Lyft in $60m e-Pass overcharging “rip-off”
The Manhattan federal court has stated that car-sharing app Lyft knowingly charged more than permitted by Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) regulations in a $60m lawsuit. The court alleges that the prices on the E-ZPass required by the TLC for hired vehicles, which offers a reduced toll rate, have been inflated by Lyft drivers by flouting the rules on when toll fares can be charged. The lawsuit states that Lyft has charged $59,261,400 more than it should have to customers since it began operations in 2014. Lyft currently offers more than 40,000 rides per day.
Big Apple customers who use the ride-hailing app Lyft are being ripped off with inflated ­E-ZPass tolls, according to a new $60 million lawsuit.

Lyft drivers “knowingly and intentionally” charge more than allowed in violation of Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations, the Manhattan federal court complaint alleges.

The TLC requires all for-hire vehicles, including those with Lyft, to use E-ZPass, which gives a discounted toll rate, the suit says.

According to the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, plaintiff Josh Applebaum was charged the full $15 cash toll for traveling through the Holland Tunnel in a Lyft car on May 30 — when he really should’ve been charged the reduced cash rate of $12.50.

“Lyft benefits greatly from the undisclosed and unauthorized charges by receiving 20 percent of every fare paid by Lyft passengers plus additional fees,” the complaint says.

It also claims Lyft is taking full advantage of the padded fares by “double dipping” when it comes to trips between New York City and New Jersey.

Under TLC regulations, drivers are allowed to charge a customer for the toll to get to Newark Airport, for instance, as well as the toll for the return trip back to the city — but they are not allowed to pick up a new customer at the airport, the suit says.

But it alleges that drivers skirt this rule by picking up new passengers anyway and then charging them another toll fee.

Lyft has overcharged its customers $59,261,400 since it began operating in 2014, the complaint estimates.

The San Francisco-based company has 11,000 drivers and provides more than 40,000 rides daily, according to court papers.

Eli Fuchsberg, an attorney who filed the lawsuit, said the discount is “something that should be shared with passengers and not given to Lyft.”

In an apparent contradiction with the suit, the TLC currently requires green- and yellow-cab drivers to pass the ­E-ZPass discount on to its customers, but not those who drive for-hire vehicles, like Lyft or Uber.

A spokeswoman for Lyft declined to comment.

Additional reporting by ­Danielle Furfaro