Enterprise Car Club - why Mr Mustard won't join it

Mr Mustard has helped a few motorists with PCNs after they have rented a car, both from car rental firms and from car clubs, which are sometimes not clubs but commercial outfits calling themselves a club. He has seen administration fees for PCNs which range from the perfectly reasonable £12 to the extortionate £55 but that is a story for another day.

He had a no right turn on Highgate High Street to deal with and he knew it was eminently winnable due to confusing signage but Enterprise Car Club insisted on paying the PCN. Mr Mustard decided to email them about joining (even though he wasn't going to)

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Dear Sirs

I'm not a member yet but your club could be handy sometimes.

I'm worried about if I get a parking PCN. I always fight them as I always park legally.

Your terms imply that I have to pay it

otherwise you will pay it (and the discount period will have passed) and I won't have the chance to fight it & you will add £30 on top.

What policy do you routinely adopt please?

Yours faithfully

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A reply was received quite quickly, as follows:

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Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email.

If you were to receive a PCN during a reservation with us then you could pay that yourself as you would if it was your own vehicle. Unfortunately if a PCN is given due to your parking at the end of your booking for example. Then because you wouldn’t know about it then we pay it and pass the charge onto your self.

I hope this answers your question.

Kind regards,

Clubhouse Team Member – Enterprise Car Club

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No mention of making a challenge to the PCN, only information about paying, what if the PCN was given in error?

Also, their website is wrong as parking tickets are the initial legal responsibility of the Owner of the vehicle. There are provisions for car rental companies to pass on the liability (except for bus lanes) by responding to the Notice to Owner for properly documented rentals up to 6 months in duration.

I think that all car rental companies and car clubs (genuine clubs or commercial outfits) should offer the hirer the opportunity to challenge the PCN to the very end if they so wish.

Your legal right to dispute a PCN should not be removed from you by the rental agreement.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard