A class action lawsuit against Oklahoma PikePass has been settled for more than $12 million in cash and credits to the certified class of PikePass customers.
Judge Noma D. Gurich, who presided over the case in the
The terms include $9.3 million in cash and account credits for PikePass travel and more than $3 million in other benefits to the members of the class.
Account credits of $6 million for PikePass travel and interest accrued on those credits will be divided among the PikePass account holders who are members of the class. It’s anticipated that each class member will receive a PikePass credit of approximately $11.
Claims will not need to be filed. Credits for PikePass travel will be automatically credited to the accounts of class members and will be valid through December 2007.
According to pikepassclass.com, the lawsuit pertained to “force match” charges being inappropriately applied to PikePass users. The suit alleged PikePass equipment sometimes failed to read customers’ PikePasses at an entrance or exit. And when the PikePass fails to read, the system assumes the customer made the longest and costliest trip from the entrance or exit that was read – called a “forced match.”
As part of the settlement, the PikePass statement is being redesigned to separate all forced match transactions and display that total separately so PikePass customers will be able to more easily correct erroneous charges.
As part of the settlement, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority also is to hire a technology consultant to improve and better manage system improvements and implementation.
The class includes all non-governmental PikePass customers with at least one forced match transaction during the time after Jan. 1, 1991, through Sept. 15, 2005.
