Stephen Binder splits his time between Florida and Colorado, which means a lot of driving and a lot of tolls.
To keep things simple, he kept two transponders to pay tolls: UniPass issued through the Central Florida Expressway Authority and a Colorado Express Toll device. But recently, he realized having two transponders wasn’t all that simple at all.
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When reviewing his statements, Binder noticed a problem: identical charges for the same toll on the same day and at the same time. Recognizing there could be other drivers in the same boat, he called local news station WFLA to warn others about the issue (1).
“I want to pay for the tolls,” he told WFLA. “That’s why I have transponders up, but I shouldn’t be paying twice.”
‘Set it and forget it’ autopay could be costing you hundreds
Binder’s story has a happy ending: After the news team reached out, the Central Florida Expressway Authority refunded the double-charged toll. But his story is about more than just toll roads — it’s a reminder of just how easily automatic billing can cost you money.
When payments go through on autopay, most people stop checking or noticing them at all. A duplicate charge, a rate hike or an account that you forgot you had can go unnoticed for months, sometimes years. In fact, a CNET survey found that the average American spends $1,080 per year on subscriptions and $200 on ones they never use — and that’s just subscriptions (2).
Other financial blind spots you might not be checking include:
Streaming services: It’s easy to sign up for a service and then forget that it’s on autopay.
Insurance: Some credit cards offer travel insurance or even cover your cell phone. If you’re also paying out of pocket, you might be paying for coverage you don’t need.
Annual fees on credit cards: Some credit cards charge annual fees, which might be a good deal if you use the perks. But if you don’t, you might be wasting hundreds of dollars a year.
Digital services: That extra online storage, VPN or subscription ad blocker you stopped using could be quietly draining money every year.
Utility service: Setting these on autopay ensures you’re never late, but it can also mean you miss sudden spikes in your bills. Billing spikes could indicate an issue, like a leaky pipe or faulty wiring.
Autopay is convenient, but don’t let that convenience stop you from checking your accounts regularly. In addition to overpaying for services you don’t need, it also means you’re less likely to spot fraudulent charges.
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How to make billing audits a habit
A billing audit is a dedicated time when you sit down and review every card, every account and every charge. The most effective approach is to do a dedicated review once or twice a year, along with a monthly quick check-in for anything out of the ordinary.
For your biannual audit, set aside about 30 minutes, pull up your bank and credit card statements for the past six months and go through them line by line. Anything you don’t recognize or can’t immediately justify is worth a closer look.
Then, once a month, take a quick look at your accounts. This can help you spot fraud and yearly subscriptions you might not notice when you only look once or twice a year.
Here’s what to look for:
Charges just under a round number (a common subscription pricing tactic)
Duplicate entries from the same vendor in the same billing period
Charges from companies you no longer have an active relationship with
Bills for the same company on more than one account
Prices that seem higher than you remember
For each charge, think about whether you use that subscription or those card features. If not, cancel it. If you have a lot of charges, consider creating a spreadsheet to ensure you’re reviewing all your charges across bank accounts and cards.
There are also apps that can automate some of this by flagging recurring charges, though they won’t catch everything — Binder’s double toll charge, for instance, might have looked like two separate legitimate transactions without closer scrutiny.
If you do find erroneous charges, call and ask for a refund. Many companies will refund at least a few months’ worth of charges if you ask politely. The hardest part is making sure you’re paying attention in the first place.
As for Binder, he says he plans to store the transponder for the state where he’s not currently driving in an RFID-blocking bag to prevent double billing. Another option is to get a transponder like an EZ-Pass that works across multiple states (3).
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Article Sources
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YouTube (1),(3); CNET (2).
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Florida snowbird warns of a mistake that double charges you when crossing state lines — most drivers would never see it
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
