I posted about 18 months ago that my daughter received a Fine demand from Pisa for a “Traffic Infringement”. This was 2 months after her visit to Pisa in a Hire Car.
We had no idea what the Infringement was and followed the link in the letter for a photo but there was no image just a black rectangle.We thought it as a scam so ignored it. (Letter had a Dutch stamp on )
So, 12 months later she gets a letter from a UK Debt Collector demanding £400, quite an intimidating letter.
I get Free Legal advice because i am a CAMH club member and through my motor insurance. Both their solicitors advised speaking to the Debt collectors, which she did. Ignoring it could lead to serious consequences
To her great surprise the Debt collectors were helpful and sympathetic, they gave her the email of the Dept who issued the fine in Pisa and she was able to establish that it was genuine. They provide a photo showing that she had driven into a non tourist area. She had no idea she had done this.
She offered to pay the Debt Collectors the original €118 fine plus a handling fee, which came to about €160.
Her offer was accepted, Pisa had sold the debt so wouldn't negotiate
I hope some people may find this useful
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Very useful, thank you; and I am glad the Debt Collectors were helpful in reaching an amicable resolution.
DK
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Well Billy The CAMH solicitor and the solicitor I spoke to via my Home Insurance disagree with you. They strongly advised against ignoring the letter and said there would be consequences if we did.
Yes, go online and everyone says ignore it but they are probably not legally qualified
Quote: Originally posted by jsparkes201148 on 05/8/2023
Well Billy The CAMH solicitor and the solicitor I spoke to via my Home Insurance disagree with you. They strongly advised against ignoring the letter and said there would be consequences if we did.
Yes, go online and everyone says ignore it but they are probably not legally qualified
Billy is correct and the CC solicitor is wrong. They gave us incorrect advice and if we had taken their advice we would have been thousands of pounds out of pocket. We ignore their so called professional advice and ended up getting paid a lot of money in compensation. Those solicitors always look for the easy way out.
People on forums may not be legally qualified, but many of them are experienced otherwise forums like this giving advice would never exist. Why do you think the debt collectors were so nice and willing to accept the payment? Probably because they knew that they could never enforce it!
However all done and dusted and the update is appreciated. Hopefully others who find themselves in the same predicament will find the correct answer.
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We are pleased that it’s sorted and we were happy to accept the advice given by both solicitors. My daughter was getting married and moving house so did not need any extra hassle.
I am one of those who speaks without legal knowledge.
I suspect it may well have been possible to ignore the demand and it would have been impossible to enforce here. But. Should she go to Europe again, she may well have found herself in difficulties with the authorities for failing to pay a fine.
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Topic: Motoring Fine abroad.
via mobile 05/8/2023 at 9:31am
