Have you ever spotted an “erac toll charge on credit card” statement and wondered what it means? Surprisingly, this charge is related to toll roads you used while driving an Enterprise Rent-A-Car vehicle.
When we rent cars from Enterprise, we might not realize that the TollPass service automatically activates when we drive through toll roads. In fact, understanding what an ERAC toll charge is can save you from unexpected expenses. The TollPass convenience charges range from $3.95 to $4.95 each day you use toll roads, with a maximum cap of $30 per rental period. However, these fees can sometimes exceed the actual toll amount.
Specifically, the TollPass service operates in seven states across the USA: Florida, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Washington State. If you’ve recently rented a car and traveled through these areas, that explains the ERAC toll charge appearing on your statement. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about these charges and what you can do if you believe they’re incorrect.
Table of Contents
What is ERAC Toll and Why It Appears on Your Credit Card
The acronym “ERAC toll” on your credit card statement stands for Enterprise Rent-A-Car toll charge. This mysterious entry appears whenever you drive a rental car through toll roads, bridges, or tunnels without paying the applicable tolls directly.
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Understanding the term ‘ERAC Toll’
ERAC toll represents the automated system Enterprise Rent-A-Car uses to handle toll payments. The company equips their rental vehicles with transponders linked to a service called TollPass. This technology allows you to drive through electronic toll lanes without stopping to pay, making your journey more convenient. Essentially, the system captures your rental car’s license plate at toll plazas and automatically bills the credit or debit card associated with your rental agreement.
Common reasons it shows up on your statement
You’ll typically see an ERAC toll charge on your statement for several reasons. First, you might have driven on toll roads in states covered by the TollPass service without paying cash. Additionally, the charge appears when you pass through electronic-only toll systems that don’t accept cash payments.
The billing includes two parts: the actual toll amount plus a TollPass Convenience Charge (TCC). This convenience fee ranges from $3.95 to $4.95 per day you use toll roads during your rental period, with a maximum cap of $19.75 to $30.00 depending on your rental location. Notably, these charges often appear several weeks after your rental ends since Enterprise must wait for the toll authority to provide the information, generally taking 4-6 weeks to process.
Is it always related to Enterprise Rent-A-Car?
Generally, yes – ERAC toll charges are primarily associated with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The “ERAC” in the charge directly refers to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, followed by “TOLL” indicating a toll-related transaction, and usually a reference number.
Nevertheless, some customers have reported ERAC toll charges appearing on their statements even after their rental period ended or without having rented a car at all. This raises concerns about potential unauthorized use of credit card information. Should you notice unexpected ERAC toll charges, it’s worth investigating as they might indicate fraudulent activity rather than legitimate Enterprise Rent-A-Car charges.
As a precaution, I always check the reference number that appears after “ERAC TOLL” on my statement and compare it with my rental history to verify legitimacy.
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How ERAC Toll Charges Work During a Rental
Enterprise’s TollPass service streamlines your rental experience by automatically handling toll payments. Unlike traditional toll systems, you’ll never need to fumble for change or wait in payment lines.
TollPass system explained
The TollPass program operates through two primary methods, depending on your rental location. In most regions, the system uses video tolling (also called “Toll by Plate”), which captures your rental car’s license plate at toll plazas. Additionally, some vehicles come equipped with transponders, especially in the Northeast US. Whenever you drive through a toll lane, the system automatically enrolls you in the TollPass service and processes payment electronically.
When and how charges are applied
After returning your rental vehicle, ERAC processes toll charges separately from your main rental bill. First, Enterprise must receive toll data from the relevant toll authority, which typically takes 4-6 weeks. Subsequently, the company bills your credit or debit card on file for both the toll amount and the TollPass Convenience Charge (TCC). For customers without a card on file, Enterprise sends a paper invoice to the address listed on the rental agreement.
Regions where TollPass is active
The TollPass service currently covers several regions across North America. According to Enterprise’s official documentation, these include:
- Florida, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Washington State
- Northeast United States
- Ontario, Canada
- Chicago Metropolitan Area (with special pricing)
Furthermore, some locations like Louisville have specific coverage for bridges that don’t accept cash payments.
Daily fees and maximum caps
The TollPass Convenience Charge ranges from $3.95 to $4.95 per usage day. Importantly, this fee applies only on days when you actually use toll roads. The maximum TCC for an entire rental period is capped between $19.75 and $30.00, depending on your rental location. Beyond these convenience charges, you’ll also pay for the actual toll costs, typically at the highest undiscounted toll rate.
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What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the ERAC Toll Charge
Discovering an unfamiliar ERAC toll charge on your credit card can be confusing. Before assuming the worst, I recommend following these practical steps to investigate and resolve the issue.
Check your rental history and receipts
First off, pull out your rental documentation and compare the dates with the mysterious charge. Remember that ERAC toll charges typically appear 4-6 weeks after your rental period ends, so that seemingly random charge might be from a trip you took almost two months ago. Look through your email inbox for confirmation messages from Enterprise, as these contain your rental agreement details and reference numbers. If you’ve kept paper receipts, these will also include essential information about your rental period and the vehicle.
How to access toll statements online
To view your toll activity, log into your Enterprise account through their official website. Once logged in, navigate to the “Rental History” section where you can access detailed information about past rentals. For toll-specific information, look for the “TollPass Charges” option. Alternatively, contact Enterprise customer service directly and request a copy of your toll statement by providing your rental agreement number and personal information for verification purposes.
