Hungarian Penalty Charge Notice

Watchkeeper

I've received a Penalty Charge Notice from EPC plc (Euro Parking Collection plc, headquartered in London) headed "On behalf of Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési Szolgáltató Zrt.". It transpires that to drive on the motorways in Hungary a vignette is required, of which I was totally unaware. I was caught on camera and the document sent to me includes pictures from the same. Daschcam footage confirms I drove under the gantry at the time specified.

I do not dispute the offence, nor am I averse to paying the penalty. I have e-mailed Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési Szolgáltató Zrt. directly about this on two occasions, offering to pay directly, but have not received any reply other than an automatic acknowledgement of receipt. I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services. EPC wants to lift £62.17 off me, £23.44 of which is "administrative costs" (yeah; right). I've about a month left before the charge escalates to £178.37. What's the best way forward?

AdrianC

Watchkeeper said:

I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services.

You might not have received services from them, but their customer has. Their customer is not you, it's the Hungarian motorway toll authority. They cannot directly access DVLA registration records - so have employed a UK-based company with DVLA authority to do so on their behalf.

[Deleted User]

I don't see why you should pay their administrative fee though. You didn't ask for their services, the Hungarian authority employed them. You never agreed to pay that fee and I doubt there were any signs up on the Motorway saying that you would be fined AND have to pay an admin fee if living in the UK.

mobileron

Ignore them they cant take it any further.

AdrianC

[DELETED USER] said:

...and I doubt there were any signs up on the Motorway saying that you would be fined AND have to pay an admin fee if living in the UK.

There would certainly have been signs up saying a vignette was required.

Basic travel common sense says you find out what local requirements are. Fail to do so, and don't complain about the inevitable consequences.

Car_54

AdrianC said:

Watchkeeper said:

I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services.

You might not have received services from them, but their customer has. Their customer is not you, it's the Hungarian motorway toll authority. They cannot directly access DVLA registration records - so have employed a UK-based company with DVLA authority to do so on their behalf.

According to the DVLA (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804467/mis546-giving-people-information-from-our-vehicle-record.pdf), private parking companies can only access information "where a vehicle has breached the terms and conditions of a private car park".

On the face of it, Euro Parking Collection plc have obtained the OP's details illegally.

insert_random_name_here

Worth a read - https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/dec/04/vignette-motorway-toll-hungasry-fines
Although it would seem they are the Hungarian authority's legitimate debt collection partner - https://toll-charge.hu/articles/article/debt-collection-offices

Car_54

insert_random_name_here said:

Worth a read - https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/dec/04/vignette-motorway-toll-hungasry-fines
Although it would seem they are the Hungarian authority's legitimate debt collection partner - https://toll-charge.hu/articles/article/debt-collection-offices

They may be legitimate in the eyes of the Hungarian government, but that doesn't mean they can legally access DVLA data.

Manxman_in_exile

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Watchkeeper said:

I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services.

You might not have received services from them, but their customer has. Their customer is not you, it's the Hungarian motorway toll authority. They cannot directly access DVLA registration records - so have employed a UK-based company with DVLA authority to do so on their behalf.

According to the DVLA (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804467/mis546-giving-people-information-from-our-vehicle-record.pdf), private parking companies can only access information "where a vehicle has breached the terms and conditions of a private car park".

On the face of it, Euro Parking Collection plc have obtained the OP's details illegally.

I'm probably mistaken but I thought there was some reciprocal agreement with other countries about accessing DVLA records(?).

Does your link cover every foreseeable circumstance or just those 99.9997% that are solely domestic?

Car_54

Manxman_in_exile said:

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Watchkeeper said:

I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services.

You might not have received services from them, but their customer has. Their customer is not you, it's the Hungarian motorway toll authority. They cannot directly access DVLA registration records - so have employed a UK-based company with DVLA authority to do so on their behalf.

According to the DVLA (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804467/mis546-giving-people-information-from-our-vehicle-record.pdf), private parking companies can only access information "where a vehicle has breached the terms and conditions of a private car park".

On the face of it, Euro Parking Collection plc have obtained the OP's details illegally.

Does your link cover every foreseeable circumstance or just those 99.9997% that are solely domestic?

You may be right. AdrianC thinks not (see earlier post) and he's usually pretty reliable

twhitehousescat

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Watchkeeper said:

I object to paying an intermediary from whom I've received neither goods nor services.

You might not have received services from them, but their customer has. Their customer is not you, it's the Hungarian motorway toll authority. They cannot directly access DVLA registration records - so have employed a UK-based company with DVLA authority to do so on their behalf.

According to the DVLA (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804467/mis546-giving-people-information-from-our-vehicle-record.pdf), private parking companies can only access information "where a vehicle has breached the terms and conditions of a private car park".

On the face of it, Euro Parking Collection plc have obtained the OP's details illegally.

no not correct , there are about 6 groups of people (private) who can get data from dvla . those include finace and credit search type people providing they are members of the correct assosiation