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Hungarian Penalty Charge Notice epc plc
Hi all recently went on a round trip to Europe and passed through Hungary. Today got a penalty charge notice ; £35 and £44 administration costs. I have 60 days to pay. I have seen an old thread on here but not sure how that ended up so need some advise.
I never saw any toll charges, but equally I'm liable as I did make the trip. Can Hungary officials legally pursue this debt in the UK?.
Also of concern is that they have the right car registration number and adress but they misspelt my name. Where do I stand legally as they have effectively charged me based on the wrong name. So for instance instead of calling me say Tony they have called me Tany. Would this be a basis to query the validaity of the charge as the name isn't correct?
I never saw any toll charges, but equally I'm liable as I did make the trip. Can Hungary officials legally pursue this debt in the UK?.
Also of concern is that they have the right car registration number and adress but they misspelt my name. Where do I stand legally as they have effectively charged me based on the wrong name. So for instance instead of calling me say Tony they have called me Tany. Would this be a basis to query the validaity of the charge as the name isn't correct?
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I would have thought the name was a simple typo and immaterial to the actual charge which is for the car.
Whether you have to pay this - that I don't know.
But how did you get this PCN? In the post? By email?? Every time I travel I suddenly get lots of scam emails from the countries I've visited which I always delete and block.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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EPC are debt recovery agents who seem to specialise in foreign traffic penalties. I don't believe they have ever gone further than sending "scary letters" - they can't raise a criminal (penalty) claim in the UK, and unless they've been assigned the "debt" (and the debtor has been notified of that assignment by the original claimant) then they can't raise a civil claim in the UK as they are not the claimant.Jenni x2
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Hi all so just to update you all. I ended up paying the penalty charge, as didn't want any hassle, at a cost of about £80. Then today, another one came through, it appears different dates and I'm now thinking, something has got to give. I know a few others have said there is no possibility of legal action, If I chose to ignore, as the crime was committed outside of the UK. How much weight is there in this? Has anyone actually been in this situation and chose not to pay?0
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Hi all
I'm in almost exactly same situation, I have purchased wrong vignette type so the ask is to pay the difference, fair enough and some hefty admin fees. I was about to pay the penalty but another letter have just arrived with a PCN for an offence that took day after the first one - vignette purchased was for 10 days. I can't see any reason rather then a badly design system to ask this twice.
I have called EPC without providing any reference numbers at that point and I've been told to send an email to their customer service with all the details. Guy on the phone said this will most likely will be "maximised". As English is not my first language I have not idea what he meant by this.
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debtout said:Hi all so just to update you all. I ended up paying the penalty charge, as didn't want any hassle, at a cost of about £80. Then today, another one came through, it appears different dates and I'm now thinking, something has got to give. I know a few others have said there is no possibility of legal action, If I chose to ignore, as the crime was committed outside of the UK. How much weight is there in this? Has anyone actually been in this situation and chose not to pay?
They can certainly pursue a civil claim through the UK courts, but whether they would do so is not a question anyone can answer-even supposing it was genuine.
Were you still in the country at the date of the second charge, did you break whatever the rule was?No free lunch, and no free laptop0 -
I've reached out asking why two separate PNC'S
they got back to me with the below
The Hungarian public road network (motorways, highways, national roads) can only be usedwith a valid authorisation for road use (e-Vignette/e-Matrica). Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési SzolgáltatóZrt. has confirmed that there was no authorised purchase for the above vehicle at the giventime of contravention. Based on the Decree no. 45/2020. (XI.28) of the Ministry of Innovationand Technology on the motorways, highways, and national roads subject to toll payment, aPenalty Charge for unauthorised road use must be paid in accordance with the given vehiclecategory, if a vehicle does not have a valid authorisation for road use at the time of inspection.Please be advised that in accordance with the legislation of the Issuing Organisation onePCN may be issued for each calendar day when the Hungarian Motorways are usedwithout a valid vignette.Please ensure that payment is made in order to avoid further charges being added. Paymentcan be made as per the instructions on the notice.Please note that based on the decision of Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési Szolgáltató Zrt. the due datecannot be extended and case will not be placed on hold.0 -
macman said:debtout said:Hi all so just to update you all. I ended up paying the penalty charge, as didn't want any hassle, at a cost of about £80. Then today, another one came through, it appears different dates and I'm now thinking, something has got to give. I know a few others have said there is no possibility of legal action, If I chose to ignore, as the crime was committed outside of the UK. How much weight is there in this? Has anyone actually been in this situation and chose not to pay?0
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pattap said:I've reached out asking why two separate PNC'S
they got back to me with the below
The Hungarian public road network (motorways, highways, national roads) can only be usedwith a valid authorisation for road use (e-Vignette/e-Matrica). Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési SzolgáltatóZrt. has confirmed that there was no authorised purchase for the above vehicle at the giventime of contravention. Based on the Decree no. 45/2020. (XI.28) of the Ministry of Innovationand Technology on the motorways, highways, and national roads subject to toll payment, aPenalty Charge for unauthorised road use must be paid in accordance with the given vehiclecategory, if a vehicle does not have a valid authorisation for road use at the time of inspection.Please be advised that in accordance with the legislation of the Issuing Organisation onePCN may be issued for each calendar day when the Hungarian Motorways are usedwithout a valid vignette.Please ensure that payment is made in order to avoid further charges being added. Paymentcan be made as per the instructions on the notice.Please note that based on the decision of Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési Szolgáltató Zrt. the due datecannot be extended and case will not be placed on hold.0 -
Yes I'm happy to pay one of them. Asking to pay two in my eyes is more of a daylight robbery rather than a reasonable law. I have sent another email asking if this can be done.0
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pattap said:Yes I'm happy to pay one of them. Asking to pay two in my eyes is more of a daylight robbery rather than a reasonable law. I have sent another email asking if this can be done.0
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