Car on back of truck gets e-toll bill

Karen Rossouw didn’t think twice a few weeks ago when moving from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

She even had an ace up her sleeve so she wouldn’t have to drive her own car to the City of Gold – she outsourced that to a freight company that delivered the car to her new home.

A worry-free move, right?

Of course somewhere along the way the truck slipped over the provincial border onto Gauteng’s precious freeways, where e-tolls are a reality.

But, Rossouw’s car was loaded on the back of a truck, and e-tolls were something she just didn’t have to face. Or so she thought.

Unfortunately, her number plate was visible when the truck passed under the first gantry, resulting in Rossouw receiving her first e-toll bill this week.

“The bill was only for R71,” she said.

“You can clearly see in the picture the car is being transported on a truck, and my and the truck’s number plates are visible.”

She’s not sure if the company’s truck also received a bill.

Sanral said in situations like this where it is an obvious mistake, they make amendments as soon as it’s bought to their attention.

The agency confirmed cars transported on a truck cannot be billed, adding there has been a few similar situations; they recommend that someone disputing a bill like this does it by way of the Representation Process.

“A Representation [Process] is when the responsibility for the payment of the e-toll transaction is being denied. To lodge a dispute, the following information is needed: the relevant Representation Form, signed by a Commissioner of Oaths; details of the specific e-toll transactions that are being disputed; a sworn affidavit and relevant supporting documentation. Full details and forms are available on the e-toll website,” Sanral said in their response.

“We would like you to encourage your readers to file complaints through the e-toll Customer Service channels in order for us to ensure that all complaints are logged and acted on appropriately.”

Details: 0800 726 725; www.sanral.co.za