Charged a traffic fine by Sixt - need help

MrUU

I hired a car from Sixt 2 years ago for my honeymoon in Tuscanny. I received an email this year about a fine and threat to escalate to debt collection. Do I need to pay? My concern is that there is no telephone number to contact them, the website isn't any better and when I've called there is no clear option via the automated system to speak to an actual human about this. On the email and PDF attachment there is also no explanation as to what the fine is, some of the text is in Italian and no telephone number. The email is from accounting-ek@sixt.com so I assume is legit. But I'm not going to bank transfer over €88 (payment isn't even made through their website with confirmation that payment has been received) in these times of email fraud when there is so much doubt about the fine, what it's for and who I'm paying). I have had a torrid time with Sixt and after my honeymoon got a refund on the car due to their poor service and the fact I was given a car with a broken SatNav, despite paying for one and not told that it was broken. The lady also claimed I damaged the car.

D_P_Dance

Try asking here

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-before-small-claims-court-claim

Umkomaas

This forum deals with private parking tickets in the UK, not traffic fines in Italy, sorry. You could try the MSE Motoring forum (of which this is a sub-forum) as there could be some expertise there. 

Umkomaas

D_P_Dance said:

Try asking here

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/letter/letter-before-small-claims-court-claim

Is that the correct link DPD?

Scrapit

MrUU said:

I hired a car from Sixt 2 years ago for my honeymoon in Tuscanny. I received an email this year about a fine and threat to escalate to debt collection. Do I need to pay? My concern is that there is no telephone number to contact them, the website isn't any better and when I've called there is no clear option via the automated system to speak to an actual human about this. On the email and PDF attachment there is also no explanation as to what the fine is, some of the text is in Italian and no telephone number. The email is from accounting-ek@sixt.com so I assume is legit. But I'm not going to bank transfer over €88 (payment isn't even made through their website with confirmation that payment has been received) in these times of email fraud when there is so much doubt about the fine, what it's for and who I'm paying). I have had a torrid time with Sixt and after my honeymoon got a refund on the car due to their poor service and the fact I was given a car with a broken SatNav, despite paying for one and not told that it was broken. The lady also claimed I damaged the car.

The email came from sixt or a uk based debt collector that have bought the debt in a lst ditch attempt to make some money before it expires?

D_P_Dance

Thanks

https://www.internations.org/italy-expats?&utm_source=google_adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=expats%20italy%20forum&matchtype=e&utm_device=c&utm_content=Forum&utm_campaign=Country_IT_Italy&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvKrj6ryw6QIVR4XVCh23BgWKEAAYASAAEgLPpfD_BwE

AdrianC

Have you tried putting the Italian text through Google translate?

Odds are that the fine is perfectly legit, Sixt have already paid it, and that they're now coming after you within the terms of the rental contract. I presume the card you paid for the car with is not available to them for some reason - cancelled, expired or whatever...?

At a guess - ZTL?

[Deleted User]

Does the email have your address on it? If they don't have your address it's hard to see how they could do anything about collecting with just an email.

Dr_Crypto

There seem to be two general approaches from car rental outfits to fines. Either they pay them and then chase the customer for payment or they provider the customer's particulars to the authority (usually charging an administration fee) and the authority chases the customer. 
Which has happened here? Either way you probably do owe Sixt the money. Whether they will actually chase you beyond a few emails and letters I know not. 

What would I do? Probably ignore it and see what happened. If it looked like it was going to court then think again but the chances aren't high. 

MinuteNoodles

[DELETED USER] said:

Does the email have your address on it? If they don't have your address it's hard to see how they could do anything about collecting with just an email.

It was a car rental. Quite sure they'll have copies of their passport and driving licence, one of which will have an address on but certainly a name and date of birth which is sufficient to start to trace someone or issue legal proceedings.

KimJongUn88

I doubt it'll be scam if the date of the alleged offence ties up with the period of time you were in Italy.  
UK based debt collection companies have been known to buy up lots of these fines and then pursue them on home ground. They pay pennies in the pound and make their profit by charging extra fees on top of the fines when they go to collect. Personally, I'd just pay the debt whilst its relatively low.