Topic: Stop the 407 ETR's Abuse of Power!

[Mike]

I live in Markham, Drive to Mississauga everyday.  I drive on the 401, 403, 427, 400, 404 and 407 every week.  I find the 407 to be the best highway in the GTA (Ontario?).

I live in the east end and have watched the highway transform and expand.  You do have to pay for it, but you do not have to use the road.  It is a choice.

Things I have noticed regularly:

• There have been three lane expansions between York/Durham line and Highway 400 over the past several years that have been done quickly.  Whenever the roads starts to get congested, they expand it
• In the Winter is BY FAR the best maintained road.  I have driven through inches of snow on the 401 and 400 to then enter a cleared 407.  The snowplow convoys seems to live on that road (which can affect speed a bit)
• I drive home late at night from the airport and notice all regular minor maintance is done overnight as to not affect rushhour traffic
• Without this road for cross GTA commuters like me, I would add 45 minutes each way to my commute.  Is $8 a day worth 1.5 hours of my time every day?  I say yes
• I've switched cars (and plates) 5 times in the past 7 years and keep forgetting to update my 407 account.  I then get charged for not having a transponder attached to the account.  I just call the 407, get the charges moved over to my proper transponder and all extra 'non-transponder fees' get dropped.

 

I see no abuse of power, just government stupidity.  It is like everything in life, you pay for what you get.  There are no free rides 

[airbalancer]

A 100km trip on 407 over $25
A 100 mile trip in Penn tollpike $8
mmm, I think the cost is a little high for the 407 compared to other toll roads

[Mike]

A 100km trip on 407 over $25
A 100 mile trip in Penn tollpike $8
mmm, I think the cost is a little high for the 407 compared to other toll roads

Now now, it is 105KM and $20 off peak and $23 on peak 

[airbalancer]

If it off peak time why would I take it?
My Last trip
Total distance (km) : 101.2
Cost per kilometre : $0.2089
Toll charges : $21.14
Trip toll charge : $0.40
Video toll charge : $3.60
Total toll charge :$25.14
With HST $28.40
 

[Mike]

If it off peak time why would I take it?
My Last trip
Total distance (km) : 101.2
Cost per kilometre : $0.2089
Toll charges : $21.14
Trip toll charge : $0.40
Video toll charge : $3.60
Total toll charge :$25.14
With HST $28.40
 

Oh, well get a transponder then.  You only need to make 8 trips a year to pay it off.

[Careener]

407 is the most expensive toll hwy on the planet..560million$ in revenue last year..must be nice.

[safristi]

..saw an article recently(lost in the fog of my multifuctioning large brain pan now ) that some Mutual FUND (Teachers ) is trying to buy a large chunk for BIG MONEY from the OZ owners  headline" $3.4 Billion bid for Australian Toll road owner....."  geez I could drive to Mars and back fer THAT!!!!

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Mike - I too am a happy 407ETR customer. Never had billing problems. All have been accurate. I've only called them to change my address twice and always received my bill. I am happy with them and am happy it's a toll highway, keeps the *etards off.

[Arhidia]

I was surprised to have received a bill today from the 407ETR with the total amount of $6.90.  I find this surprising because I have never driven my car on the 407. Even more surprising is the date I supposedly drove on the 407, July 19, 2010 (1:54pm). On that day I drove my father's Jeep Cherokee to work because at 3:00pm my parents and uncle arrived at the airport from Europe and I went to go pick them up. I drove the Jeep because it had more room than my WRX. Supposedly I drove 2.1km from Bathurst to Yonge (that's going eastward). I work in the Leslie and Highway 7 area. My car was in a private garage at home with no other person having access to it, unless someone broke in, found the spare keys and went for a joy ride. This just doesn't make any sense. How is my name and plate number on this bill? What should I do? Any advise is appreciated.

[Technoir]

If it off peak time why would I take it?
My Last trip
Total distance (km) : 101.2
Cost per kilometre : $0.2089
Toll charges : $21.14
Trip toll charge : $0.40
Video toll charge : $3.60
Total toll charge :$25.14
With HST $28.40

Because even "off peak", the 401 is a steaming pile of bear crap.  Every bad driver in the GTA seems to find their way on to the 401.

But I digress....

