Parking “Charge” admin fee
Discussion
Hi All,
So recently had someone key my company car. Sent it away for repairs and got a courtesy car, a torrid little Citroen thing. Anyway, obviously used it to do my usual bit, only issue is I forgot to register the car’s plate in our anpr system at work (something I’ve never had to do because our company cars are all automatically registered). Now a month later the repair company has chased me on them. Of course I’ve cancelled the parking charges thru work so no charge is payable by anyone, I apologised to the person contacting me and sorted it ASAP. BUT now this hire company is demanding £15 per ticket in “admin” fees as this is a cost they’ve encured from the lease company.
They never explained this “admin” fee existed initially as they were demanding I pay the parking charges. Soon as I say I can clear them this fee appears. Apparently it’s in the “small print” on the documentation you never read when issued the Car. Seems to me they invented this when I said I wasn’t paying the charges.
So where do I stand? Can this hire company chase me for their “admin” fee? Or is it one of those unenforceable charges, like the initial parking charge this begun over. Yes I realise I’m at fault here and should’ve registered the car in the first place but have done my bit since by cancelling the parking charges for them. I’m just loathed to fork out more ££ thanks all
So recently had someone key my company car. Sent it away for repairs and got a courtesy car, a torrid little Citroen thing. Anyway, obviously used it to do my usual bit, only issue is I forgot to register the car’s plate in our anpr system at work (something I’ve never had to do because our company cars are all automatically registered). Now a month later the repair company has chased me on them. Of course I’ve cancelled the parking charges thru work so no charge is payable by anyone, I apologised to the person contacting me and sorted it ASAP. BUT now this hire company is demanding £15 per ticket in “admin” fees as this is a cost they’ve encured from the lease company.
They never explained this “admin” fee existed initially as they were demanding I pay the parking charges. Soon as I say I can clear them this fee appears. Apparently it’s in the “small print” on the documentation you never read when issued the Car. Seems to me they invented this when I said I wasn’t paying the charges.
So where do I stand? Can this hire company chase me for their “admin” fee? Or is it one of those unenforceable charges, like the initial parking charge this begun over. Yes I realise I’m at fault here and should’ve registered the car in the first place but have done my bit since by cancelling the parking charges for them. I’m just loathed to fork out more ££ thanks all
Tom-3sdk2 said:
BUT now this hire company is demanding £15 per ticket in “admin” fees as this is a cost they’ve encured from the lease company.
Not unreasonable, given that the penalty has gone to the RK, who've had to respond to it with their customer details. Fairly common (ubiquitous, even?) with hire cars, lease cars and the like.Tom-3sdk2 said:
They never explained this “admin” fee existed initially as they were demanding I pay the parking charges....
Apparently it’s in the “small print” on the documentation you never read when issued the Car.
And is it? Or have already binned the copy that you would almost certainly have been provided with?Apparently it’s in the “small print” on the documentation you never read when issued the Car.
But, generally, I'd have said that almost any hire car would pass charges like that on to you, yes.
elanfan said:
I'd be telling them that if they ever want to see more business from your company they'd better withdraw the fee. A total disincentive to. Ever use them again!
I suspect its not as simple as that. After all it was a company car being repaired by a workshop who supplied a car they leased. Who chose the repairer? Potentially the companies insurer etc.Its also fairly standard for a lease company to charge an admin fee if they have to go to their client after receiving some form of fine, charge.
My guess it will be in the terms and conditions for the courtesy car. So who signed them?
The reality though is that the lease company has had to go through the hassle of contacting the garage and passing on the paperwork and it would not seem unreasonable for them to charge a fee for that. You might suggest the number of fees charged should be reduced.
The reality though is that the lease company has had to go through the hassle of contacting the garage and passing on the paperwork and it would not seem unreasonable for them to charge a fee for that. You might suggest the number of fees charged should be reduced.
As others have asked, did the terms and conditions of the hire incorporate the fact that a £15 admin fee would be levied if the hire company had to deal with any tickets?
They can still pursue you in the Small Claims Court. If it’s contained in the Ts and Cs and forms part of the contract, what would your defence be? £15 is quite a reasonable figure to be claiming too so you aren’t going to be saving much if you dispute the amount in Court either.
They can still pursue you in the Small Claims Court. If it’s contained in the Ts and Cs and forms part of the contract, what would your defence be? £15 is quite a reasonable figure to be claiming too so you aren’t going to be saving much if you dispute the amount in Court either.
Tom-3sdk2 said:
Hey guys thanks for the replies. So we don’t know if the admin fee is enforceable at all? Like when you receive a parking “charge” all they can do is write threatening letters, they can’t pursue you for the money unless it is a “fine” so is this the same kinda thing?
Do the terms and conditions state specifically private parking charges or just fines? Copy and paste the T&Cs pavarotti1980 said:
Do the terms and conditions state specifically private parking charges or just fines? Copy and paste the T&Cs
This. If they state just admin fees for paying "fines" it isn't enforceable A parking charge is usually an invoice for a contract the driver agreed to when parking.. Most of the BVRLA agreements in operation now will state "parking charges" rather than just parking fines, to keep the pedants happy. The admin fee will also be in the contract, but many companies will refund this if the charge is cancelled.
I accept that each fleet company will have a tangible cost to process it whether it is cancelled or not, but similarly many will cancel the admin fee as a goodwill gesture.
However, given that you ended up with Citroen, that charge is likely to have come from PSA Finance, then passed to the garage who supplied the vehicle. The garage could credit you, but there is no guarantee that PSA Finance will credit them back.
If you inbox me the reg number I can also check it isn't one of my fleet...
I accept that each fleet company will have a tangible cost to process it whether it is cancelled or not, but similarly many will cancel the admin fee as a goodwill gesture.
However, given that you ended up with Citroen, that charge is likely to have come from PSA Finance, then passed to the garage who supplied the vehicle. The garage could credit you, but there is no guarantee that PSA Finance will credit them back.
If you inbox me the reg number I can also check it isn't one of my fleet...
S11Steve said:
Most of the BVRLA agreements in operation now will state "parking charges" rather than just parking fines, to keep the pedants happy. The admin fee will also be in the contract, but many companies will refund this if the charge is cancelled.
I accept that each fleet company will have a tangible cost to process it whether it is cancelled or not, but similarly many will cancel the admin fee as a goodwill gesture.
However, given that you ended up with Citroen, that charge is likely to have come from PSA Finance, then passed to the garage who supplied the vehicle. The garage could credit you, but there is no guarantee that PSA Finance will credit them back.
If you inbox me the reg number I can also check it isn't one of my fleet...
You could be an unlikely Santa for him if it is one of yours though I accept that each fleet company will have a tangible cost to process it whether it is cancelled or not, but similarly many will cancel the admin fee as a goodwill gesture.
However, given that you ended up with Citroen, that charge is likely to have come from PSA Finance, then passed to the garage who supplied the vehicle. The garage could credit you, but there is no guarantee that PSA Finance will credit them back.
If you inbox me the reg number I can also check it isn't one of my fleet...
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff