Parking charge overturned, invoice from Lex Autolease

Malago

I was unfortunate enough to be sent a "Parking Charge Notification" by Parking Eye a few weeks ago for a visit to an electric car charging station in a hotel car park. Parking Eye's signs required us to register the car's registration with reception, but the hotel reception mistakenly told us that this wasn't necessary - oops! Thankfully a quick word with the hotel got it resolved and the charge cancelled.

However I have today received an invoice from my leading firm, Lex Autolease, for a £10 admin fee for the privilege of having my name and address forked over to PE. Lex say they'll take the fee via my existing Direct Debit on the 21st. I've disputed the invoice on the grounds that that parking charge was applied in error but feel like the direct debit will be taken from my account long before Lex can review my dispute with them. 

Do you think I should let the Direct Debit go through and hope for a refund or ask my bank to stop the charge? 

I appreciate it's not a massive amount of money, but it doesn't feel fair that PE's request for information from my car lessor for an erroneously raised "PCN" should cost me any money, let alone that it's just taken directly from my bank account with 4 days' notice.

Half_way

What are the terms and conditions  word for word in the lease agreement that deal with things such as parking tickets/traffic offences etc?

Malago

Thanks Half_way, the Terms of the lease agreement state: "(m) If arising from your possession or use of the Vehicle any fees, fines (including all speeding, parking and any traffic congestion charge fines) or other sums or liabilities are referred or sent to us, we may charge you an administration fee as set out on page 2 for each such referral. We may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any such sum if you have not paid it. If we do so you agree to reimburse the amount we pay and we will charge you a further fee as set out on page 2 for each charge that we pay." And from the section referenced on page 2: "For each demand that we receive in respect of any fees, fines, (including all speeding, parking and any traffic congestion charge fines) or other sums or liabilities arising from your possession or use of the Vehicle, we will charge you an administration fee of £12. If we pay any such sum if you have not paid it, you will reimburse us that amount, and we will charge you a further fee of £30 for each charge that we pay." I've had a good look throughout the rest and can't see any further information relating to fines.

Malago

Sorry, it looks like the formatting got lost there! Here's a tidied-up version: 

"(m) If arising from your possession or use of the Vehicle any fees, fines (including all speeding, parking and any traffic congestion charge fines) or other sums or liabilities are referred or sent to us, we may charge you an administration fee as set out on page 2 for each such referral. We may (but shall not be obliged to) pay any such sum if you have not paid it. If we do so you agree to reimburse the amount we pay and we will charge you a further fee as set out on page 2 for each charge that we pay."

From page 2: 

"For each demand that we receive in respect of any fees, fines, (including all speeding, parking and any traffic congestion charge fines) or other sums or liabilities arising from your possession or use of the Vehicle, we will charge you an administration fee of £12. If we pay any such sum if you have not paid it, you will reimburse us that amount, and we will charge you a further fee of £30 for each charge that we pay."

Coupon-mad

I would email them proof of cancellation and ask if they still have a policy of waiving admin fees where a PCN was cancelled.

Malago

Coupon-mad said:

I would email them proof of cancellation and ask if they still have a policy of waiving admin fees where a PCN was cancelled.

Thanks, I’ve done exactly that and am awaiting their decision.