I just recvd a ticket for a rental car that I cannot pay using the information on it.
How can this be determined if it is a scam- looks real, no inclusion of photo of car, email is not recognized, phone won't answer, no website to pay, bank transfer information is not verifiable.
My bank will not make the wire because it does not match.
Posted by
824 posts
Why don't you contact the rental car company? They should have the record(s) if there was indeed an infraction.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32735 posts
What country, MJ? What language?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23266 posts
Were you notified earlier by the rental company that you were charged an administrative fee (+ or - $50) to forward your name and address to the police? That, generally, is the first step. There have been no reported scam here related to traffic tickets.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8138 posts
You will eventually receive a certified letter from the police, and it may be close to a year since you were there.
They will be demanding money in Euros wire transferred to their checking account for the ticket. There will be identifying info like license plates on the car, date and time documenting where their radar/camera caught you . (They got me for 1.2 mph over the very low speed limit of about 35 mph.)
There are European bill wire transfer services that will charge your Visa account and pay your ticket with a wire transfer. Your local bank will charge too much to do the wire transfer.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4389 posts
Unless you used Honest Fred's Auto Rental, it should be pretty easy to contact the rental agency and say hey, what's up? Is this real?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
MJ,
I have the same questions as Nigel. It would help to have more information on the country and other details, as someone else here may have faced the same situation, and may be able to offer suggestions.
Posted by
NYC area
2903 posts
After reading your post, why in the world would you want your bank to wire money? Seems like something is amiss by all the red flags your post relates to.
Posted by
OP
West Palm Beach, Fl., USA
17 posts
First, my thanks to all. It is in Italy, Sassuolo.
Next, I did contact car rental and it does appear legit- this is a small municipality in Italy. The car rental looked up the commune & gave me the website. Emails to the website come back saying there is no such website. I am trying to email them to get the correct info to pay it. I went to the bank because that is the instructions on the fine- wire transfer $85 € in 5 days or fine increases.
The banc wire transfer info does not match the municipal info. (Swift/ bic does not match Sassuolo)
If there is a company that would handle this please enlighten me! Thanks again!
Posted by
Los Angeles
4389 posts
Contact US embassy/consulate near this location for advice?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
MJ,
It sounds like a ZTL ticket, so you must have ventured into a limited traffic area. These are one of the most significant "caveats" on driving in Italy.
Have you tried this portion of their website....
It's very likely that they won't have anyone that can answer this in English, but Roberto or one of the others here may be able to suggest the correct wording in Italian. You could also try Google Translate although I've found it's far from perfect.
This website may also provide a few clues.....
http://www.accessibilitacentristorici.it/ztl/emilia-romagna/sassuolo.html
Here's the Google Translate version of the same website.....
Hopefully this will help to resolve your situation.
Posted by
Novato, CA, United States
172 posts
I received a ticket in Spain from a speed trap camera. The first step was the notification from Hertz that I owed them 40 euros for the privilege of them sending my billing information to the Spanish authorities. My ticket arrived in Spanish and Basque. The ticket arrived, eventually, and the English part now explained the ticket and how to pay it. The rental company was of little help. You will receive a further notification, of that you can be sure. They just don't work that fast. Hank, Novato, CA
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23266 posts
Don't waste the embassy or consulate's time with your request. They are just going to tell you to pay IF they respond at all. It could also be a speed camera and not a TLZ. We noticed that almost every little town that we entered in Italy had a camera at the edge of town where the speed zone changed. The use of cameras at all levels of enforcement in Europe is wide spread. Good luck.