Australian Speeding Fine sent to my address in UK
Discussion
I just got a letter from the Tasmania Police entitled Photographic Detection Device Traffic Infringement Notice.It appears that whilst on holiday driving a rented car, I was driving 121KM/H on a 110 KM/H road which resulted in penalty of 110AUD. Approx 60 GBP
I no longer live in the UK as I moved abroad for work but I was renting a car on my UK drivers license registered to my parents address which is where they sent the notice to.
Questions:
Has anyone else received Australian speeding fines in the post?
What are my options? Can I appeal?
Does the Australian government have the right to claim back the fine from th car rental company who have my credit card details?
What are the potential realistic repercussions for not paying?
Thanks !
I no longer live in the UK as I moved abroad for work but I was renting a car on my UK drivers license registered to my parents address which is where they sent the notice to.
Questions:
Has anyone else received Australian speeding fines in the post?
What are my options? Can I appeal?
Does the Australian government have the right to claim back the fine from th car rental company who have my credit card details?
What are the potential realistic repercussions for not paying?
Thanks !
Edited by gforce180 on Tuesday 22 March 02:15
I got 6 Oz speeding tickets in the space of 3 months when working in Melbourne and hiring a car during the weekends back in 2008, all sent to my parents address in the UK.
I ignored all 6 letters and still had a 457 visa granted 12 months later without issue.
I have also been back to the Oz once a year for the past 3 years without issue, I even obtained Victoria Police security clearance to work on the Serco DB that processes their speeding fine, whilst having ignored my fines.
I ignored all 6 letters and still had a 457 visa granted 12 months later without issue.
I have also been back to the Oz once a year for the past 3 years without issue, I even obtained Victoria Police security clearance to work on the Serco DB that processes their speeding fine, whilst having ignored my fines.
Wow this is very interesting.. they did not send the letter recorded delivery. The only issue is that do they have a right to go back to the car rental company and charge the fine to my credit card plus interest and handling?
rfsteel said:
I got 6 Oz speeding tickets in the space of 3 months when working in Melbourne and hiring a car during the weekends back in 2008, all sent to my parents address in the UK.
I ignored all 6 letters and still had a 457 visa granted 12 months later without issue.
I have also been back to the Oz once a year for the past 3 years without issue, I even obtained Victoria Police security clearance to work on the Serco DB that processes their speeding fine, whilst having ignored my fines.
I ignored all 6 letters and still had a 457 visa granted 12 months later without issue.
I have also been back to the Oz once a year for the past 3 years without issue, I even obtained Victoria Police security clearance to work on the Serco DB that processes their speeding fine, whilst having ignored my fines.
If you think that they'll hit your credit card in the end either way, you mind as well pay the first and cheaper bill.
You need to weigh up if they can catch up with you.
You could wait and see what happens. If they do anything you could kick up a fuss about having never received a letter stating the fine in the first place and maybe they'll back down and let you pay the first amount, or it could go away, or it could escalate.
You need to weigh up if they can catch up with you.
You could wait and see what happens. If they do anything you could kick up a fuss about having never received a letter stating the fine in the first place and maybe they'll back down and let you pay the first amount, or it could go away, or it could escalate.
There is no need to pay, and no, - it cannot be put onto a credit card.
Been there, done that. Only in my case the Oz police did very well in finding out my NZ address from a UK driving licence - still ignored, been back and subsequently hired a car from the same place, no issues.
Keep a look out for any charges added to your card for passing your details on, get them charged back as unauthorised. At the very least the car hire company has to spend time justifying the charges - which costs them money that they can't reclaim.
Trying to charge a fine to a credit card without authority is probably theft.
Been there, done that. Only in my case the Oz police did very well in finding out my NZ address from a UK driving licence - still ignored, been back and subsequently hired a car from the same place, no issues.
Keep a look out for any charges added to your card for passing your details on, get them charged back as unauthorised. At the very least the car hire company has to spend time justifying the charges - which costs them money that they can't reclaim.
Trying to charge a fine to a credit card without authority is probably theft.
Were you speeding? Did you commit the offence? If yes just pay up and be a man. If you are guilty why not pay? the answer here seems to be because I can get away with it... I would pay if guilty. There is always people try to get away with crap like this. where do you draw the line? If you damage a car whilst parking do you just drive off?
