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A North Texas Tollway Authority bank account contains more than $57,000 collected from customers who have overpaid their ZipCash bills.
The North Texas Tollway Authority is quick to send drivers a bill for using toll roads in North Texas, but the agency is not so fast in tracking down customers when it owes them money.
An NBC 5 investigation has discovered that money from drivers who overpay on ZipCash bills is deposited into what the NTTA calls the Overpayment Account -- not refunded or credited toward a future trip on a toll road.
The NTTA has not previously made the bank account public. It contains more than $57,000 collected from ZipCash users who have overpaid.
NTTA toll roads are cashless. Drivers without TollTags are billed by ZipCash, the agency's pay-by-invoice system.
The NBC 5 Investigates team filed an open records request to find out how many people have money sitting in the account. The list of names is more than 950 pages long.
The list NTTA provided to NBC 5 Investigates did not include any identifying information beyond the drivers' names.
Haskell Tilson's name appears on the list. NBC 5 Investigates got Tilson's license plate number and sent it to the NTTA to confirm that he is the same person with money in the overpayment account.
Tilson's $2.22 in the account is certainly not a lot of money, but he said it's the principle that concerns him.
"Why don't they just credit it to the next bill or be honest about it and just send me a check for $2.22?" he said.
While the agency spends money sending bills to collect small toll amounts, the NTTA doesn't want to spend money to send out small refunds.
"And if that costs more to return it, we can't be using dollars to chase dimes," NTTA spokesman Michael Ray said. "That's not a good use of toll-payer money. They expect us to be good stewards of their money."
Watch NBCDFW.com's video report on the toll authority
Drivers have no way of knowing if their money is stuck in the overpayment account. Even though NTTA posts lists of people who owe the most in tolls, it has never publicly shared the list of people stuck in limbo.
NBC 5 Investigates asked Rey why the NTTA won't post the list and let people know about the account so they can call and ask that the money be credited to their ZipCash account.
"Well, because I think it makes good financial sense not to be starting a conversation over money that would cost us more to refund than it would be to send," he said.
While the money sits in the NTTA's hands, the agency is collecting interest on the $57,812.42 currently in the overpayment account.
The NTTA said it would refund money to customers with more than $2.50 in the overpayment account. But NBC 5 Investigates found that more than 1,500 people who are owed more than $2.50 have not received a refund or credit.
The NTTA claims it did not have enough information to find those people or set up an account for them.
If the money isn't claimed within three years, it will be sent to the Texas State Comptroller's unclaimed property division, which may ultimately notify people about their missing money.
The comptroller publicly posts a list of people with money in its account.
The tollway authority said it's just not worth the agency's time to post its own list because most of the people on the list are owed only pennies.
"And, honestly, that's what this is -- it's a lot of nickels and dimes, a lot of pennies and two cents," Rey said.
The NTTA says there is currently $57,812.42 in the overpayment account.
Search the NTTA overpayment database
The account was created in August of 2009. But the NTTA has only provided NBC 5 Investigates with a detailed spreadsheet documenting transactions from May 2010 to Nov. 26, 2012.
Customers who find their names on the list can call the NTTA customer service center at 972-818-NTTA (927-818-6882). The agency says it will credit the money to their account if the customers can provide proper identifying information.
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OK, I had to Google what "Dun" meant. Perhaps they could have used "Charge" or "Debit" in its place. I guess I learned a new word today, thanks NBC!
Usually the word is used as "dunning" which may explain why you are not familiar with it. Or maybe it is now considered archaic and I am getting old.
My question is why are people overpaying their bills to start with. I know that I do not make a habit of paying someone more than they are billing me. Are people being misled into believing that the overpayment will be placed in their account so they are rounding off to make it easier to write the check or is there some other reason for these over-payments like over-billing on the part of NTTA.
Toll authority sounds like a gas station owner. Quick to jack up your price but slow to let it go.
@JS in SD, you pay a certain amount, like for EZ Pass it is $30, and your tolls are deducted from there. They charge you again as you near the $5 mark, but you always have money in their account BEFORE you use the toll system. If you stop using it, and there is a balance left, well, there you have it...your name on a list.
If they think it cost more to refund money than they can afford, I believe they are in for an expensive lesson. At a minimum this should trigger better quality control. It should also cause those in charge to be replaced. I see a Law Suit in their future, possibly CLASS ACTION. Some people are going to get some big money from this and the company will pay pay pay.
I think their excuse is a load of crap. If you are willing to spend a dollar to collect a dime, then you had better be prepared to spend that dollar to give it back when its due. At the least, they could electronically transfer the money back in the same way the collected it. Most people pay with either a credit card or a bank account, and that information is on file. Simply credit the money back.
Personally, I think they are a bunch of scam artists just hoping that nobody is willing to go after a couple of dollars. While they said that it goes back to a state fund, I am sure that somebody is profiting from keeping that money.
