The "Risks" of E-ZPass

[Towncrier]

I read this interesting (true story) account of what can happen when you try to cancel E-ZPass:

After moving to Nashville from New York recently, it occurred to me that I no longer had a pressing use for my E-ZPass. Following the E-ZPass instructions, I filled out a few forms and dropped my pass off at United Parcel Service, destination Staten Island service center.

Two weeks passed, and I received my normal E-ZPass e-mail statement. I entered my account and, lo and behold, my recently surrendered pass had been used by someone to go from Newark Airport to Exit 18 on the New Jersey Turnpike.

I was incensed.

I immediately called E-ZPass and informed them that someone had stolen my pass. I explained that I had mailed the pass and that now someone was running up and down the turnpike using it.

Very calmly, the E-ZPass representative said, "Sir, your E-ZPass was not stolen, it is in the UPS truck, and every time that truck goes through an E-Z Pass toll booth, it is going to register another toll."

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Towncrier,

you forgot to save that little metallic envelope the EZ-Pass came in didn't you?

Funny story though.

 

[Towncrier]

"It wasn't me" (quoting Harlan Williams).

I actually took this story from the comp.risks forum, home of all sorts of computer related "risks". The big topic right now is electronic voting machines, but I thought that the E-ZPass story was quite amusing and wanted to share it with the DIS.

 

[nativetxn]

It wasn't stolen? Too funny