D
Deleted member 65149
Guest
Not a Mercedes issue, but one that fellow motoring enthusiasts may be interested in or even able to advise on.
In January 2011 I rented a car from Dollar Rent-a-car in Miami for a 2 and a bit week tour of Florida. They took details of my debit card (had to use it because my credit card was stolen just before we left the UK) and off we went. We had no problems with the car (a Ford Taurus, but please don't tell anyone!) and enoyed all our time including a week in Orlando.
But then in December I noticed that Dollar had taken $435.20 from my bank account! I wrote to them to ask why and a week or so later received a letter saying that it was for payment of a red light violation.
The alleged violation was recorded as being on 18 January in Miami - half way through the time we were staying about 230 miles away in Orlando. Of course by this time I had thrown away receipts that I had had for purchases made in Orlando during that period. All I now have is the bank statement showing limited information. I know for a fact that I wasn't in Miami that week, but it's hard to prove. I've even emailed the stores and attractions we visited in the hope of getting some proof, but none has responded.
I've now checked the website for the Clerk of the Courts in Miami Dade County, but that said the penalty (for the offence I didn't commit) was $293.00. I eventually found out from Dollar that the fine was increased by over $100 because it wasn't paid in time - by Dollar!!
I'm guessing that either the police officer who recorded the incident took down the wrong registration number, or it was being used illegally on another car. But that doesn't help me because I have no proof. Neither the Miami police nor the Miami court has replied to my messages to them about this.
I've sent a copy of my bank statement with details of payments made in Orlando at the time of the violation, together with a request for them to explain why they took so long to pay and thus lead to even more charges to me. So far no response. In the meantime I'm out of pocket by £288.52 for something that I had no control over.
Looking carefully at the T&Cs from Dollar, it appears that they are legally entitled to take money from my bank account without any warning and for as long as they wish - or at least they could have done if I hadn't now cancelled that account!
I fear that I'll just have to put this down as yet another holiday expense. I'm not even holding my breath that Dollar will at least admit that it was clearly their fault that the orinal fine was increased and refund me that bit. But I have learnt from it to be very careful about handing over my credit/debit card to car hire companies. I've also learnt not to ever use Dollar again.
In January 2011 I rented a car from Dollar Rent-a-car in Miami for a 2 and a bit week tour of Florida. They took details of my debit card (had to use it because my credit card was stolen just before we left the UK) and off we went. We had no problems with the car (a Ford Taurus, but please don't tell anyone!) and enoyed all our time including a week in Orlando.
But then in December I noticed that Dollar had taken $435.20 from my bank account! I wrote to them to ask why and a week or so later received a letter saying that it was for payment of a red light violation.
The alleged violation was recorded as being on 18 January in Miami - half way through the time we were staying about 230 miles away in Orlando. Of course by this time I had thrown away receipts that I had had for purchases made in Orlando during that period. All I now have is the bank statement showing limited information. I know for a fact that I wasn't in Miami that week, but it's hard to prove. I've even emailed the stores and attractions we visited in the hope of getting some proof, but none has responded.
I've now checked the website for the Clerk of the Courts in Miami Dade County, but that said the penalty (for the offence I didn't commit) was $293.00. I eventually found out from Dollar that the fine was increased by over $100 because it wasn't paid in time - by Dollar!!
I'm guessing that either the police officer who recorded the incident took down the wrong registration number, or it was being used illegally on another car. But that doesn't help me because I have no proof. Neither the Miami police nor the Miami court has replied to my messages to them about this.
I've sent a copy of my bank statement with details of payments made in Orlando at the time of the violation, together with a request for them to explain why they took so long to pay and thus lead to even more charges to me. So far no response. In the meantime I'm out of pocket by £288.52 for something that I had no control over.
Looking carefully at the T&Cs from Dollar, it appears that they are legally entitled to take money from my bank account without any warning and for as long as they wish - or at least they could have done if I hadn't now cancelled that account!
I fear that I'll just have to put this down as yet another holiday expense. I'm not even holding my breath that Dollar will at least admit that it was clearly their fault that the orinal fine was increased and refund me that bit. But I have learnt from it to be very careful about handing over my credit/debit card to car hire companies. I've also learnt not to ever use Dollar again.