Unpaid Portuguese Toll Road fine arrived - 4 years later
Discussion
I've just received a penalty charge notice from Euro Parking Collection for unpaid Toll Road usage in Portugal from January 2019.
Tolls were allegedly 76.57 Euro plus they have added a 145.73 admin charge. A slight further issue is I was in Portugal another 2 times in 2019 and also once in 2018) when I used same hire company and also didn't pay the tolls, so more charges could be imminent.
In my defence, the hire car wasn't fitted with a transponder and the only way to pay the tolls was to go into a Post Office and pay afterwards, which obviously isn't possible when driving back to airport (and also if trying to pay at the Post Office you also had to pay all other unpaid toll charges relating to that vehicle from previous hirers before you could pay your own). The system was/is flawed for hire cars.
Is this even enforceable so many years later, or just ignore it?
Tolls were allegedly 76.57 Euro plus they have added a 145.73 admin charge. A slight further issue is I was in Portugal another 2 times in 2019 and also once in 2018) when I used same hire company and also didn't pay the tolls, so more charges could be imminent.
In my defence, the hire car wasn't fitted with a transponder and the only way to pay the tolls was to go into a Post Office and pay afterwards, which obviously isn't possible when driving back to airport (and also if trying to pay at the Post Office you also had to pay all other unpaid toll charges relating to that vehicle from previous hirers before you could pay your own). The system was/is flawed for hire cars.
Is this even enforceable so many years later, or just ignore it?
The Leaper said:
1. How did you know at the time that the only way to pay was at a Post Office?
2. Why is this "not possible when driving back to the airport"?
R.
1. Because I was familiar with the rules for a tourist to pay the toll (unless they had been provided a transponder)2. Why is this "not possible when driving back to the airport"?
R.
2. There is no Post Office at the airport, so unless I made a special journey to a Post Ofifce to pay my tolls (and most likely a whole load of other unpaid tolls from previous users of the same vehicle) it wasn't possible. Plus the tolls I had triggered on my actual journey to the airport couldn't be paid that soon, so these would have still remained unpaid, ie there was no way to actually pay them by the method provided.
If you intend to pay your part is it possible to contact the car rental company with a copy of the letter? Surely they would have been contacted first as the owner of the vehicle? If so, why didn’t the hire company contact you then?
I live here and know that they can rack up finês if not paid, though Fortunately I’ve always paid on time for my own private car (reminds me .. must get a transponder). It does seem a bit odd that it’s taken so long to finally get to you.
Several times when I I hired a car from Lisbon (before moving here) it had a transponder and they already had my travel details when I returned the car, even after getting off the motorway some 20mins earlier. The gantry ones can take a few days without transponder.
I don’t know about the legality of it or how they chase it up. Hopefully doesnt involve having your collar felt when you next arrive in the country!
I live here and know that they can rack up finês if not paid, though Fortunately I’ve always paid on time for my own private car (reminds me .. must get a transponder). It does seem a bit odd that it’s taken so long to finally get to you.
Several times when I I hired a car from Lisbon (before moving here) it had a transponder and they already had my travel details when I returned the car, even after getting off the motorway some 20mins earlier. The gantry ones can take a few days without transponder.
I don’t know about the legality of it or how they chase it up. Hopefully doesnt involve having your collar felt when you next arrive in the country!
Historically though to pay the tolls you had to go to pay between 2 days and 5 after you’ve used the motorway so you can’t drive to the airport and then pay as there is a 2 day delay.
I always used Zit Auto hire cars which don’t have transponders so always had to pay at the local newsagent or post office. They now check the use online when you give the car back and you have to pay them in cash.
I always used Zit Auto hire cars which don’t have transponders so always had to pay at the local newsagent or post office. They now check the use online when you give the car back and you have to pay them in cash.
It's a private company that owns and runs the tolls. In 2017 I had my UK Golf R there at the time, I ignored the tolls for ages up and down the whole country until I found that I could, in fact, pay online - even buy credit in advance.
Anyway, sold the car in late 2017 and I also moved there permanently and subscribed to the dongle thingy for my Portugal car. To this day, Portugal don't know my UK address though...only my old one that I told them about in 2016.
I've never received a ticket. Maybe sent to the old UK address? Who knows. Don't care. They don't have access to the information that would tie me to personal info in Portugal or here.
I'd be inclined to ignore, personally.
Anyway, sold the car in late 2017 and I also moved there permanently and subscribed to the dongle thingy for my Portugal car. To this day, Portugal don't know my UK address though...only my old one that I told them about in 2016.
I've never received a ticket. Maybe sent to the old UK address? Who knows. Don't care. They don't have access to the information that would tie me to personal info in Portugal or here.
I'd be inclined to ignore, personally.
RammyMP said:
Historically though to pay the tolls you had to go to pay between 2 days and 5 after you’ve used the motorway so you can’t drive to the airport and then pay as there is a 2 day delay.
I always used Zit Auto hire cars which don’t have transponders so always had to pay at the local newsagent or post office. They now check the use online when you give the car back and you have to pay them in cash.
My hire was always through Zit Auto - no transponder and they didn't ask the question when returning the car (4 years ago). I would have happily paid for the tolls, but due to the Post Office and time delay it wasn't possible.I always used Zit Auto hire cars which don’t have transponders so always had to pay at the local newsagent or post office. They now check the use online when you give the car back and you have to pay them in cash.
Thanks for the feedback all, think I will ignore the penalty and see what happens.
I too have had one from 2019 just last week and our car was fitted with a toll device. I am going round the houses trying to sort it out, but like you are wondering if it is outdated. It is ludicrous after so long.
I called Europcar here and they seem to think it is a regular occurrance!
I called Europcar here and they seem to think it is a regular occurrance!
river_rat said:
I've just received a penalty charge notice from Euro Parking Collection for unpaid Toll Road usage in Portugal from January 2019.
Tolls were allegedly 76.57 Euro plus they have added a 145.73 admin charge. A slight further issue is I was in Portugal another 2 times in 2019 and also once in 2018) when I used same hire company and also didn't pay the tolls, so more charges could be imminent.
In my defence, the hire car wasn't fitted with a transponder and the only way to pay the tolls was to go into a Post Office and pay afterwards, which obviously isn't possible when driving back to airport (and also if trying to pay at the Post Office you also had to pay all other unpaid toll charges relating to that vehicle from previous hirers before you could pay your own). The system was/is flawed for hire cars.
Is this even enforceable so many years later, or just ignore it?
Tolls were allegedly 76.57 Euro plus they have added a 145.73 admin charge. A slight further issue is I was in Portugal another 2 times in 2019 and also once in 2018) when I used same hire company and also didn't pay the tolls, so more charges could be imminent.
In my defence, the hire car wasn't fitted with a transponder and the only way to pay the tolls was to go into a Post Office and pay afterwards, which obviously isn't possible when driving back to airport (and also if trying to pay at the Post Office you also had to pay all other unpaid toll charges relating to that vehicle from previous hirers before you could pay your own). The system was/is flawed for hire cars.
Is this even enforceable so many years later, or just ignore it?
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