Free Traffic Legal Advice

@mdar50743 Have you approached McDonalds, they may have the power to instruct MET to cancel. There was a recent occurrence where they have been receptive.

I did ask the Manager at McDonald’s and he said I should ask Instavolt to ask for evidence of the charge and submit a appeal.

Where should I go for approaching McDonald’s? Is it the actual McDonald’s or Corporate email?

There are other hire companies besides Hertz. If you can get the transaction reversed, then you should do so. If you can’t, you can always cancel the debit card if there are other pending PCNs.

If you can’t get your money back for whatever reason, then you would have to sue Hertz yourself for the money they have unlawfully taken from you. This is a straight forward process and is done online through the Money Claim On Line (MCOL) website. You would need to send Hertz a Letter of Claim (LoC) giving them 14 days to refund the money or else you will file a claim in the county court.

If they fail to refund the money, you would then file a claim for the amount they owe you, presumably £100 plus the admin fee (£45?).  For a claim under £300, the fee is £35 and if you are successful, you get the amount claimed and the fee back.

It is not and never is a “FINE”. Please try and get that into your head.

It is NOT any of these things:

1. FINE
2. PENALTY

A fine or a penalty only ever apply to an OFFENCE committed under statutory law. An alleged debt over an invoice is a matter of civil law. This whole scenario is an issue of civil contract law.

Fines and penalties are matter covered under criminal law.

I think HCA is asking “where has the PCN gone” meaning that the link to the image of it you posted no longer works.

I really don’t know how much clearer we can make it for you. You either fight for your lawful rights or you give in and suck up the loss of your money.

It has been explained what you need to do to recover the money already taken and what you need to do to protect yourself from further loss.

Hertz have not complied with PoFA or the CRA. MET have not (yet) breached anything. For now, your only issue is with Hertz.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I just got an email from Hertz asking them to explain the process to appeal.

Can anyone please help me to formulate a appeal letter for the case I have experienced. Just to elaborate, I was at a local McDonald’s charging my EV car longer than than 60 mins permitted and I stayed for 102 mins.

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Hertz TNC.

I understand how you feel about the fines and how overwhelming it can be.

However, we have to pay them to local authorities as the car is registered in our name. The fines' amounts will increase if we don't pay quickly, and we will like to avoid that or the burden it can bring to you as a client.

Furthermore, to be a fair vendor, we send the fines across to you as soon as we get them so that you can appeal. You will be refunded for each appeal you win. So, anytime we send a fine you do not agree with, let us know and we will send you the appeal document. Unfortunately, we have to go through the process of sending the fines to you and you request for an appeal because we can't appeal on your behalf as you are the driver. W.e wouldn't know what you were doing in the location where the driving law was broken

The process involved in appealing a fine goes thus:

We send you a letter to indicate you can appeal your fine on the behalf of Hertz.
You will also write another letter detailing the reasons you believe you should not be fined.
You will send both letters to the local authorities. Alternatively, you may not write a letter. You can go there in person to plead your case.

They will give you the verdict which determines if we will refund your fine or not.
Please, let me know if you need further assistance.

Kind regards,
Nisola

Here is a suggested response, subject to us seeing the applicable section of the Hire Agreement as mentioned above:

Dear Nisola,

Your recent response regarding the payment of a private parking charge notice (PCN) highlights a severe misunderstanding of the nature of the charge, and I am astonished by Hertz’s complete failure to grasp the fundamental differences between a PCN and a statutory fine or penalty issued for an offence by a local authority.

Let me be unequivocally clear: a PCN issued by a private parking company is not a "fine" or "penalty" in any legal sense. It is an invoice for an alleged breach of contract. There is no "offence" involved, no "law" has been broken, and no statutory authority is involved. By paying this speculative invoice on my behalf, Hertz has effectively accepted liability for a matter in which no liability existed on my part, and in doing so, has forfeited my right to appeal.