I'd air on the side of caution here as I read something once on a scam where UK travelers would be hit with speeding fines when back home after using rental cars etc. Turned out to be a massive scam as they know you've been driving and have your address from the rental papers etc so dig into it a little further before parting with any money. May be legit mind and I can't remember which country it was that seemed to be the problem.
Reject the ticket and take it to the court with a smart suit and decent solicitor and plead for leniency due to financial hardship. Oh and invent someone you can claim to be a carer for. Gotta be worth it?
I'd say pay up. Every hire agreement I've read includes the company having the right to deduct costs for any offences.
I'd say pay up. Every hire agreement I've read includes the company having the right to deduct costs for any offences.
I go one just outside Coffs Harbour in November 2003 (still a little euphoric after the RWC final). Actually got pulled and had ticket issued. About 18 months later I had a letter from some Malaysian debt collector which I too ignored. Am still alive today but not sure if I can ever go back 
swerni said:
caziques said:
There is no need to pay, and no, - it cannot be put onto a credit card.
Been there, done that. Only in my case the Oz police did very well in finding out my NZ address from a UK driving licence - still ignored, been back and subsequently hired a car from the same place, no issues.
Keep a look out for any charges added to your card for passing your details on, get them charged back as unauthorised. At the very least the car hire company has to spend time justifying the charges - which costs them money that they can't reclaim.
Trying to charge a fine to a credit card without authority is probably theft.
Yes they can charge you and no it's not theft. Been there, done that. Only in my case the Oz police did very well in finding out my NZ address from a UK driving licence - still ignored, been back and subsequently hired a car from the same place, no issues.
Keep a look out for any charges added to your card for passing your details on, get them charged back as unauthorised. At the very least the car hire company has to spend time justifying the charges - which costs them money that they can't reclaim.
Trying to charge a fine to a credit card without authority is probably theft.
Then hire company doesn't have to justify anything.
OP what they can or cannot charge you will be covered in the terms and conditions you signed and agreed to, reading them should give you the answer,
In a different country:
Car hire companies are responsible for paying the fines incurred by their customers, but they then charge the customer (latter will have signed up to this).
However they can get out of this by sending a lawyer to court who will bulk-contest these successfully if they claim that they are unable to charge customers, a, b, t, g, and j. Happens daily.
The fact that you have been contacted directly means that in OZ apparently car hire companies are only obliged to release renter's details to the authorities so it's now their business (the authorities') to collect.
I would also conclude therefore that your car hire company has now washed its hands of the matter so there is no way that your card can be charged.
Just my thoughts but surely Google will provide a wealth of info.
Car hire companies are responsible for paying the fines incurred by their customers, but they then charge the customer (latter will have signed up to this).
However they can get out of this by sending a lawyer to court who will bulk-contest these successfully if they claim that they are unable to charge customers, a, b, t, g, and j. Happens daily.
The fact that you have been contacted directly means that in OZ apparently car hire companies are only obliged to release renter's details to the authorities so it's now their business (the authorities') to collect.
I would also conclude therefore that your car hire company has now washed its hands of the matter so there is no way that your card can be charged.
Just my thoughts but surely Google will provide a wealth of info.
caziques said:
Trying to charge a fine to a credit card without authority is probably theft.
A little unknown fact. The moment you give any company your card you are authorising them to take money from it at any point in the future.
If they do take money from it, the police will not get involved as it is a civil dispute.
I know as a certain TV company in Romford took £1299 off my card and it was a bit of a nightmare to get the money back, luckily I have a decent bank account with NatWest and they took care of it for me. But I was amazed that the above was the case.
caziques said:
A few years ago the NZ government were getting fed up with visitors to the country not paying traffic fines, "let's stick on a credit card" was the cry. What happened? Nothing - there is no contract between the hire car company and government - and much as they would like to do it....fines cannot be slapped on a credit card.
In many countries the owner of the car is liable for fines if the driver doesn't pay.Many hire car companies will charge your credit card a handling fee if they have to give your name and address to the authorities. They will certainly add a hefty handling fee if they have to pay a fine.
All of this is written in the contract you sign when you hire the car. Details vary from country to country.
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