French Parking Ticket - Pay it?
 

I stayed at a hotel in Normandy, and the owner of the Hotel told me to stay in a lot next door, without charge on Sunday. I received a parking ticket, but when I showed it to him, he said that since mine was a rental car, they would not pursue it, he took it to tear it up, but I grabbed it back.

Should I pay this? I am not asking the moral question, just the legal. I dont think parking tickets are moral issues. Do they go after the rental company as in the US? Its only 11 euros, 2 coffees for me, but I dont like paying for something I shouldn't have to if the parking was for hotel guests.

I've never had this happen, but there have been similar discussions before on this site and I believe they do go to the rental company, who then charge you the ticket plus an admin fee.

Maybe try a search to bring up the old threads.

Good luck!

Jamikins could be right - Go and pay it and get it off your chest. I would however, tell whoever is going to issue a receipt that you did park there after asking the correct questions and that you feel the ticket is unfair.
(Here in the wilds of Africa we are allowed to have the fine reduced or squashed altogether if we have a valid excuse).

Agree with tod-pay it but write or talk to somebody about the extenuating circumstances.

Way back in the 60's my rental got a scad of tickets in London. Before leaving I went to the station to pay
and the man at the desk said,
"Are you a Yank? You Yanks were awful good to us in WWII. You don't owe a thing."

Maybe you'll get a satisfactory ending as well.

Indeed, the delay to pay upfront the 11€ ticket is 45 days. Then, if no payment has been made, the Treasury will issue an "avis d'amende majorée" (notification of increased penalty), which is currently at 33€, to the owner of the car ... which means that the rental agency will receive it and pass it on to your credit card with an extra processing fee.

Clearly, tearing up the ticket would have led to this being automatically applied to you.

As to claiming that this ticket was unfair - I fully understand what you mean, but unfortunately the "regular" process is long and bureaucratic. You'd have to write (in French) to the authority mentioned on the reverse of the ticket form giving all the details. The authorities will answer (in French) within a delay which varies from place to place but which is rarely under two weeks. And they will most probably answer "no".

You -can- try to pay a visit to the relevant authorities and explain the situation to them, but I'm afraid that you'll be wasting your time.

On a side note : since you have been issued a ticket, the lot you parked in was a public parking lot, where anyone could park, and into which the inspectors could enter ...

I'm sorry that the advice that you got from the hotel owner was very poor and his subsequent attitude (attempting at tearing up the ticket) very questionable ...

A last practical note on how to pay the ticket easily : go to a tobbaconist and ask for "Un timbre-amende à 11€ et un timbre" - A penalty stamp, face value 11€, and a regular stamp (0.55€). Stick the relevant part of the penalty stamp on the ticket form, stick the other part on your carbon copy receipt, stamp the form and put it in the mailbox.

Yes, pay it, or they will go after the rental car outfit, which will go after you for the then augmented fee.

Ill send a check today and then forget about it, wont have 2 cups of coffee, and call it even- Thanks.

I don't mean to be intrusive, but when you write "I'll send a check" - do you mean a bank cheque ? Do you have an account in a French (or Monegasque... ;) ) bank ?

Yes, I would advise a money order...but, you knew that!

Hi in,

"Pay the man the two dollars!"

If you don't pay the 11E now, you will get a letter from the rental company that they are charging you 10E to provide your personal info to the police.

You will then get an invoice for the 11E plus additional charges.

>I dont like paying for something I shouldn't have to if the parking was for hotel guests.<

Why do you believe the hotel owner?

((I))

We had a similar experience in a small town (Tralee) in Ireland. The hotel told us to forget about it. However, the police department was a few doors down and when husband inquired,they waived it. Of course, we all spoke the same language so that helped.

www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

We got a parking ticket in France last year, and paid it right away.

Intex, are you still in France right now? You need to do that at a Tabac shop (by buying at "payment stamp" from them) and then mail it off.

I am just going to send a check from my french bank acct, that way I have a receipt of payment.