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FLASH. In a split second, I was caught driving too fast late at night on a quiet street.
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At 38mph in a 30mph speed limit in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, it was a fair cop - £60 and three points on my driving licence.
But the first I heard of it was in a letter from the vehicle hire company whose Vauxhall Corsa I had been driving.
Incredibly, it stung me for a further £47 for the misdemeanour.
There was no point complaining because the money had already been taken from my credit card. The sting was in the small print of the hire document.
The same charge would have applied for a parking offence or failing to pay a congestion charge. The penalty covers administration as the fine is sent to the company, which passes it on.
Paul Watters of the AA says: 'Excessive charges can easily be hidden in small print. Study paperwork before signing anything. Remember, the buck always stops with the motorist.'
Which? says one in eight car hire customers has problems, ranging-from the quality of the car to the amount of petrol in the vehicle. Poorly explained terms and conditions are a major source of complaint.
Other car hire companies that follow suit in charging speedsters include Budget Rent A Car (£29.38); Avis (£29.38); Thrifty Car Rental (£29.38); Hertz Europe (minimum £29.38) and easyCar (£25).
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