Guess what people, there are a lot of organizations that keep your money even though they have all the information they need to send it back. Hospitals and Doctors offices do the same thing, ask them what happens to your money if you over pay. California Edison told me once, my meter man was not supposed to tell me I was being over charged. He told me my meter did not read what his hand held reader was saying. He told me to call Edison and have them send someone to investigate. I had been over billed $300 and was told by Edison I could not get a refund check but they would credit my account. I had boarded up the home and only had the eclectic on for some workers who had already completed their work. I didn't plan on moving back in or renting it out at that time so my electric bill for the previous month was $3.28. If I had decided to let the account hold my funds Edison would have continued to collect interest on my money and I would have had my electric bill paid for over 27 months. It didn't make since to let them hold my money for me so I closed the account and received a check in 10 days. It's amazing how many people are so lazy they would rather keep your money than return it. In the case of the toll roads, How is it people over paid when letting the company hold money in an account for them? Again California has toll roads but in order to use them you either pay cash or you have a savings account (that's what they call it) so they can withdraw money as you use the service? If they are billing you for services you don't use then that isn't over billing you, it's called stealing from you! I say let them sue you for a few pennies by not paying the total bill! Oops I was $0.02 short sorry bill me later. I actually had some one contact me about $4 that they claimed I didn't pay when I turned off the service. I was told at the time of disconnect if I don't pay all that is owed they can't and won't turn off my service. 6 months later they tried to collect more, lol. Don't be suckers, it's time we teach these companies if you can't bill correctly it's not our fault.
Let me see if I understand this, they claim this money they are stealing will eventually be sent to the Texas State Comptroller to sort out? So you're stealing the money, meanwhile making money on the interest, and then you are going to give this huge list of overcharged clients to the Texas State Comptroller to sort out? This company is a thief and a burden on the State's resources and taxpayers.
Federal Express used to do this. They would send me "waybills" and I would write one check for all of them. They would credit all the money to ONE waybill and then send me delinquent notices on the others.
It took me a while to realize I was overpaying my FedEx bill by a factor of 3.
When I called to ask why the surplus was not credited to my other waybills, they said that each was a separate account and a separate transaction - even though I had a FedEx account.
When I asked why the overpayment was not refunded, they stated that I had to request, in writing, refunds from each overpaid waybill. And they could not send me a list of overpaid waybills.
So, I stopped using FedEx and started using Priority Mail. A lot cheaper and oftentimes just as fast. And none of this nonsense in making payments.
And it goes without saying, I started keeping closer track on expenses and such. It is easy to overpay an invoice, particularly if the vendor sends multiple Invoices or Statements for the same transaction.
This is an old gag - and a LOT of companies do this - if you overpay, they keep the money until you ask for a refund!
"And, honestly, that's what this is -- it's a lot of nickels and dimes, a lot of pennies and two cents," Rey said.
Yeah, funny how it's "a lot of nickels and dimes" when it's other people's money. People who are sent a NTTA bill for a 51 cent toll should quote Mr. Rey and claim that the toll is "a lot of nickels and dimes" and not worth worrying about or paying.
I don't think they send bills for 51 cents. They said a number of years ago they would accumulate them until you got to $5. Not that you will be able to go very far with the rate at 15 cents a mile and that only happens if you hit the perfect combination of entrance and exit fees.
John - I got a bill from Orange County Florida one time for ONE CENT. I found the brightest, shiniest penny I could, taped it to the bill and sent it back.
I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you, to hear that Texas would keep someone's money. They should be executed!
How ironic for all the extra taxes added to everything we buy. Even on the smallest purchases literally taxing nickle,dimes,pennies and taking us to death.Willing to spend more money to get those same amounts if owed. But they won't refund those same nickels, dimes and pennies they, themselves owe the people. Using the excuse,"It just isn't worth the effort." Pathectic. Then again,it is Texas.
And banks take out your fees instantly but it takes a week to put money back in your account when it disappears for whatever reason. This doesn't surprise me....
The NTTA is not an entity of the State of Texas, it is a para-government thing. It receives a lot of the benfit of being allied with government, but still can operate at a profit.
We used to have an account with the NTTA and changed credit cards. For some reason, they didn't get the new information until we were three cents overdrawn on our first account. They send us an invoice every month for $.03. I refuse to pay on principle. Just like the NTTA guy says, why should I spend the price of a stamp to send them a check for three pennies?
So how old are the accounts? I assume the standard Escheatment rules apply and NTTA has to turn the money over to the State.
Hmmmm....taking the money but slow to pay it back. Now where have I seen that before.....hmmmmm.
Even if the toll roads are publicly owned, the operating entity should be structured as a business enterprise and regulated by some entity like a public utilities commission? Imagine if your electric company was allowed to hide your money and not tell you? Even the name is wrong. The word "authority" gives the wrong message. The toll road operating entity should really be considered to be a pubilc utility, entitled to collect tolls and fees to cover operating expenses, pay off bonds and accrue funds for future maintenance.
Many similar government operating entities like airport, convention center, parking and arena operations seem to be poorly run and don't seem to have much regard for the publc. Perhaps restructuring as corporations, public or privately owned with the same reporting and regulatory requirements required for other public utilitiy companies would work better.
