phillyboy

About two weeks after returning from a trip to Germany, I received notification of a speeding violation which had occurred in late September. This was the initial notice that comes from the rental car agency, which also stated that I would be charged an administrative fee, per the rental agreement, for them to provide the pertinent details to the police department. Following the instructions contained in the letter, I verified that I had rented the referenced vehicle on the day indicated.

Shortly after that, I received the actual violation details and amount of fine. Again, I filled out the information requested, did not contest anything, and provided my credit card information. I received an on-line verification that my e-mail was received. This was in mid-November.

As of today, over two months later and four months after the speeding event itself, no charges have appeared on my credit card, either from Europcar, which was to charge the Administrative fee, or from the department or agency in Germany that I provided the information to, which is ZV KVS Oberland. I even e-mailed them a second time in early December, asking them why the delay in finalizing everything, to which I received no reply.

I've been through a similar drill with the French authorities in the past, but they never even got as far as sending me the actual violation notice ... I received the Admin fee letter, and my card was charged for that. But on that occasion, the actual traffic violation/fine never followed. Does anyone have experience such as mine? Do the German authorities generally take so long to actually take their money, or has something likely fallen through the cracks?

I feel like I've behaved entirely responsibly ... except for my speeding. I don't know when, if ever, I'll return to Germany, but don't want anything hanging over my head. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

hetismij2

Are you sure you could pay the fine by credit card rather than a bank transfer?

If you haven't heard from them about it I would forget it.

Glad you at least tried to pay it, and aren't screaming foul .

Pegontheroad

I went through this same thing last year. I couldn't seem to make a bank transfer, and I couldn't seem to reach anyone to take care of it.

They were threatening me with legal action, which was probably just a threat, but I am not a scoff-law. I had every intention of paying the fine, but I couldn't seem to do it.

I finally put 30 euros in each of two envelopes and sent the fines to the issuing authority and to AutoEurope in REGISTERED letters via U.S. Postal Service. I requested that the letter be signed by whoever received it in Europe.

Later, somebody--I think it was AutoEurope--got after me again, and I was able to produce the receipt and enumerate all the steps I'd gone through to pay the fines.

What a hassle! It ended up costing me over $100 for a 30 euro speeding ticket.

Needless to say, I did not realize I was breaking the speed limit or I would have slowed down.

phillyboy

hetismij2 - The letter I received regarding the fine listed ... in English ... credit card, cash, check or bank transfer as acceptable methods of payment, and provided a form to facilitate sending your credit card information, with an e-mail address.

Pegontheroad - I hope I don't go through the same hassles as you. I got nabbed doing 71 km/h in a 50 kn/h zone in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and didn't realize it either until I received the notice.

NewbE

We lived in Germany over 10 years ago and even way back then German states accepted credit cards for traffic fines. I followed your story on previous threads, Pegontheroad, and never did understand why you ran into such difficulties, excpet that bank transfers are, for some reason, complicated everywhere.

phillyboy, save all your documentation and then put it out of your mind. I can't see what more you could possibly do!

phillyboy

Thanks for your comments, any others?