class-​action lawsuit to get rid of these blood-​suckers.
P. S. To all those giving good reviews because they waived the fine for the first time, I cannot imagine how obedient and delusional do would have to be to call that good service. A conman letting his prey off once does not make him an honest man.

FIRST TIMERS! DO NOT PAY YOUR FEES WITHOUT CALLING FIRST!
I rented a car to drive to LA from SD for an interview, and was unaware of the toll roads. This was back in May, and only now (late August!!!) did I receive a written notice that I had evaded the toll and now it’s late. My fees came up to $ 207.
I called and waited for about 20 minutes after the «There are 60 callers ahead of you» and the super nice customer support representative waived my $ 200 because it was my first violation and I only had to pay $ 7 even after three months of not paying the fee. I am so so soooooo relieved, $ 200 is just too much!
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU HAND OVER YOUR PRECIOUS MONEY!

I don’t have a transponder as I don’t use toll roads often enough and my life is too complicated already without more complication.
I took the 73 toll road from north 5. Exited at the second exit (the first exit is free).
It took my picture and I promptly forgot about it. I would sporadically remember when I was out and about. Ten days later (today) I finally remembered when I was near my computer.
I never received a bill in the mail.
I went online to pay, but could not pay because I did not have a reference number.
Tried the find the phone number to call on their website and was frustrated to fail on that.
Thank God for Unilocal, that had the phone number.
While I waited on hold, I read the scathing reviews.
When I reached a person, I was OUTRAGED to learn the fee was $ 57.50, including the $ 2.34 toll and a penalty of more than 20 times the toll. WHAT???
The guy waived the penalty as a one-​time courtesy.
I will of course be making a Complaint to the California Attorney General as my community service.
This is clearly below all standards of decency in America, to the point where I will refer to those corporate decision-​makers as SCUM.
UPDATE: I made my Compliant to the CAL Attorney General

My transponder battery died, and I was too lazy and cheap to replace it myself. Also since I pay a monthly fee for the transponder, I figure let Toll Roads pay to repair it.
The office is located in Irvine, just off the 133 and the 5 freeway off Barranca. They are opened Monday to Friday from 7:30 — 5:30 pm, closed on holidays like the upcoming Memorial Day. Plenty of free parking in front of the building, and you can’t miss the huge «FAST TRAK» sign on the entrance and on the glass door.
I went on a Thursday at noon, and found 3 «customer service» people sitting behind the counter, waiting for customers. They’re not the most cheerful of people. No perky «hello». Hmmm, typical Irvine-​esque business like workers.
I went to the guy on the right, handed him my transponder and said my battery died. He said how long have I had it, and I said since 2010 (like what does it matter?) and he popped out the old battery, installed a new, fresh out of the package battery, and handed the transponder back to me.
The whole process took like 3 minutes.
Its an A-​OK experience. I wasn’t mistreated, but I also didn’t leave all warm and fuzzy.

Yes it is quick and easy but it is also very easy to get a ticket here!
The Highway Patrol is able to hide it in all different places like under bridges and in tall grass areas.
The toll fees change all the time… Going up and up and up. I guess if you do not want to sit in traffic on all the regular freeways this is a great option!