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Hi all,

my best friend went to Florida last December, and the day before he left back to Germany, he received a ticket for parking in a non-parking zone($40!).
He was not able to pay the amount while he was in the US, as he was quite in a hurry - so he thought he would have been able to pay the ticket online as soon as he was back here in Hamburg (the ticket text told him about how to pay the charge online).

But when he was back home, it turned out that the online payment can only be made with a US credit card!
There's no way to pay online if you have an address outside the US, as the online form sheet asks you about the State you live in (only US states are selectable, no foreign countries), and the zip code of your home town. This is all done for a digital backup check of the credit card.
He tried to contact the email address provided with the ticket and asked for assistance, but there was no reaction.
Then he tried with his rental car Company, and then with the credit card Company - but no one was able to help!

He's a bit scared about returning to the US this year, as the unpaid ticket might cause trouble during the next Immigration process.....

Can anyone help us paying his ticket? I can provide all details of the ticket, and certainly all expenses will get paid by him (or me )
Thanks in advance!
Kay

What a predicament and how annoying the system does not allow outside payment. I hope a forum member comes forward and helps out, it is the least we can do, so come on Guys where are you, someone must be able to help.

Ghosthunter.

I would have though that it should be possible to arrange payment via the car rental company.

Idris wrote:I would have though that it should be possible to arrange payment via the car rental company.

In theory this should be possible, especially if the rental company is in the same area, town, state or country, but when I was in the rental car business, I don't recall any similar instances and it is made clear on the rental documents, the named driver is responsible for all motoring offences including parking fines.

A private meeting with the rental car's office manager would need to take place in order for them to pay the fine but who's pocket it comes from I am not sure, as I say, the manager would need to be spoken to to see what he can do.

Ghosthunter.

I'm not suggesting that he tries to offload responsibility onto the rental company, simply that, after explaining the situation, the rental company pays the fine on his behalf and he then reimburses them.

Idris wrote:I'm not suggesting that he tries to offload responsibility onto the rental company, simply that, after explaining the situation, the rental company pays the fine on his behalf and he then reimburses them.

...hence the meeting with the manager.

Ghosthunter.

I would have thought it would be more palatable to offer to pay the sum to the rental company first rather than offering reimbursement afterwards. A fee could be added to the payment to help oil the wheels if they were to agree in advance.

Kay,the info here may be helpful.
http://www.driverabroad.com/self-drive/ ... ing-fines/

In addition, found the following remarks

Parking tickets and 'red light camera' tickets are assessed against the vehicle plates, and thus to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Possible outcomes are:

Nothing happens.
If you get a parking ticket and don't pay, typically nothing happens. Simply put, the ticket is on the license plate assigned to that vehicle. The rental company can't process every parking ticket and placing blame on a renter is difficult.

Rental company pays the ticket and charges you for it plus an administrative fee.
In the case of rental cars, the owning company pays the ticket and then either deducts the cost out of the damage deposit, or bills the person who was 'responsible for' the rental at the time of the ticket.

Good Luck
zBret

with out being able to talk to an adult (which the law will change to fit each employee or $$)it is hard to know how to proceed
no phone or other contact offered?
would suggest an IRC/with receipt if they are still available, together with statement of facts,via certified letter, signature required + receipt of payment mailed .
Us member send ,Money order or check on US bank with same process/items?
ask consulate/embassy liaison for assistance?
?? obvious ...paypal cheaper than fees an back charge from rental?

PM sent to Kay