All Hertz had to do was transfer liability to me, the hirer, as required under PoFA paragraph 13(2). This simple action would have been the end of the matter as far as Hertz was concerned. Yet, instead of following this straightforward process, you have chosen to pay the charge directly, thereby making Hertz liable and eliminating any chance of appeal. This is a clear failure on Hertz’s part to comply with well-established legal procedures for handling private parking charges.

The utter nonsense in your response, particularly the following paragraph, is both infuriating and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding:

"Furthermore, to be a fair vendor, we send the fines across to you as soon as we get them so that you can appeal. You will be refunded for each appeal you win. So, anytime we send a fine you do not agree with, let us know and we will send you the appeal document. Unfortunately, we have to go through the process of sending the fines to you and you request for an appeal because we can't appeal on your behalf as you are the driver. W.e wouldn't know what you were doing in the location where the driving law was broken."

This statement is not only completely irrelevant but also demonstrates a shocking level of ignorance about the nature of a PCN. There is no "driving law" involved, no "offence" was committed, and a PCN is not a statutory fine. The process described is utterly unnecessary and has caused needless confusion. All you had to do was transfer liability under PoFA, and this nonsense could have been avoided.

I would also like to remind you that the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) guidelines clearly distinguish between private parking charges and statutory penalties or fines. These guidelines state that parking charges are private matters, not enforceable by statutory authorities, and therefore should not be treated in the same way as fines or penalties. Your decision to pay this charge without transferring liability to me as the hirer is in direct contravention of these guidelines, further highlighting Hertz’s negligence in this matter.

Additionally, this action breaches the Consumer Rights Act (CRA) 2015. As mentioned previously, Section 62 prohibits terms that put consumers at an unfair disadvantage, and Section 57 prevents me from bearing costs I am not liable for under the agreement. You have extended the scope of the agreement beyond what was contractually agreed, and I am now holding Hertz liable for the money you have wrongfully charged me.

If you are still unable to comprehend the seriousness of this issue, I suggest you escalate this matter to your superiors or, if necessary, directly to Hertz's legal advisors. I will not hesitate to initiate litigation to recover the funds you have unlawfully taken from me, as well as any additional costs incurred.

This is my final request for a full refund of the amount Hertz wrongly paid on my behalf. I also demand that Hertz conduct an internal review to ensure this incompetence does not continue to affect other customers.

I expect a prompt and appropriate response.

Yours sincerely,

Standing ovation for that letter to Hertz.

And a slow hand clap for the letter from Hertz 

Well, this is a bit damning for Hertz:

FINES, TOLLS AND OTHER CHARGES

You are responsible for all fines, road tolls, congestion charges and other similar charges (including parking fines or charges) incurred in relation to the vehicle during your rental. Some of these will be sent to us for payment, which we will pay and recover from you by way of reimbursement. Alternatively, we may be required to provide your details to the relevant authority or other third party, who will contact you directly.

Section 16:

By signing this rental agreement I agree that while the rental agreement is in force I will be liable as owner/hirer of the vehicle, or any replacement vehicle, for any fixed penalty offence, penalty charge notice, notice to owner, parking charge notice for that vehicle under s66 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 6 Road Traffic Act 1991, Traffic Management Act 2004, Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and any other relevant legislation.

The mention of both "parking charge notices" and the Protection of Freedoms Act (PoFA) in Section 16 of the agreement makes a significant difference. Here’s how it affects the situation:

PoFA Requirements:

Since Section 16 refers to both parking charge notices and PoFA, it acknowledges that Hertz must handle such notices in compliance with the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Under PoFA paragraph 13, if a parking charge notice is issued by a private parking company, Hertz has the option to transfer liability to the hirer (you), allowing you to take responsibility for the notice and, crucially, to appeal if necessary.

Failure to Follow PoFA:

Despite this reference to PoFA, Hertz did not follow the correct legal process outlined in PoFA paragraph 13. Instead of transferring liability to you as the hirer, which would have been the appropriate course of action, they directly paid the charge. This payment means that liability was admitted, effectively removing your ability to contest the charge or appeal it through proper channels.

Contractual Obligations Under PoFA:

By failing to comply with PoFA, Hertz has breached its own rental agreement. The agreement refers to PoFA, which outlines a clear legal mechanism for transferring liability in cases involving private parking charge notices. Hertz should have relied on this mechanism to transfer liability to you, rather than pay the charge themselves and then pass the cost on to you without giving you the chance to contest the charge.

No Obligation to Pay Immediately:

PoFA does not require Hertz to pay a private PCN immediately upon receiving it. Instead, they should have passed the notice to you, allowing you to respond or appeal within the 28-day period specified under PoFA. By paying the PCN directly, Hertz has deprived you of your legal rights under this Act.

Key Argument:

Since Hertz acknowledged PoFA in the agreement but failed to follow its procedures, they have breached both their contractual obligations and your legal rights under PoFA. Their payment of the PCN without transferring liability is a direct violation of the Act, and this action should never have taken place.

Here is a slightly amended version of the response you should be sending to Nisola:

Dear Nisola,

Your recent response regarding the payment of a private parking charge notice (PCN) demonstrates a severe misunderstanding of both the nature of the charge and Hertz’s contractual obligations under the hire agreement. I am truly astounded by Hertz’s total failure to comprehend the basic legal framework surrounding PCNs issued by private parking companies.

Let me clarify: a PCN issued by a private parking company is not a "fine" or "penalty" in any legal sense. It is an invoice for an alleged breach of contract. There is no "offence" involved, no "law" has been broken, and no statutory authority is involved. By paying this speculative invoice on my behalf, Hertz has accepted liability for a matter in which no liability existed on my part, and in doing so, has forfeited my right to appeal.

All Hertz had to do was transfer liability to me, the hirer, as required under PoFA paragraph 13. This simple action would have been the end of the matter as far as Hertz was concerned. Instead of following this straightforward process, you chose to pay the charge directly, removing my ability to appeal. This is a clear failure on Hertz’s part to comply with both PoFA and your own rental agreement.

Section 16 of your agreement explicitly mentions both "parking charge notices" and the Protection of Freedoms Act (PoFA). This clearly indicates that Hertz is aware of the requirements under PoFA, including the obligation to transfer liability to the hirer in the event of a private parking charge. By failing to transfer liability, Hertz has breached both the agreement and PoFA itself.

The nonsensical paragraph in your response is particularly infuriating: "Furthermore, to be a fair vendor, we send the fines across to you as soon as we get them so that you can appeal. You will be refunded for each appeal you win. So, anytime we send a fine you do not agree with, let us know and we will send you the appeal document. Unfortunately, we have to go through the process of sending the fines to you and you request for an appeal because we can't appeal on your behalf as you are the driver. We wouldn’t know what you were doing in the location where the driving law was broken."

This statement shows an utter lack of understanding. No "driving law" has been broken, no "fine" was issued, and Hertz had no obligation to pay a private parking invoice on my behalf. All you had to do was transfer the liability, which is both the legal requirement and the appropriate action under PoFA.

Furthermore, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) guidelines clearly distinguish between private parking charges and statutory penalties or fines. Your decision to pay this charge without transferring liability to me as the hirer is in direct contravention of these guidelines, further highlighting Hertz’s negligence in this matter.

Additionally, this action breaches the Consumer Rights Act (CRA) 2015. As mentioned previously, Section 62 prohibits terms that put consumers at an unfair disadvantage, and Section 57 prevents me from bearing costs I am not liable for under the agreement. You have extended the scope of the agreement beyond what was contractually agreed, and I am now holding Hertz liable for the money you have wrongfully charged me.

If you are still unable to comprehend the seriousness of this issue, I suggest you escalate this matter to your superiors or, if necessary, directly to Hertz's legal advisors. I will not hesitate to initiate litigation to recover the funds you have unlawfully taken from me, as well as any additional costs incurred.

This is my final request for a full refund of the amount Hertz wrongly paid on my behalf. I also demand that Hertz conduct an internal review to ensure this incompetence does not continue to affect other customers.

I expect a prompt and appropriate response.

Yours sincerely,