Enjoying a wonderful foreign trip becomes difficult if you are confronted with fines. You drove in an environmental zone, expressed a cigarette on a white beach, or downloaded a movie illegally in Germany. This way you prevent foreign fines.
If you drink a can of beer on the street in Spain, you can get a fine. Do you vape on a Thai beach? That can give you a prison sentence. Are you your period? Then you are not allowed to enter Balinese temple. And if you are really a very annoying tourist, such as this Dutchman who destroys an archaeological artwork near Pompeii – you can count on tens of thousands of euros fine for damaging cultural heritage.
But the tourist who behaves nicely and adapts to the local laws and rules in honor and conscience can also be surprised by collection letters on the mat when returning home. Very annoying and certainly not always justified, says lawyer Martijn Witvliet of the European Consumer Center (ECC). The ECC helps people in the Netherlands with problems with a purchase of a product or service in another European country.
Pay close attention to environmental zones
At the top are fines for entering an environmental zone, says Witvliet. “The entire process is at least dubious. It is always the same: for years you hear nothing, and then suddenly there is a letter from a collection agency on the mat, for an alleged violation from years ago. The only ‘proof’ is a delivery confirmation from PostNL, which shown that a penalty letter was delivered to an address the time.
But it remains unclear whether that letter has really arrived at the right person. It is assumed that you received the letter once PostNL has scanned that it has been delivered. That fine may start with a few tens but quickly runs through administration costs, the use of a collection agency and costs for translation and legal assistance.
Italy in particular is notorious for these environmental zones. “With a bit of bad luck, the hotel is in the zone and the holiday maker drives into the conclusion several times a day,” says Witvliet.
Also note this if you make vacation plans
– In the Netherlands there is no maintenance, but streaming or downloading illegal content in Germany yields high fines.
– Since a visa is also needed for the United Kingdom, there are numerous agencies that offer this commercial at towering rates.
– If the damage to a rental car is incorrectly recovered from you, hire the Disputes Committee. According to lawyer Witvliet, this is almost standard in favor of consumers.
– Note the jewelry you wear when flights that come from outside the EU. According to the ECC, this plays in particular on flights from Turkey to Germany. If you bring gold jewelry for more than 430 euros per person from outside the EU to the EU, you have to report it and pay taxes.
A few tens soon becomes hundreds of euros
Tolpoortjes are also a source of income for governments, especially in Italy and France. “People don’t always do it deliberately,” says Witvliet. “They don’t understand how it works, and that barrier will open once when you are there long enough. But you still have to pay and soon a fine of a few tens will be a few hundred euros.”
Also one to be wary: mobile data use during a crossing with a ferry. “The device connects to the network via the shipping company, at towering rates.”
There is not always something to do about the fines, but sometimes it pays to work on it. Witvliet: “If you get an attack for a full toll process, but you have only covered a small part of it and can prove that, there are sometimes possibilities.” Do not pay a fine immediately. Some costs are very out of disease. Translation costs for example. They should not just be settled.
Prepare for
A buyer perhaps, but well prepared for travel pays off. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the travel app for this. This allows you to check your holiday country for local laws and use such as alcohol bans, clothing regulations or prohibited products.
Witvliet: “On a journey, not everything is beautifully raked and indicated by signs such as in the Netherlands. Be aware of it. You don’t have to study evenings, but delve into the customs and regulations. And pay attention to the traffic signs en route.”
Enjoying a Wonderful Trip Abroad Becomes Difficult when you are confronted with fines. You have driven in an Environmental Zone, Put Out a Cigarette on a White Beach, or Illegally Downloaded A Film in Germany. This is how you avoid foreign fines.
If you drink a can of bear on the street in spain, you can be aved. Do you vape on a Thai Beach? That can get you a prison sentence. Are you menstruating? Then you are not allowed to enter a Balinese Temple. And if you are a really annoying tourist, like this Dutchman who defaced an archaeological work of art near pompeii – you can expect tens of thousands or Euros in Fines for Daming Cultural Heritage.
But the tourist who behaves properly and adapts to local laws and regulations in good conscience can also be surprised by collection letters on the Doormat Upon Returning Home. Very Annoying and Certainly not Always Justified, Says Lawyer Martijn Witvliet from the European Consumer Center (ECC). The ECC Helps People in the Netherlands with Probles with the Purchase of a Product Or Service in Another European Country.
Pay Close Attention to Environmental Zones
At the top of the list are fines for driving into an environmental zone, Says Witvliet. “The Entire Process is Dubious, to say the Least. It is always the same: You hear nothing for years, and then sauddenly there is a letter from a collection agency on the Doormat for an alleged Violation from years ago. The only ‘Proof’ Proof ‘, WHERVERVERY, WHY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, who is a fivery, who is a fivy, which is a delicate’ proof ‘proof’ proof ‘proof’ proof ‘proof’ proof ‘proof’ proof ‘, which is a fiver,’ proof ‘proof. Delivered to An Address at the Time.
But it remains unclear Whether that letter actual reached the correct person. It is assumed that you recedived the letter as soon as postnl scanned that it was delivery. That fine may start with a few tens of Euros, but it quickly increases due to administration costs, the use of a collection agency and costs for translation and legal assistance.
Italy in particular is notorious for thesis environmental zones. “With a bit of Bad Luck, the hotel is in the zone and the holidaymaker Drives Into the closed declaration Several Times a Day,” Says Witvliet.
Also pay attention to this when making vacation plans
– It is not enforced in the Netherlands, but streaming or downloading illegal content in germany results in high fines.
– Since A Visa is also required for the united kingdom, there are numerous agencies that sacrifice this commercial at exorbitant rates.
– If the damage to a rental car is wrong on to you, contact the disputes committee. Accordance to Lawyer Witvliet, They Almost Always Rule in Favor of Consumers.
– Pay Attention to the Jewelry You Wear On Flights Coming from Outside the EU. Accordance to the ECC, This Mainly Applies to Flights from Turkey to Germany. If you Bring Gold Jewelry Worth More Than 430 euros per person from Outside the Eu to the EU, You must declare it and pay tax.
A Few Tens of Euros Quickly Becomes Hundreds of Euros
Toll Gates are also a Source of Income for Governments, Especialy in Italy and France. “People don’t always do it on purpose,” Says Witvliet. “They don’t do really stand how it works, and that barrier will automatically open once you’ve leg standing there long enough. But you still have to pay and a fine of a few tens of Euros quickly Becomes a Few Hundred Euros.”
Also one to be vary or: mobile data use a crossing with a ferry. “The Device Connects to the Network via The Shipping Company, at Exorbitant Rates.”
There is not always anything to be done about the fines, but sometimes it pays to work on it. Witvliet: “If you Receive an Assessment for a Complete Toll Route, But You Have Only Traveled a Small Part of It and Can Prove This, There Are Sometimes Possibilities.” Do not pay a fine immediately out of fear. Some costs are very outlandish. Translation Costs, For Example. They Cannot Simply Be Settled.
Prepare yourself
A no-brainer perhaps, but well prepared for a trip pays off. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launched The Travel App for this Purpose. With it, you can, among other things, check your holiday country for local laws and customs such alcohol bans, dress codes or prohibited products.
Witvliet: “When Traveling, not everything is Beautifully Groomed and Indicated with Signs as in the Netherlands. Be aware of that. You don’t have to study for Evenings, buts omenary yourself in the customs and regulations along signs.