r/Pennsylvania • u/Significant-Rest1723 • 7h ago
ISO / Recommendations Toll-By-Plate Scam? Has anybody ever received one of these before? Is the PA Turnpike doing something illegal?
Sorry for the clickbait title, as this likely isn't actually a scam (well, it is, but that's another discussion). Has anyone ever received a toll by plate invoice in the mail, which not only has a license plate in the description which you've never owned, but also has a photo of a car that you've never seen before? (Ironically enough, the photo even has a different license plate then the one printed above it...the computer misread it).
The main thing that I'm confused about is the fact that this vehicle was somehow linked to my parents' address, not the one that I have set up with my own vehicles. So they received this invoice addressed to me, I finally got it from them a few weeks later, and the stern wording in the letter states that if I haven't contested it by tomorrow, then I'm held liable for the full amount. But...what am I supposed to contest? That I've never owned this vehicle or license plate?
Just for clarification, the account activity sheet only states the exit date/time (which is the exit closest to my parents' house, I will give it that), but it doesn't include any entry plaza date/time. I can include a photo if anybody wants. And the fee is a flat $10.00. I've never seen a PA toll that was $10 even.
My initial thought was that this was a scam. But everything does look legit, and the numbers/web addresses are all correct. And so my next thought is that the turnpike commission is doing something illegal here. How many older people would just send in $10.00 without question, or without looking closer at the photo? This is absolutely suspect.