Paying a speeding fine
Jul 4, 2014, 4:46 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Posts: 31,452
Just to throw a bit of bandit into this...I have a ton of speeding fines in Germany, mostly from rental cars. I don't think I've ever paid a single one. I often get a letter from Sixt telling me that they need to charge me EUR5 to go through their files as the municipality has asked for it, and I call them and tell them I'm not prepared to pay that. I'm on my 12th year as a Platinum renter there, and no municipality ever sends the letter more than once. My licence is completely clean.
Jul 4, 2014, 7:40 am
#17
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Ah, take a look at this thread then: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germa...ng-ticket.html
Expect some local attention of your fine is above 50€.
Regarding the moral issues of paying speeding tickets, read this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germa...light=speeding
The admin fee at Sixt is 18.50€ or lower:
A lower 10€ fine may not be followed up, more serious violations will most certainly get the police into play.
Expect some local attention of your fine is above 50€.
Regarding the moral issues of paying speeding tickets, read this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germa...light=speeding
The admin fee at Sixt is 18.50€ or lower:
I 3.
The lessee and his vicarious agents shall be liable without limitation for the breaches of any statutory provisions, particularly for traffic and administrative offences, committed by them during the rental period. This also applies to breaches of statutory provisions or other regulations by the lessee committed just as/at the time when the rental period ends, such as e.g. leaving a vehicle in payable parking lots without paying the appropriate charge, leaving the vehicle in no-parking zones or suchlike. The lessee shall indemnify the lessor against any and all penalty and warning fines, fees and other costs, levied by the authorities or other bodies from the lessor because of any such breaches. As compensation for the lessor's administrative costs incurred in handling enquiries put to it by the prosecution authorities or other third parties in order to investigate administrative offences, criminal offences or any nuisance committed during the rental period, the lessor shall receive from the lessee a flat-rate amount of EUR 18.50 (incl. VAT) for each such enquiry, unless the lessee proves that the lessor incurred lower costs and/or loss; the lessor shall be at liberty to assert greater damages or loss.
The lessee and his vicarious agents shall be liable without limitation for the breaches of any statutory provisions, particularly for traffic and administrative offences, committed by them during the rental period. This also applies to breaches of statutory provisions or other regulations by the lessee committed just as/at the time when the rental period ends, such as e.g. leaving a vehicle in payable parking lots without paying the appropriate charge, leaving the vehicle in no-parking zones or suchlike. The lessee shall indemnify the lessor against any and all penalty and warning fines, fees and other costs, levied by the authorities or other bodies from the lessor because of any such breaches. As compensation for the lessor's administrative costs incurred in handling enquiries put to it by the prosecution authorities or other third parties in order to investigate administrative offences, criminal offences or any nuisance committed during the rental period, the lessor shall receive from the lessee a flat-rate amount of EUR 18.50 (incl. VAT) for each such enquiry, unless the lessee proves that the lessor incurred lower costs and/or loss; the lessor shall be at liberty to assert greater damages or loss.
Jul 18, 2014, 8:13 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Slightly OT - bank charges
Just tried to transfer money into my German bank account from my Natwest current account and they want GBP 10 for the privilege - and that's for paying in Euro. Complained to their live chat person but he insisted those charges are legit.
Does anyone have any authoritative source?
Jul 18, 2014, 9:28 am
#20
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Well, they are supposed to charge you the same amount they charge for a transfer inside the country. Since bank transfers are free for me inside Germany, transfers to Sweden or GB cost the same.
Jul 19, 2014, 3:17 am
#22
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Sorry to be dragging up this old thread, but...:
Just tried to transfer money into my German bank account from my Natwest current account and they want GBP 10 for the privilege - and that's for paying in Euro. Complained to their live chat person but he insisted those charges are legit.
Does anyone have any authoritative source?
Just tried to transfer money into my German bank account from my Natwest current account and they want GBP 10 for the privilege - and that's for paying in Euro. Complained to their live chat person but he insisted those charges are legit.
Does anyone have any authoritative source?
Jul 19, 2014, 3:26 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Yes, of course. All set up as a payee in my account.
Good to know that HSBC don't charge, but what I need is a link to some document, preferably on a URL ending in .eu.int, which says that banks MUST NOT charge. The online chat person insisted that no such law or regulation exists, and that their charges are perfectly legitimate.
They will and may certainly charge if you do it the old fashioned way. My bank in the UK is HSBC and they do not charge.
Jul 20, 2014, 1:10 pm
#24
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Yes, of course. All set up as a payee in my account.
Good to know that HSBC don't charge, but what I need is a link to some document, preferably on a URL ending in .eu.int, which says that banks MUST NOT charge. The online chat person insisted that no such law or regulation exists, and that their charges are perfectly legitimate.
Good to know that HSBC don't charge, but what I need is a link to some document, preferably on a URL ending in .eu.int, which says that banks MUST NOT charge. The online chat person insisted that no such law or regulation exists, and that their charges are perfectly legitimate.
Jul 20, 2014, 2:01 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
I did just that after my chat with Natwest and did not find anything that suggested that banks aren't allowed to charge. That's why I came back here.
How can I do this when the charge is clearly shown during the transaction, and I have to agree to a total before I can proceed?
I'm not really all that worried... it's only a tenner, and I only feed my German account once or twice a year, so we're talking tweny pounds a year maximum, not really worth making a fuss about. I'm just intrigued, really - people here are telling me that there should be no charge, but I've not been able to verify this information. It would be nice if it was true, but where is the definitive source?
Another method, and I used that method more than once, is to prohibit your bank from simply posting the charge to your account and ask for a letter explaining their alleged entitlement in every detail. That will most likely put an end to it....
I'm not really all that worried... it's only a tenner, and I only feed my German account once or twice a year, so we're talking tweny pounds a year maximum, not really worth making a fuss about. I'm just intrigued, really - people here are telling me that there should be no charge, but I've not been able to verify this information. It would be nice if it was true, but where is the definitive source?
Sep 3, 2014, 2:15 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 17
Anyone have a suggestion on how to pay from the USA besides a bank transfer? I just got the dreaded letter from the flash I experienced in June and my bank wants $70 for an International transfer...I have sent an email to the city that issued the ticket asking if they have other methods to pay besides a bank transfer...ny suggestions would be very welcome
Sep 7, 2014, 8:36 am
#28
Moderator: InterContinental Hotels and Germany
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,552
Certainly nothing I would receommend from a legal point of view.
However, if you have no plans to return to Germany in the near future ....
This aside, if you are in Europe, this might project might be interesting for you http://www.e-codex.eu/pilots/financal-penalties.html
However, if you have no plans to return to Germany in the near future ....
This aside, if you are in Europe, this might project might be interesting for you http://www.e-codex.eu/pilots/financal-penalties.html
Sep 9, 2014, 7:02 pm
#29
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
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Posts: 14,638
Paying a speeding fine
How much is the fine itself? Which car rental company did you go with and did they have your passport information? Like LondonElite, I've also ignored the letter from two summers ago and have been back to Germany half a dozen time since. I believe the stature of limitations runs out in 3-4 years. If you do go back within that time, don't do anything that might put you in a situation involving the police examining your drivers license.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:42 am
#30
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Anyone have a suggestion on how to pay from the USA besides a bank transfer? I just got the dreaded letter from the flash I experienced in June and my bank wants $70 for an International transfer...I have sent an email to the city that issued the ticket asking if they have other methods to pay besides a bank transfer...ny suggestions would be very welcome
Western union offers the option to transfer money directly to a bank account in Germany. You can do it online or at a local grocery store that has the WU sign.