Rejecting PCN from Europcar PCN Admin Team!

Dickie_Greenfield

I have today received a PCN from 'Parking Eye' (a member of BPA).

They claim they have photographic evidence showing my vehicle entering a retail car park at 12.00 and departing at 14.46. Maximum parking stay permitted is 2 hours, so I have over stayed by 46 mins.

I plan to reject/ignore the PCN as I genuinely was unaware of any retrictions and believe the £50 fine is not fair for a over stay of 46 mins.

However, my dilemma is receiving the PCN via Europcar PCN Admin Team. As I was driving a rental vehicle at the time, they refer to their T&C's of hire which state I am liable for any parking offence.

They have my credit card details and ahave advised they will debit the £50 fine plus a £30 admin fee!

Can anyone please offer some legitimate grounds for fighting this case?

Many Thanks

Timmne

AIUI, europcar will just pay this fine and they will charge you for it, as they told you. As you were the only person (i assume) authorised to drive this car by europcar, I doubt there's anything that they will do to avoid this penalty as frankly, they just want it gone!

Sorry for lack of any real advice!

peter_the_piper

As this is not an offense (in law) and certainly not a pcn they have no reason to pay it and pass the money to you. Check thoroughly their terms and conditions on the hire agreement and prempt the charge.

trisontana

It's not an "offence" as you have not broken any laws. It is not a "fine". All you are "guilty" of is refusing the to pay the entirely unenforceable invoice demanded by the parking company. Try and emphasise these points when you contact Europe Car.

juliescot

This is the relevant bit of the T&C (I assume) - taken from the Europcar website

You are liable for all fees, taxes, fines and penalties incurred in connection with the use of the Vehicle and for which Europcar is charged, unless they have arisen through the fault of Europcar.

trisontana

I fear that Europe Car will cave in and pay this charge. It's a pity that one of these hire companies, who are bound to have some smart lawyers, don't call a parking company's bluff and demand to be taken to court just to prove how unenforceable these charges are.

BFG_2

Thats why you should always use a fake passport and driving licence and a stolen credit card when hiring a car.

Works for me...no PPC recharges:D:D

Dickie_Greenfield

trisontana wrote: »

It's not an "offence" as you have not broken any laws. It is not a "fine". All you are "guilty" of is refusing the to pay the entirely unenforceable invoice demanded by the parking company. Try and emphasise these points when you contact Europe Car.

Thanks for your comments - Should I ask Europcar to forward my name address to parking company so they excuse themselves from this dispute? I just don't like the idea of them holding my credit card details and billing me without a second's consideration.

anewman

I am sure europcar experience this all the time and their usual approach is to take the money off the customers credit card. They will probably not budge and will not understand the concepts readily discussed on this website! I think you'll have a hard time getting off this one, but let us know if you succeed!

BFG_2

Too late mate, you're goosed.

juliescot

I suppose it depends how far you want to go with this - but you could cancel your credit card. Then Europcar would need to come after you for the money (assuming they pay the invoice) you can then argue the toss with them.

Or if Europcar do pay and get the money back from you then I wonder could you try and sue the car parking company? Has anyone ever tried this approach?