What to do if ETC doesn't deduct the fee when exiting the highway?
3 Answers
If ETC doesn't deduct the fee when exiting the highway, you should promptly contact the staff at the manual toll lane to make a supplementary payment. The payment can be made through card swiping or cash payment for secondary deduction. ETC is an electronic toll collection system that doesn't require stopping, also known as an automatic road charging system. It is a specialized road toll method mainly used for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, bridges or tunnels implementing toll policies, and some sections of urban centers to alleviate traffic congestion. The function of ETC is: through dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna on the ETC lane of the toll station, using computer networking technology to conduct background settlement processing with the bank, enabling vehicles to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping when passing through highway or bridge toll stations.
Yesterday when I drove off the highway, the ETC didn't deduct the fee, which made me panic instantly, fearing a fine or credit impact. I quickly pulled over to a safe area to check if the OBU device's indicator light was functioning properly, as weak signals or obstructions can sometimes cause scanning failures. Opening my phone, I found a mini-program in the ETC service account on WeChat that allows direct access to historical transaction records. After entering my license plate and card number, it showed the missed deduction and even allowed me to pay the few yuan toll online. The whole process took less than ten minutes, and I set up an automatic reminder for next time. After this incident, I developed a habit of testing the device before every highway trip to avoid similar issues. If there's no signal in the car, I'll check at the nearest toll booth's manual window or call the customer service hotline. In short, don't panic; proactive handling resolves everything.
Having driven for decades, occasional ETC malfunctions are quite common, and I just experienced one last week. When the toll wasn't deducted upon exiting the highway, I calmly pulled over to check if it was a system delay. Simple steps: took out my phone, opened the official ETC app, logged into my account, clicked on 'Transaction Inquiry', and found the record marked as unprocessed. Immediately clicked 'Pay Outstanding Fee', entered the amount, confirmed, and it was done. Failing to address it promptly could land you on a blacklist, affecting future passages. As for the device, regularly check if the OBU is securely installed and if the battery drains too quickly—I wipe off dust once a month. For prevention, avoid speeding through toll gates; just maintain a low speed. After paying the fee, the system updates, and you can use it normally next time. Staying calm always turns it into a minor issue.