Also, because toll roads are inevitable in states with densely populates urban areas, a national standard for toll tags is needed. Currently, E-Z Pass is the leading contender for a national standard because the same toll tags can be used from Chicago to the east coast from Maine to West Virginia.
The NTTA is not really a government run thing. They have gotten away with lots of crazy stuff like paying for employee parties and such. They in effect paid bribes upfront to member cities and then added this to the cost of the tollway which the increased the tolls overall. Completely legal but a very sleazy to use the tollway to pay for other city street projects.
Just another govt. slime bag agency. They are no different than the corporate thieves who will rip you off every chance they get, this one just happens to be a govt. agency.
My big question is, only $57,000.00? Where is the rest? A state the size of Texas, there should be hundreds of thousands, if not more.
Me thinks there should be an investigation of THAT!
But of course they would spend $2 billing someone for a 50 cent underpayment.
It's not that they are overpaying. When you go through a Tollbooth, if you don't have a TollTag, it scans your license plate. They then send you a bill for the amount due. The article, while it doesn't say it outright, is telling us that they are overbilling us, and keeping the excess. I should do that with my customers.
The dun conversation at the beginning made me laugh.
Why are they claiming that it's not cost efficient to repay small overpayments but it is cost efficient to collect small underpayments?
That's how capitalism works, greed.
Except that government greed comes at the cost of fines, prison, or worse. Nobody is forced to buy something from a company. Big difference.
I'm not clear on why we have all these toll roads in the first place. What am I paying taxes for again?
"You've got to pay the troll toll to get into the boys hole" - x.co/qA4h
Because, toll roads are essentially the same as an interstate. The speeds, size, etc. are very similar. But the interstate system was funded through the Freeway Act, so adding these roads, if not included in the state construction budget, must then pay for themselves outside of taxes, hence toll fees. So, in actuality, your taxes didn't go to pay for these roads, but the bills do.
Typical government red tape. If they can find your mailing address to send you a bill, then they can certainly find it in their own data base to refund or credit the overpaid amount. I'm glad I left Texas 30 years ago.
What exactly is the cost, if they are a large corporation they should have boxes full of checks that are pre-printed with their information and check numbers, and they should correspond with what is in their accounting program. I'm not understanding what the "big cost" is.
But wait, the answer lies within the article. This money is being held in an interest-bearing account. They justify it by telling themselves it is too small an amount for most people to really give them a fight, and that is what they are banking on. The nickels and dimes add up eventually; this may not seem like a lot of money, but how many people would have to have less than $2.50 in that account to bring it up to $57,000? Do that math for a moment, that's a lot of people.
The interest alone should pay for the check printing, postage, and time it will take an admin or two to get it all out in the mail. I call shenanigans.
So, if the state of Texas tracks all these fees by license plate, why can't the refunds be credited the same way? Also, kind of stupid to charge fees on roads that are truly the only way to get somewhere especially for those of us who do visit the state from time to time and don't have the cute little sticker. Why would a traveler go miles and miles out of their way to get from point A to point B? It takes forever to get anywhere in the state to begin with---why make it more difficult for visitors?
That is pretty much any organization, whether it is company or government (although I find Federal Tax Refunds are quite speedy).
If you owe THEM money, expect Guido in 30 days.
If they owe YOU money, expect them to drag their feet, complain it's too hard, or otherwise make an excuse.
Take them to small claims court, demand the money plus legal fees and time wasted... we'll see what is more expensive, refunds/credits or lawsuits.
Texas has become the next 'Jersey'. Good for them! It's a good racket. Find a place where too many people need to move over large distances on a daily basis. Tool the living crap out of them for the rest of their lives. Thats why I moved OUT of jersey. Lets see if Texans do the same. I doubt it. Stupid mofo's.
I hate toll roads. I don't mind stopping once to pay to use the road but when I went through Chicago I had to stop four or five times. What a waste of time.
In texas you don't stop at all. As you drive, you pass through check points at highway speed, and then it adds those check points up, and sends you a bill for the distance you traveled.
It's Texas kids, the state I was born in and got the hell out of as soon as humanly possible. After all, didn't the Republican debates tell anyof you about the state of mind of the people there? Their governor is a joke, so I guess the toll road is a joke also. If I used it on a daily basis, or weekly for that matter, when they sent me a dun notice I'd ask them to see if my name was on that list, and if it was, find out how much money was there, and then send them the difference.
But then again, it's Texas we're talking about.
That company is committing petty larceny on a grand scale! So, they snap a photo of your license plate, and can send you a BILL, but the same can't be said for an overpayment using the same information from your license plate.
I think this article is a great expose', and the company's STEALING days are numbered.
I'll bet some board room members are pissed that this article ever saw the light of day.
If they owed me $2.22, I'd want INTEREST returned. They should not get to keep ONE PENNY in interest payments. ANY interest should be held in a trust fund for overpayments. The company should never see a cent.
They want to privatize our toll road in Ohio,even though we're making record profits it seems. I can see why some people like modern finance
it sure sound familiar to me.....most doctors are the same way. I had to ask for my money back after the insurance paid the same bill after I did. I thought that under the law they are required to refund it in 60 days or less!!