Road traffic offence (not speeding)

 I am new to this site. hope it can help me with some advice.

 On return to Scotland after holiday in Spain I got a letter from car hire company stating they were going to take 35.40 euros from my credit card for administration costs for them to supply my name and details to the authorities. I later got a letter confirming the money was taken. also enclosed was a photo copy of a document from Minesterio Del Interior. This document was in Spanish and I struggled to make sense of it. My understanding was that  there was a fine of 200 euros that would be reduced by 50% if paid within 20 days. I tried and failed to pay in uk branch of Santander. Tried and failed to understand inernet payment facility.  The document had the words "DOCUMENTO INFORMATIVO, NO VALIDO PARA ELPAGO"   written diagonally accross it in such a way that some words could not be read. I e-mailed the hire company on 15th of April to clarify what I was supossed to do but have not had a reply yet.

Since  the authorities have my name and address and they have not sent me any direct comunication should I ignore the one forward by hire company?  Does the time of 20 days start when I receive official letter?  Is it unreasonable for me to expect  the international hire company to supply clear information in English to me?

 It sounds like a speeding fine. My husband got one just before last Christmas. Although our car hire company did not charge us for supplying his name and address to the authorities. We received a recorded letter from the Ministry with the details of how to pay and I did it straight away on the internet. That was 100€ reduced to 50€ if paid within 20 days. The fine also included a photo of where he was speeding. Use google translate to help you. The offence was in early Nov and we got the official letter just before Christmas - nice present!

https://apl.dgt.es/WEB_Sanciones/jsp/sincertificado/identificacionPagador.jsf

 thankyou for your response. Definately not speeding. Offence was "no obedecer una senal de prohibicion o restriccion senal r-304. 

I may wait for offical letter to come to me.

Hi

'Faliure to obey a sign of prohibition or restriction signal'

I guess it was a one way street or traffic light offence, going the wrong way on a one way street is easily done.

s

 Thanks to all who replied. Some useful information. But some points not addressed are:-

1) The hire company gave my details to the authorities. Is it not reasonable for them to use that information to contact me?

2) The photo copy with the words "DOCUMENTO INFORMATIVO, NO VALIDO PARA ELPAGO" written diagonally accross it obliterated some of the words. Should I not receive a recorded delivery official communication. (Like one of the previous respondants did.)

3) Since my request from the hire company to clarify things sent on 15th of April has not yet been replied to. would it be resonable to request them to pick up the extra costs incurred for late payment.

4) what if I decide to do nothing and vow never to go back to Spain! 

 IF YOU LIVE IN SCOTLAND CANCEL YOUR CARD GET A NEW ONE THEN JUST SIT BACK AND IGNORE IT

I would be tempted to ignore it as well.

I think the answer to your first question is that the Trafico will not send to an address outside Spain.  They will send to the hire company and the courts will take the view that Trafico have done all they reasonably can to notify you.  The hire company are probably obliged to forward to the address you gave them.  So everything is in order as far as Spanish courts are concerned.

2) It will have been sent recorded delivery to your only known Spanish address - the hire company.

3) Nice to see that you haven't lost your sense of humour over this.  Not a snowflake's chance.  The law says it's your fault, not the hire company's.  And it wasn't the hire company that went the wrong way down the one-way street or whatever.  That was you.  And you are guilty until you can prove that you are innocent as Trafico have said you're guilty and the word of Trafico or the Guardia is the word of God.  The court will believe whatever they say and you have the burden of proof shifted to you.

4) You will miss visiting a beautiful country full of beautiful people (and lots of Spaniards too) but otherwise nothing much is going to happen.  They certainly won't come after you in the UK and you're probably safe going back to Spain.  The only way you might be at risk is if you try to hire a car and give the same details (NIE, passport, driving licence number) as before.

As I am sure you already know, the law and justice are two completely different things :-(

 My husband's speeding fine was sent to us in the UK. I don't think it was from the car hire firm.