Plett motorists up in arms over toll

Plettenberg Bay residents are fuming after what appears to be unsolicited Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza charges wreaking havoc on their bank accounts.

Motorists claim that in some instances more than 20 charges reflected on their statements over a three-day period over the past week. While some say they have been informed that these were delayed charges for use of the toll gate over the past year, others say they have never used their cards at the toll gate, yet have been charged for use.

Local resident Marius Venter says he noticed a R50.50 charge that did not correlate with a visit to the toll gate recently and took his own complaint, along with those of others, to toll operator Tolcon.

He believes the charges are a result of a card-skimming scam. “I have been in contact with authorities and have been told that there was a glitch in the system, but I don’t buy that. The Mastercard gateway is one of the most secure systems in the world,” Venter says.

According to Tolcon, he says, they have been inundated with complaints from motorists over similar issues.

In the meantime, motorists have taken to social media to air their anger. One resident, Lara Starr, claims that in a three-day period she was charged R50.50 no less than 24 times. “It overdrafted our account and now they want us to pay fees of over R2 000 … FNB said all the tolls from the last year must have been charged all at once. I don’t think I’ve even gone through there that many times in the last year,” Starr said on a local social media platform.

Venter has in the meantime invited those with toll gate charge issues to contact him and offered to take the matter up with Tolcon on their behalf. One of these residents is Judie Walker who indicated that R50.50 was deducted on five occasions. “The last time I went through the toll was in July and the payments were taken in July,” she says.

Leigh-Ann Derbyshire says R47.50 was deducted twice recently even though she last used the toll gate more than a year ago.

Venter believes everyone affected should report the matter. “I really believe it is a scam and if we don’t report it, this will only continue. People might brush the charges off because they are small amounts, but that is how they (alleged scammers) will get away with it.”

Tolcon did not respond to Knysna-Plett Herald enquiries before going to print.