Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Illinois

what is the legal term for excessive penalty charges?

What is the legal term for excessive penalty charges?

How is it that a movie rental company is ordered to stop charging their customers late charges that exceed the price of the movie it self and the toll way commission can charge me 289.5% more than what they are owed? What is to prevent credit card companies, utility companies or any company from making the same excessive penalty charges? And why doesn�t the same rules and regulations, �laws� apply to the Highway Authority?

O.K. I am guilty of not paying $48.50 in Tolls and I should be punished. I have paid $200 to the Highway Authority but they say I still owe them $6803.00 but they will give me a break and I only have to pay $1502.25 more. Now I under stand �Highway Robbery�.


Asked on 9/15/05, 12:27 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Kevin Plachta The Law Office of Kevin F. Plachta

Re: what is the legal term for excessive penalty charges?

I thing there is something more going on here. Have you requested documentation from the agency to show why you owe so much money based on your initial amount owed? If you feel that you are being railroaded then do not pay and have them take you to court and let a judge decide the issue.

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Answered on 9/15/05, 2:38 pm
Thomas Moens Moens Law Offices, Chartered

Re: what is the legal term for excessive penalty charges?

I'm guessing you're just blowing off steam? And I'm guessing you blew through a few toll booths without paying. I think the big difference here is that you broke the law by failing to pay the tolls, and there is a fine for each time you fail to pay a toll--it's not interest on a debt that you're being required to pay. It's not against the law to return a videotape late or send a check to your credit card company a few days late, but it is against the law to go through toll booth without paying. Look at the www.getipass.com website under Toll Violations for information on what to do if you forget to pay any tolls in the future.

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Answered on 9/15/05, 2:49 pm


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