Hungarian fine for no Vignette

[phazed]

We returned from a 6 week tour of Eastern Europe in our Motorhome three weeks ago. We ventured through Hungary for I believe one day only. Today, we received a fine for not displaying a vignette.

This is being collected by EPC, plc based in England.

To be honest, we did not know that we required one although I understand that ignorance is no excuse. Both my wife and I never saw any notification or signage stating that we should have one when entering the country. Again, I understand that we probably should have investigated prior to travelling in Hungary.

Question is, should I pay it or close my eyes and hope it goes away? Will the Hungarian tentacles reach out and find us?

The fine is £106.09 if paid within 60 days. This rises to £251.13 if paid out side of the 60 days and no doubt will rise. I just hope that there aren’t more to follow!

Yes, I agree that we are a pair of plums…

[SS427 Camaro]

If it were me, then I would not be paying it. Parasites the lot of them.

[andy43]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/dec/04/vign...
I’ve read about EPC before when I was researching vmax and Europe. Cough.
General advice seems to be to ignore. Not sure what happens if you return with the same numberplate though.

[TREMAiNE]

I would probably bite the bullet and pay it - I don't know if it would come back to haunt you but for £100 it's not worth the agg to me.

[phazed]

TREMAiNE said:

I would probably bite the bullet and pay it - I don't know if it would come back to haunt you but for £100 it's not worth the agg to me.

I am considering it but we will wait for a week to see if any more drop through the letterbox.

We also went through Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia and vaguely remember buying a vignette for I believe the Czech Republic as a fellow camper brought it to our attention. We really should pay more attention generally.!

[MikeM6]

I'd probably just pay, life is too short to have things like this hanging over you.

The fact that you created this thread shows it bothers you enough to make the value of the problem going away > £100.

[Peter911]

What is your opinion on foreigners coming over here, breaking our laws, leaving the country and getting away scot free?

[ChocolateFrog]

I assume the actual Vignette is a small fraction of what this company is charging.

I doubt I'd pay a UK company. I'm guessing there's no option to go direct to whoever runs the Hungarian system.

[vaud]

ChocolateFrog said:

I assume the actual Vignette is a small fraction of what this company is charging.

I doubt I'd pay a UK company. I'm guessing there's no option to go direct to whoever runs the Hungarian system.

€20 for 10 days for a car

[phazed]

Peter911 said:

What is your opinion on foreigners coming over here, breaking our laws, leaving the country and getting away scot free?

Good point.

[omniflow]

vaud said:

ChocolateFrog said:

I assume the actual Vignette is a small fraction of what this company is charging.

I doubt I'd pay a UK company. I'm guessing there's no option to go direct to whoever runs the Hungarian system.

20 for 10 days for a car

It's not a retrospective charge for the Vignette. It's a fine for not having one. In order to be an effective deterrent, the fine needs to be significantly higher than the cost of the Vignette.

[Pistom]

They probably have no jurisdiction to do anything here but I would just pay.

We all make mistakes.

[phazed]

ChocolateFrog said:

I assume the actual Vignette is a small fraction of what this company is charging.

I doubt I'd pay a UK company. I'm guessing there's no option to go direct to whoever runs the Hungarian system.

Another good point. According to the paperwork £60.69 and administrative costs are £45.50.

[vaud]

omniflow said:

It's not a retrospective charge for the Vignette. It's a fine for not having one. In order to be an effective deterrent, the fine needs to be significantly higher than the cost of the Vignette.

I know. Personally I would pay. Their country, their rules. In an age of the internet, google translate (including using a live camera) and ChatGPT etc there is literally no excuse, especially if you have put all the effort into planning a trip.

A simple search for "what do I need to consider as a driver of a UK motorhome for these countries... a, b, c"

It's not hard. ChatGPT would probably give you the best list that you can then double check.

[idealstandard]

Happened to me once, I didn't pay it but got a vignette the next time. Didn't get pulled over or anything

i think they sell the fines to private companies for a fee - so likely the authorities consider it case closed, or at least that was the case 8 or so years ago.

[vaud]

idealstandard said:

Happened to me once, I didn't pay it but got a vignette the next time. Didn't get pulled over or anything

i think they sell the fines to private companies for a fee - so likely the authorities consider it case closed, or at least that was the case 8 or so years ago.

I agree - sell a €60 fine for €50 and the recovery agent gets whatever they can on top?

[balham123]

Big discussion of similar case here

https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/moorsi...

I definitely wouldn't be paying

[idealstandard]

vaud said:

I agree - sell a 60 fine for 50 and the recovery agent gets whatever they can on top?

Yep exactly i suppose it is calculated so they know they get their return from the people that do pay, the authorities get their fill, everyones a winner..

[AB]

EPC seem to be getting about quite a lot. We got one for a company car which forgot to pay a toll in Ireland.

Was only about £7 which was OK and I couldn't be bothered with any future hassle. Personally, I'd pay it for peace of mind, you DID forget to pay.

[KTMsm]

Peter911 said:

What is your opinion on foreigners coming over here, breaking our laws, leaving the country and getting away scot free?

That they do it over here - and don't pay to use our roads

So we should reciprocate