18th October 2008

A few days after this date their arrived in my mailbox another statement. No other communication from 407-ETR had been received by me, not by postal mail and not by telephone.

The amount now exceeds seven hundred dollars.

I made a note to myself on Thursday October 31st 2008 that “This is my second attempt to clear this up. My first [attempt] was 2008/10/1 @ 15:20. If this [second] attempt doesn’t succeed I must bypass 407-ETR and go to my MPP”.

At 14:05 I once again dial 1-888-407-0407-1-398-950-181# and am asked for my pin-number. I don’t have a pin number.

I dial zero for an operator.

At 14:11 I dial the ombudsman, 905-264-4485.

Again I leave my name, account number and telephone number. I left a message asking that my call be returned no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday.

At 15:41 my telephone rings. Whoever it is doesn’t give her name.

She says “There is no record of it (the transponder) being returned”.

I say that I’m not surprised that they have no record; that more than eight years have passed since last I used the 407-ETR, since last I received a bill. I suspect that this is a fictitious record generated by the computers out at the 407-ETR.

She asks when was the last transaction. I say that I don’t know the specific date, but that it was well before August 2000, for on that date I moved from Markham back to Etobicoke, and stopped using the 407-ETR.

She says that she is empowered to propose an offer to settle the account for $56.50, but I dig my heels in. I can’t see why I should have to pay a cent on an account that has lain dormant for over eight years.

She, whoever she is, confirms that the last transaction was in May 2000, and that I was in their head office disputing a double-billed amount in October 2000.

I point out that without speedy resolution this matter will go to lawyers. I know that she doesn’t care, but I propose that no court is likely to uphold a claim for a bill that arrives out of the blue after eight years without communication, notwithstanding my changes of address, the MTO has always been appraised of my current address on my driver’s license.

We move on from there.

I say that the transponder was returned.

She says that they have no record.

I say that I shouldn’t have to pay, because they have no record.

She says she’ll make the offer.

I say get it to me before the end of next week.

18th November 2008

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