- Report: #1281701
Complaint Review: HCTRA and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson L.L.P - Texas
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HCTRA and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson L.L.P
Texas, USA
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HCTRA and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, L.L.P - They need to be investigated!!!!! Houston Texas
Well, this is an interesting situation I am in as well and I am ready to file a suit along with all other victims. I failed to update my credit card for my EZ Tag. I used tolls daily for the past 6 years since I moved to Texas and paid my tolls with no problems. With grad school and other things going on, updating EZ tag was the last thing on my mind. 6 months later, I find that I owe $4000!!!! Maybe 25% of that is for the actual toll.
So it went to the collection agency (the law firm Linebarger!) SHADDYYY they are extremely defensive when you ask questions and not like any other customer service/collection agency/lawfirm (a law firm that is a collection agency, doesn't that sound strange?). They are adamant that nothing can be waved. $4000!! Seriously???
I made several attempts, dealing with their rude customers service and calling the toll road back. The toll road (HCTRA and FortBed) said that Linebarger had put a note on my account saying that they shouldn't help me and to send me back to the law firm.
I started a payment plan where I put 20% down and was supposed to fill out and return a contract to them. I wasn't able to return the contract SAME DAY, so in a week and a half, by bill went up with them by $400!!
Something is seriously wrong with this system, someone needs to investigate them. This may need to be a federal case. There are many others who experienced this, so I am willing to join in a lawsuit and get to the bottom of this scam.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
BWalk
Houston,Texas,
USA
Similar Experience HCTRA and Linebarger are running a SCAM
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, September 06, 2016
It seems to be a common occurance/pattern that HCTRA "send" out these invoices to which NO ONE who is an actually registered toll member recieves them to resolve the issue. I too recieved a letter from LINEBARGER but no from the HCTRA that I owe money, yet the crazy thing is I have an open an active account that was just took money from my bank account earlier in the summer yet my toll violations date randomly from July 2015, Oct 2015 and finally April 2016. Confused??? So am I, how do I have violations randomly yet you took $40 from my bank card in June?? Oh reason I am given is because my plates were not updated. Simple fix if there are checks and balances right or hell maybe even someone out there to govern these enity. Called Mayors office, they say it's not a city of Houston issue (LOL) and to call the county. Call the county well guess who I am directed to call.......THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD!! It's a big scam and honestly something needs to be done. You either pay up or shut up in this dicatorship.
o2bpsycho
Katy,Texas,
USA
What is reasonable, and what is not
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, August 17, 2016
Just got a notice from HCTRA's legal counsel. It clearly states that it was forwarded because HCTRA was unable to get any response. Linbarger.... states that HCTRA shows they sent several notices to the same address as Linebarger used. NONE were ever received directly from HCTRA. Once is a fluke, but last December, the same thing happened for another reason. And again, HCTRA says they sent notices, but the only received was from legal counsel.
The first issue originated from the date the account was started. I went into the EZ Tag Store to start things. A tag numbered ***### was entered by them as ***000###. Each state has a set system for their tag numbering. HCTRA's system does not have the ability to verify if the info entered meets the states method, as in number of letters, number of numbers, total characters. Not all states can be verified as entered correct using this method, but many can. My EZ Tag was not read due to a toll scanner being down. They charged based on photos of the tags. Because my tag was entered with 3 extra 0's, it didn't come up. So, they CLAIM they mailed notices to the registered address of the vehicle. I have a home on family property in Mississippi, and my parents live in the other house that shares the same address. I get texts or emails with pictures of any bills or the like that get mailed to this house. NONE were received from HCTRA. Not to mention the notice from Linebarger, the law firmed called that house on CHRISTMAS day.
Linebarger saw that the HCTRA system showed that HCTRA entered the tag number, so in the end they waved all penalties.
The current issue, there were NO notices received from HCTRA. Only Linebarger. This time it was an issue with a new tag. I called in to have it updated. For some reason it was not. They show no record of the call. Linebarger themselves told me that they saw that the vehicle was on an account and told me the old tag number. If they see this, then WHY is this not being addressed in a different manner. The vehicle evidently passed through a scanning station that was down. They again used the photo. If they pull the registration and see that the vehicle with the tag is the SAME vehicle as the one on the account, they should be able to charge it to the account. The color, make, model, and VIN have not changed. They can see it is the same vehicle. They would rather send it to collections and drastically increase the charges, rather than charge it and send you an e-mail notice to contact them to verify and correct the information.
HCTRA refuses to lower any penalties this time. There is MAJOR money in this set-up. It is in both HCTRA and Linebarger's best interest to have the bill go to collection. It nets HCTRA more money, and is the whole reason Linebarger gets involved. IT PAYS.
I am most interested in seeing how many people do NOT receive notices prior to it being turned over to Linebarger.
I want to see a class action suit. I would happily join. once is a fluke, but twice is the beginning of a pattern. Who else received no HCTRA notices prior to getting Linebarger notices?
MCarter
Texas,USA
Reporter Question
#4General Comment
Wed, February 03, 2016
Hello,
I am a reporter with ABC 13. Would you mind emailing me? I was reading about others who have received letters as well and was hoping to get some more information. My email is [email protected] //
Thank you,
Marla