I got a transponder when the thing first opened years ago, and hardly ever used it. Sat in a drawer. Then I worked out of country for about 4 years. When I came home for good and got a car, I dug up the transponder, phone them up, they verified my account, and voila, no problemo.  Was commuting from yonge/16th to dixie/matheson and back daily for about 2 months. total charges about $400...was it worth it to avoid the festering cesspool of retards and jackholes on the 401? Hell yes.  Now I live closer to work, so I only use the 407 once or twice a week to go visit family up in the Hill.

I've never had issues with the 407 people, but I have sympathy for anybody who gets jacked over by a company like Tammy has been. I've had issues with other service providers (Rogers mostly) so I can definitely relate.

Good luck, Tammy!

[tpl]

I was surprised to have received a bill today from the 407ETR with the total amount of $6.90.  I find this surprising because I have never driven my car on the 407. Even more surprising is the date I supposedly drove on the 407, July 19, 2010 (1:54pm). On that day I drove my father's Jeep Cherokee to work because at 3:00pm my parents and uncle arrived at the airport from Europe and I went to go pick them up. I drove the Jeep because it had more room than my WRX. Supposedly I drove 2.1km from Bathurst to Yonge (that's going eastward). I work in the Leslie and Highway 7 area. My car was in a private garage at home with no other person having access to it, unless someone broke in, found the spare keys and went for a joy ride. This just doesn't make any sense. How is my name and plate number on this bill? What should I do? Any advise is appreciated.

Call them, explain and then insist they have a human look at the digital photo and check the car and the plate.

[Arhidia]

Call them, explain and then insist they have a human look at the digital photo and check the car and the plate.

I called this morning and it turns out that the last digit of the plate number that was photographed is not the same as my plate number. The nice lady I spoke to (Sasha) said I should get a letter in the mail and my bill will be $0.00. I guess the computer system was faulty and didn't read the last digit properly. I was stressed for nothing. 

[ironwood]

If you want to profit from 407 ETR outrageous tolls, buy SNC-Lavelin stock on the TSX (ticker SNC)  SNC owns close to 20% of the toll road the rest is held by the Canada Pension Plan Investment board a Spanish infrastructure company and an Australian group.  SNC is one of Canada's largest engineering and infrastructure companies with a world wide footprint.  Most investment analysts rate it a 'strong buy'!  Disclosure...I own shares in it!

[safristi]

....for whom the Stock Market BELL TOLLS...............$$$$$$$

[TammyFlores]

Actually it w a s an election issue..has everyone forgotten McSquinty's promises to play tough with the 407 during the last election???

To your point... election time is around the corner.  We've been busy.  http://407etr-abuseofpower.com/the-review-of-customer-service-%e2%80%93-highway-407-etr-november-12th-2004/ & http://407etr-abuseofpower.com/tollroadnews-article-from-november-12th-2004/ Are just a few articles we posted on our website addressing the problem.

Way back in 2004 McGuinty came on strong. It was all played up as if they cared about us, the citizens of the Province of Ontario, being gouged by this private cooperation that is serving a public interest. Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar ordered an investigative review of consumer complaints against the operator of Highway 407, it was done because there are provisions to renegotiate the concessions contract.

To quote MPP Mike Colle, “…to have received so many critical comments from consumers of a publicly offered service was troubling. It is simply not acceptable in this Province that so many consumers were dissatisfied with the manner in which the operator of a vital toll highway dealt with them.”

What happened? The outcry is even worse. The government focused on tolls instead of the Customer Service they were supposed to focus on. Another panel is required ASAP. The government didn’t lose, they settled and is trying to leave us holding the bag. It’s time to make them carry their own luggage!

[TammyFlores]

..saw an article recently(lost in the fog of my multifuctioning large brain pan now ) that some Mutual FUND (Teachers ) is trying to buy a large chunk for BIG MONEY from the OZ owners  headline" $3.4 Billion bid for Australian Toll road owner....."  geez I could drive to Mars and back fer THAT!!!!

Our CPP just purchased 10% of Ferrovials share for 25% more than the asking price.  Check out some of these articles on our new website created to draw attention to these kinds of things.  In particular this one, http://407etr-abuseofpower.com/tollroadnews-article-from-november-12th-2004/

When on April 17th, 2009, The Toronto Star publishes an article that shows that this highway has profited $8 million for the quarter ending March 31st, 2009 as a reversal report of an initial claim of an $11.9 million loss for the same period, I have to question what’s going on and whether or not it has anything to do with the fact that our CPP just purchased 10% of Ferrovial’s stake in this highway for 25% more than the initial asking price?  Are the books being cooked?  I think the public deserves a transparent explanation for this.  Also, I don’t buy the whole debt claim when they are boosting that type of profit.  What is it operators of Highway 407?  Are you crying poor or are you gouging the public?

