I'm not sure what if anything I can do about this but here goes anyway!

I received a call from the car hire company this morning saying I'd got a speeding ticket on 8 May on Dubai Mall road at 9.46 am.

I was dubious at first because I start work at 8am and have meetings every morning until about 10am so I figured I couldn't be in two places at the same time.

A friend tells me it's not uncommon for dodgy car rental companies to claim that they've paid a speeding ticket on your behalf because once they're paid they don't show up on the fines website! I've checked the website and there's no record of this speeding fine, plus my colleagues can vouch for the fact that I was sat in a meeting room at our office in JLT at that time on that date.

My question is (and bearing in mind I know how lax the UAE system can be!) is there anyone I can complain to? Assuming that the car rental company can prove their claim I'd be more than happy to pay a fine but as I was nowhere near the place I fail to see how they'll be able to do this!
On one hand I want to march into the company and tell them where they can stuff their speeding fine, but on the other hand I imagine that would only result in the police turning up at my doorstep!

Any advice on this would be great thanks!!!

I'd complain to the rental company and get them to prove time/date/place. If they can't or don't show you any evidence of them paying the fine then tell them you will go to the police directly to get the evidence as you are 100% certain you did not commit the offence.

Should hopefully encourage them to admit their "mistake"

An Arab colleague has successfully fought nearly every traffic offence raised against him--demand proof, prove an alibi, deny emphatically.

However, I guess the hire company has your credit card details so you might be on the back foot, but I'd give it to them hard and threaten to follow up with the rozzers.

Tell the company that you will go the press etc.. and that you are very influential in your company and that you will lose any future business with them as a result.

Also, I'd give the car back after this has been sorted as a form of protest too.

Correct. The company is obliged to let you have proper details of any fines. I haven't had a go at any car rental company for a while now, so I'd be happy to take this on and criticise them in print. Last time I got a reader a big refund and lots of free entertainment vouchers as compensation too.

Oh, and as soon as it's resolved go elsewhere.

Just ask for the photo of the offense. It may take about a month for them to get it but you're not obliged to pay without seeing it... Also you don't need pay anything other than the cost of the fine unless they made it clear to you at the time of hiring. Hertz attempted to charge me more but FAILED..

Thanks everyone for the input. I've already sorted a different rental car for when my month is up next week. I wouldn't have known about these bogus charges had it not been for my friend directing me to the fines website.
Meow - I'll definitely be taking you up on that - I've read a few of your blogs and know a lot of people who have done likewise so I imagine word would spread quickly thank you!

I think you have my email address. It would actually be published in The National newspaper which has a decent circulation (40,000 unaudited, apparently), as well as on various social media sites.

Don't expect the photo, if you get the chance to see it, to 'prove' anything. The last time I queried a speeding penalty, I was shown the photo.......

....... it just showed the bottom half of the front of my car. There was no background to show where it was taken, or any clue at all. It could have been taken by a speed camera on SZR - or in the MotE car park............

You had a few typos there

I got the photo, it was where they said it was ( you could recognise it) and it was the genuine article. You just have to be firm and go to the police if you suspect they're ripping you off. You're not obliged to pay anything unless they supply a date, the time and the speed as well as proof it was your car. It sounds like The Dean's situation was unusual. I guess it depends if you think it's actually worth the hassle or not.

I was given one in RAK about seven years ago despite having never driven there.

When I tried to point this out to the police at the registration desk they said I would need to go to RAK and sort it out...this was before they showed pictures...

Needless to say I didn't bother going to RAK - I'd need a translator and would waste a day doing it.

The system now does seem to be better - they have pictures so you can prove it wasn't you....am sure that still takes three hours of course

N.

The motto of my first marriage!