I-PASS Glitch Cautions Subscribers About Unpaid Tolls

There’s a big problem with the Illinois Tollway that has caused thousands of I-PASS customers to receive notices about unpaid tolls from trips taken as far back as July 2025. This all came to light when a CBS News Chicago producer discovered a warning in the I- PASS app while updating a credit card on the account. The app displayed a message claiming that there were unpaid fees, and additional charges could be added if the balance was not paid.

After speaking with a supervisor, the producer learned that the Illinois Tollway had recently discovered a glitch that prevented some tolls from being billed when they had originally occurred. Due to this error, customers were now being charged for tolls they had driven through months earlier. A few tolls even dated back almost a full year.

The Illinois Tollway later confirmed that approximately 100,000 customers were impacted by this billing issue. According to the Tollway, state policy allows them to bill drivers for up to one year after the trip occurred. The Tollway emphasized that this was not an ongoing problem, but many drivers were surprised to receive charges so long after using the roads. The situation has left many customers wondering why they’re being charged now when they thought everything had been taken care of.

Furthermore, the Illinois Tollway failed to send a notification to affected customers or post a public announcement explaining what was going on. When asked by CBS about the lack of notice, the Tollway responded that they keep a close eye on transactions and fix issues as quickly as possible. Officials also encouraged customers to check their accounts frequently and contact customer service if they experience an unexpected charge. It seems like the Tollway is trying to handle the situation, but their lack of communication has likely caused frustration for many people.

There is also a connection between this billing issue and the Tollway’s proposed toll increase. Around the same time as the billing glitch became public, the Illinois Tollway was asking for public feedback on a proposal to increase passenger tolls by 45 cents per toll starting in 2027. The idea behind this proposal was to generate more than $26 billion over the next 15 years to pay for upgrades to the Tollway system. To get public feedback, they held hearings and set up online comment periods where people could share their thoughts.

Ultimately, this issue highlights the importance of monitoring financial accounts and how system failures can lead to confusion and unexpected expenses. This report raises questions about communication and transparency, while also suggesting that I-PASS users review their accounts regularly and stay informed about changes to the Illinois Tollway system.