Publications & Sites 
Morton Grove senior citizens overcharged for license renewals
Updated: April 29, 2013 10:12AM
Morton Grove Village Administrator Ryan Horne estimated that the village was inundated with at least 1,000 calls from senior citizens this week upset they were being charged full price for village vehicle licenses.
But the billing was a mistake, Horne said. He blamed Third Millennium, the company the village contracted with to handle license renewals.
The village normally charges $55 a year for a village vehicle license. Seniors, however, receive a discount and are supposed to pay just $25.
But Horne said this year’s renewal notices went out charging seniors the full price.
“The vendor made an error,” Horne said Friday. “Senor discounts are still in effect. We had probably 1,000 people call.”
Those who pay online can renew this year also at the discounted rate.
Others, who have paid the full price, can obtain a refund or other compensation from the village, Horne said. One resident, he noted, asked to have the extra $30 applied to a water bill instead of receiving a refund.
“We’re very sorry about this,” Horne said. “If people contact us, we can assist them in whatever way they want. People will be reimbursed.”
Horne said he also plans to review the contract with Millennium. The company, he said, so far has not determined what caused the error in the renewal notices.
Horne said the village plans to obtain reimbursement from Millennium for any costs incurred in handling the refunds.
Seniors can avoid paying the extra charge in the first place by renewing their license on the village website, www.mortongroveil.org, and clicking on the link for “vehicle/pet registration.”
Horne said there is a drop-down list and if seniors chose “pas1” they should be able to renew the license at the correct price.
Horne said the village did not have any way to notify seniors individually of the problem.
“We would love to be able to call everybody individually,” he said. “It really is a critical manpower shortage for us.”