Steps to verify if the charge is legitimate
To confirm whether an ERAC toll charge is valid:
- Match the reference number on your credit card statement with your rental agreement
- Verify the charge amount aligns with typical TollPass fees ($3.95-$4.95 daily plus toll costs)
- Confirm you traveled through toll areas during your rental period
- Check if the charge timing makes sense (typically 4-6 weeks after rental)
What to do if someone else used your card
In the event you confirm the charge is unauthorized, take immediate action. Contact your credit card company to dispute the charge and consider placing a temporary freeze on your card. At the same time, reach out to Enterprise’s customer service to report the potential fraudulent activity. Be prepared to provide documentation proving you did not rent a vehicle during the period in question or that you did not travel through toll areas.
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How to Dispute or Avoid Future ERAC Toll Charges
Image Source: Reddit
If you’ve verified an ERAC toll charge is incorrect, taking action promptly can save you money and prevent future issues. Let me share effective strategies to resolve these situations.
Contacting ERAC customer service
When disputing an ERAC toll charge on your credit card, start by contacting Enterprise directly. Call their toll-free customer service line at 1-800-935-0112 for US customers or 800-0910-1111 for international callers. To streamline the process, have your rental agreement number and the credit card statement showing the charge readily available.
For online disputes, visit the Highway Toll Administration website (htallc.com/tollpass) and click “View Receipt and Online Payment Options” in the lower right corner. First, locate your statement by entering your last name and either your contract number or the first six and last four digits of your credit card. Afterward, review the charges and submit your dispute with proof of payment if applicable.
Using services like DoNotPay
Alternatively, consider using DoNotPay, an automated service that helps dispute toll charges in under two minutes. Their process is straightforward: log in to the DoNotPay website, select the “Toll Booth Ticket” product, upload a photo of your toll violation, explain why you believe the charge is incorrect, and choose whether you want them to mail the dispute letter on your behalf. The service has successfully contested over 160,000 parking tickets, saving users more than $3 million.
Tips to avoid toll charges in future rentals
To prevent future ERAC toll charges entirely:
- Close the transponder box in your rental car when not needed
- Use cash toll lanes where available
- Bring your personal transponder and add the rental car’s license plate to your account
- Purchase your own transponder even if you don’t live in a toll area
- Use mapping apps like Google Maps or Waze with the “avoid tolls” option enabled
- Consider buying an E-ZPass from Massachusetts which has no monthly fee
Legal options if charges are unauthorized
For unauthorized charges, immediately contact your credit card provider to report fraudulent transactions. Request closure of unauthorized accounts, erasure of charges, and a new card with different numbers.
If repeatedly overcharged despite providing evidence of payment, you might consider seeking declaratory relief through legal channels. This procedure aims to resolve controversies before they lead to rights violations. The court will determine each party’s rights, duties, and obligations definitively.
Remember that unauthorized ERAC toll charges may indicate someone has stolen your credit card details. Act quickly to minimize financial damage.
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Conclusion
ERAC toll charges certainly present unexpected surprises on credit card statements for many rental car customers. Throughout this article, we’ve discovered that these charges stem from Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s TollPass system, which automatically activates when driving through toll roads in specific regions. Additionally, we’ve learned that the convenience fee ranges from $3.95 to $4.95 daily with maximum caps between $19.75 and $30.00, depending on location.
Rather than panicking when spotting an unfamiliar ERAC charge, check your rental history first since these charges typically appear 4-6 weeks after your rental period. Accordingly, comparing the reference number on your statement with your rental documentation helps verify legitimacy. Undoubtedly, unauthorized charges require immediate action – contacting both your credit card company and Enterprise customer service.
Prevention remains your best defense against unwanted toll charges. Closing the transponder box, using cash lanes where available, or bringing your personal transponder can significantly reduce unexpected fees. Alternatively, using mapping apps with “avoid tolls” settings helps bypass toll roads altogether.
Last but not least, remember that knowledge empowers you as a consumer. Now that you understand how ERAC toll charges work, you can make informed decisions during your next car rental experience. Whether choosing to opt out of the TollPass service or budgeting for potential toll expenses, you’ll face fewer surprises on future statements.
FAQs
What exactly is an ERAC toll charge on my credit card?
An ERAC toll charge is a fee from Enterprise Rent-A-Car for using toll roads during your rental period. It includes the actual toll amount plus a convenience charge for using their TollPass service.
How long after my rental can I expect to see ERAC toll charges?
ERAC toll charges typically appear on your credit card statement 4-6 weeks after your rental period ends. This delay is due to the time it takes for Enterprise to receive toll data from the relevant authorities.
In which regions does Enterprise’s TollPass system operate?
The TollPass service is active in several areas, including Florida, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Washington State, the Northeast United States, Ontario (Canada), and the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
How can I avoid ERAC toll charges on future rentals?
To avoid these charges, you can close the transponder box in the rental car, use cash toll lanes where available, bring your personal transponder, or use mapping apps with the “avoid tolls” option enabled.
What should I do if I don’t recognize an ERAC toll charge on my statement?
First, check your rental history and receipts. If you still can’t verify the charge, contact Enterprise customer service with your rental agreement number. If the charge is unauthorized, report it to your credit card company and consider freezing your card.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the content. Enterprise Rent-A-Car and related trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by Enterprise Holdings or its subsidiaries. If you have concerns about toll charges or billing, please contact the rental agency or your credit card provider directly. Use of this information is at your own risk.