[TammyFlores]

I live in Markham, Drive to Mississauga everyday.  I drive on the 401, 403, 427, 400, 404 and 407 every week.  I find the 407 to be the best highway in the GTA (Ontario?).

I live in the east end and have watched the highway transform and expand.  You do have to pay for it, but you do not have to use the road.  It is a choice.

Things I have noticed regularly:

• There have been three lane expansions between York/Durham line and Highway 400 over the past several years that have been done quickly.  Whenever the roads starts to get congested, they expand it
• In the Winter is BY FAR the best maintained road.  I have driven through inches of snow on the 401 and 400 to then enter a cleared 407.  The snowplow convoys seems to live on that road (which can affect speed a bit)
• I drive home late at night from the airport and notice all regular minor maintance is done overnight as to not affect rushhour traffic
• Without this road for cross GTA commuters like me, I would add 45 minutes each way to my commute.  Is $8 a day worth 1.5 hours of my time every day?  I say yes
• I've switched cars (and plates) 5 times in the past 7 years and keep forgetting to update my 407 account.  I then get charged for not having a transponder attached to the account.  I just call the 407, get the charges moved over to my proper transponder and all extra 'non-transponder fees' get dropped.

 

I see no abuse of power, just government stupidity.  It is like everything in life, you pay for what you get.  There are no free rides 

This highway was built under the planning act.  There is a lot of documentation that proved that there was a need for this highway to be constructed.  This is a public issue over privatizing important infrastructure.  Why do you think McGuinty is so keen on distancing the extension of this highway in the east from the current operators?

[TammyFlores]

A 100km trip on 407 over $25
A 100 mile trip in Penn tollpike $8
mmm, I think the cost is a little high for the 407 compared to other toll roads

  Because they are test driving a market solution for a public issue.  I would say it's a huge fail!

[TammyFlores]

If it off peak time why would I take it?
My Last trip
Total distance (km) : 101.2
Cost per kilometre : $0.2089
Toll charges : $21.14
Trip toll charge : $0.40
Video toll charge : $3.60
Total toll charge :$25.14
With HST $28.40

Because even "off peak", the 401 is a steaming pile of bear crap.  Every bad driver in the GTA seems to find their way on to the 401.

But I digress....

I got a transponder when the thing first opened years ago, and hardly ever used it. Sat in a drawer. Then I worked out of country for about 4 years. When I came home for good and got a car, I dug up the transponder, phone them up, they verified my account, and voila, no problemo.  Was commuting from yonge/16th to dixie/matheson and back daily for about 2 months. total charges about $400...was it worth it to avoid the festering cesspool of retards and jackholes on the 401? Hell yes.  Now I live closer to work, so I only use the 407 once or twice a week to go visit family up in the Hill.

I've never had issues with the 407 people, but I have sympathy for anybody who gets jacked over by a company like Tammy has been. I've had issues with other service providers (Rogers mostly) so I can definitely relate.

Good luck, Tammy!

Thanks!  This fight is for all who have been jacked.  We started a new website and I encourage you to browse it.  http://407etr-abuseofpower.com/tollroadnews-article-from-november-12th-2004/  This is just one of the articles submitted.  I have stories pouring in that I have not posted as yet because they want to remain private at the moment.  I am appauled at the most of them.  One has almost $18,000.00 on a bill that was supressed that was under $1,000.00.  It's sickening.

[TammyFlores]

I was surprised to have received a bill today from the 407ETR with the total amount of $6.90.  I find this surprising because I have never driven my car on the 407. Even more surprising is the date I supposedly drove on the 407, July 19, 2010 (1:54pm). On that day I drove my father's Jeep Cherokee to work because at 3:00pm my parents and uncle arrived at the airport from Europe and I went to go pick them up. I drove the Jeep because it had more room than my WRX. Supposedly I drove 2.1km from Bathurst to Yonge (that's going eastward). I work in the Leslie and Highway 7 area. My car was in a private garage at home with no other person having access to it, unless someone broke in, found the spare keys and went for a joy ride. This just doesn't make any sense. How is my name and plate number on this bill? What should I do? Any advise is appreciated.

Call them, explain and then insist they have a human look at the digital photo and check the car and the plate.

They do not respond to requests!