Highway Horror: Annual FASTag Wasted Over Small Error?

A user on X recently shared how their FASTag turned into a travel nightmare. What was meant to make highway journeys smoother ended up causing financial loss and stress. The incident occurred during a trip from Hyderabad to Mumbai.

While entering the Outer Ring Road and approaching a toll booth, the user’s HDFC Bank FASTag showed as blacklisted. This was unexpected because the account had more than 600 rupees balance. The system repeatedly displayed a failed to load balance message.

On contacting HDFC customer care, the user received a surprising response. They were told that a new IDFC First Bank FASTag had been issued for the same vehicle days earlier. The user claimed they had never applied for such a tag.

HDFC stated they could not assist further because the IDFC FASTag was now active. When the user reached out to IDFC, they were told only the registered mobile number linked to the tag could be assisted. That number did not belong to the user.

It was later discovered that IDFC had issued a FASTag using a similar vehicle registration number. The other vehicle’s number ended in 9230, while the user’s ended in 8230. A single digit error caused the entire issue.

At a toll plaza, vendors helped trace the person connected to the incorrect registration. After obtaining an OTP from that individual, they issued the user a new FASTag. This cost an additional 900 rupees.

The user managed to recharge the new tag and continue the journey. However, their 3,000 rupees annual pass became unusable. The experience left them frustrated and concerned.

According to the post, such cases are becoming more common. The incident highlights possible loopholes in the FASTag system. Customers expect convenience, not confusion and extra expense.