FETC vows to refund ETC customers

Vice Chairman Cheng Jen-hung of the foundation welcomed the latest decision by Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co. (FETC), which was contracted by the MOTC to handle the ETC system on freeways, to allow car owners who have installed the on-board units (OBUs) to return the gizmos and ETC cards for refund.

FETC was defeated in a court battle and lost its privilege as the preferential bidder to run the ETC project. But the company vowed to appeal the case. It also stressed that it will continue operating the system.

The company promised its customers to buy back the equipment if it loses the case again in a future ruling by the Supreme Administration Court. FETC executives said they were considering to file a countersuit in the appeal against another bidder that lost the business but took the case to the Taipei High Administration Court.

Cheng praised the company’s goodwill gesture to safeguard consumers’ interests if the customers seek refund now. But he said FETC should not only accept the refund applications at its directly owned stores but also provide the service at all contracted stores and service centers.

He advised motorists who have not yet installed the OBUs not to take quick action and spend money in view of the uncertainties for the project.

Cheng said the MOTC should now reduce the ETC lanes at the toll gates to benefit the great majority of motorists who have so far chosen not to use the system.

Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition People First Party agreed. They said the government will only draw wider complaints if it insists on keeping the ETC lanes for only the small number of 70,000 motors at the expense of the millions of motorists who boycotted the project for what they felt as unfair charges.

The DPP legislators, burned by the series of scandals among government officials in recent years and fearing defection of more voters in coming elections, even wanted the MOTC to suspend the ETC project and it over to improve the whole operations.

PFP lawmaker Liu Wen-hsiung said the government must now take over the project and punish officials who caused the fiasco.

Legislators with different political leanings also urged the MOTC not to waste more time on legal battle but concentrating on remedial measures that will win support from the vehicle owners.

The MOTC, along with FETC, was codefendant in the lost court battle. Officials said the ministry plans to take over the project if the new legal battle is lost again at the Supreme Administration Court.

Vice Transportation and Communications Minister Tsai Duey estimated that it would cost about NT$3 billion to take over the ETC project.

But he stressed that the cost will not be shared by all taxpayers in the nation.

The fund could come from the National Highway Fund that was set up mainly with the payment like toll fees contributed by the motorists.

Opposition lawmakers made it clear that they are against any plan to shift the expenses and costs to taxpayers when the MOTC takes over the project.

They said they do not want to see the repetition of the case in which the DPP administration abruptly suspended the construction of a partially finished nuclear plant but forced all taxpayers to foot the bills for resuming construction work and give huge compensation sought by contractors who claimed substantial financial losses for the suspension.

Meanwhile, the Consumers’ Foundation brushed aside the criticisms from senior MOTC officials who blasted the organization has been interfering the government administration.

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