Parking Fine paid via Car Hire

keldi

I recently hired a car whilst holidaying in the UK. I returned to Australia on 20/5/13. My cousin has just advised me that a parking fine invoice dated 1/6/2013 indicated a fine of 65.00 GBP with an administration fee of 42.00 GBP has been charged to my credit card (can't read the date of the incident but during the car hire period). As this is the first notification I have received (car was parked on the road - no notice stuck to the windscreen) I have not had any opportunity to challenge the fine or see if I could have the fine reduced if paid within 14 days. I also find the admin fee excessive, all they did was provide my name and address. At this stage I don't even know what authority issued the fine. I'm not disputing the fine just the notification of it and the car hire firm charging it to my credit card without any authority from me. I would appreciate some advise on how to deal with this.

maninthestreet

Check the small priint for the hire contract you signed - it probably states there that the hire company can charge penaly charges / fines incurred whilst a car is on hire the hirer's CC.

Half_way

you need to find out who issued the ticket, and why.

Fergie76

maninthestreet wrote: »

Check the small priint for the hire contract you signed - it probably states there that the hire company can charge penaly charges / fines incurred whilst a car is on hire the hirer's CC.

But that only applies to penalties by the Police / Council.

This is most likely a PPC and the Hire Car Company have no authority to pay this money. It's not in the small print as a PPC ticket is not a fine or penalty charge.

OP

First off you need to find out who the Hire Company company paid on your behalf. If was a PPC then you may be able to do a Charge Back if you can do these on Australian Cards?

But if not then if you issue a Notice Before Action to Hire Car Company, then they will most likely cave in and refund.

Others will be able to advise you on that.

Coupon-mad

keldi wrote: »

I recently hired a car whilst holidaying in the UK. I returned to Australia on 20/5/13. My cousin has just advised me that a parking fine invoice dated 1/6/2013 indicated a fine of 65.00 GBP with an administration fee of 42.00 GBP has been charged to my credit card (can't read the date of the incident but during the car hire period).

As this is the first notification I have received (car was parked on the road - no notice stuck to the windscreen) I have not had any opportunity to challenge the fine or see if I could have the fine reduced if paid within 14 days. I also find the admin fee excessive, all they did was provide my name and address.

At this stage I don't even know what authority issued the fine.

I'm not disputing the fine just the notification of it and the car hire firm charging it to my credit card without any authority from me. I would appreciate some advise on how to deal with this.

If this was a private company than no authority issued this and it isn't a fine at all. You need to email the hire company and ask who issued the supposed penalty and if it's a private company you'll be putting the entire credit card debit into dispute of course. I don't know of any hire firms whose t&cs cover fake PCNs.

If it was a real Council penalty then they did have the option to simply name you as the hirer - but they didn't, so you'd need to check what the t&cs say that you signed when hiring the vehicle.

keldi

Thanks all, I will e-mail the hire company (and get a copy of T&C as I didn't keep it), and find out who issued the fine.