EZ come, EZ go

7/26/10 E-Z Pass tag, returned

Paradoxically, the farther I get into this challenge, the more I realize that the world still isn't fully on board with the whole Reduce, Reuse, Recycle thing.

A week ago, I called the Maine Turnpike Authority to cancel my EZPass toll tag and account. I was delighted to discover that I had a $22 credit on my account and that, simply by filling out a form, I could have that money easily refunded to me. Wonderful!

While on the phone, I asked the customer service representative if I should mail my now worthless tag back to her.

"Oh, those are valid for seven to ten years," she replied.

Given that the tag was several years old already, I explained to her that I probably wouldn't be driving around the Northeast soon enough to justify holding onto it.

"But, are you sure you won't be back in a year or two? Most people just hold onto them."

Clearly, I am not most people, which is sort of the point of this whole challenge. If most people clutter up their lives with a 2" x 2" piece of plastic on the chance that, years from now, it might save them the twenty dollars, I surely don't WANT to be most people.

"You paid for that tag. We recommend you keep it."

Since my rejection of the tag was falling on deaf ears, I tried a different approach: "How about if I mail it to someone back East? Could someone else use it."

"Oh, no!" she replied with horror. "We don't recommend that! You bought it -- it's yours."

Yes, apparently for life.

"Well, what do you recommend I do with it if I can't give it away?" I was trying to be patient. This woman was clearly not one of my faithful readers.

"You should speak to your transfer station about proper disposal."

Really? In a day of tight budgets, dwindling tax revenues, and a public incensed by government spending, I'm being told by the Maine Transit Authority to toss this perfectly functional device in the trash?

"Are you sure I can't send it back to you?"

There was a long pause on the other line.

"Well, you do have the option of mailing it to us if you wish. I encourage you to keep it, but you can mail it to me along with your account cancelation form."

Sold! I ended the conversation as quickly as possible before she attempted to convince me to place it in my safety deposit box.

I mailed it off today and, with any luck, it will be in someone else's car doing its fine EZ Pass job by the end of the summer.

I just hope they processed the paperwork closing my account.