Car hire company billed us �82.75 for sending on two Italian traffic violations that were issued in error
Last August my wife and I were driving back from Italy in our own car when we found our Tesco Visa card had been blocked. Tesco was querying a payment of �82 taken by Europcar. We had hired a car the previous April on an earlier visit to Rome so, as the alternative was to be without a credit card, we authorised the payment. Back home, we found a letter from Europcar stating it had charged us the ?96 (�82.75) just for forwarding two traffic violations. I had the necessary permits to park where I did and the local authority involved has since admitted its computer system was faulty and revoked the penalty notices.
I was interested to read in your column that companies cannot take additional money from customers' credit cards without first obtaining authorisation, because this is clearly what Europcar has done. Europcar has ignored all my efforts to make contact. DP, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
Europcar quickly responded saying that "after an investigation, we can confirm that the Tuscany regional authority's database was malfunctioning and issuing incorrect fines". It has now at least refunded the �82.75.
I asked Europcar why it had taken an additional charge on your credit card without, as Visa demands, first obtaining your permission. It said its own terms and conditions allowed this. Visa's rule overrides an individual company's terms and conditions but Europcar had no further comment.
You can email Margaret Dibben at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Margaret Dibben, Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU and include a telephone number. Do not enclose SAEs or original documents. The newspaper accepts no legal responsibility for advice.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/feb/20/europcar-charge-parking-fines
Comedy Doctor Who Kevin Campbell Christina Aguilera Snowboarding Antigua & Barbuda
No comments:
Post a Comment