fire brigade charges

rikili

Hi all,

I am in need for a quick advise.

A year ago, I had a car accident. An ambulance showed up, and I was taken to the AE with the other car's driver. A few weeks later, a received a letter from the fire brigade asking me to pay 258 Euro for Fire Service Charges.

First of all, I didn't call the fire brigade neither did I know they showed up. there was no need for them to show up (No fire or someone stuck etc...) and I don't even know who called them. The Gards and an Ambulance showed up on the scene, that's all I've seen.

At the time, I contacted my insurance, but it turned out that my policy didn't cove Fire brigade charges. I discussed the issue with a friend who works in the local County Council, and he assured that if I didn't call the fire services, then I am not liable for the fees.

Fast forward to today, and I receive a letter from the fire brigade threatening me with legal proceedings if I do not pay within 7 days, and stating:

"In cases where legal proceedings are initiated you will be responsible for all legal fees together with the outstanding fire charge"

I actually don't have that amount of money to pay, but also I don't think I should be paying for a service I didn't request!

Where do I stand? any insights are much appreciated.

caff

Was it a Dublin fire service ambulance?

rikili

No, the ambulance service was different, I payed for that my self as well as the A&E fees.
it's the Meath CoCo Fire services.

wistfuleyes

Get a waiver form by ringing the fire service administration line for Meath coco directly. Fill out and submit waiver form. You should be fine then.

fepper

whoever caused the accident is usually liable

rikili

@wistfuleyes, thanks for the advice. Do I need to state any reasons for requesting a waiver form?

@fepper, there was 2 cars involved in the accident. but also, is that a stated anywhere in the road traffic act?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

rikili

@Fred Swanson, I have a letter from the insurance company stating they do not cover the Fire service charges, would that be enough to request a waiver?

fepper

rikili wrote: »

@wistfuleyes, thanks for the advice. Do I need to state any reasons for requesting a waiver form?

@fepper, there was 2 cars involved in the accident. but also, is that a stated anywhere in the road traffic act?

it seems to be protocol now to send out firebrigade as part of other emergency services to any accident usually to clean up any debris and moving vehicles to side of road

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Yawns

Ring your insurance company and speak to someone different in the claims department. I was told the same by an customer care rep in my insurance company but I rang a few days later and was speaking to someone else. I told them I was speaking to someone else who said to just contact them when I received the letter and send it in. They didn't question it and agreed. Never heard anything about it since then from themselves or the fire department.

HeidiHeidi

But op says he a) he never called the emergency services b) never saw a fire brigade and c) has already paid for the ambulance.....

Why should the fire brigade be charging anyone, let alone the op, in this case?

Just throwing it at his insurance and hoping they pay it is one of those things that ultimately just leads to increasing premiums.

Yawns

Fire brigade was possibly called by someone due them witnessing the accident. OP may have gone to hospital in ambulance when fire brigade arrived. They bill the registered owner of the car and let the owner take it from there.

rikili

At the time, I checked the insurance policy, and it clearly stated that Fire Brigade charges are not covered. I triple checked this already.
So it's a definite no from the insurance company.

Yawns

Here's a link to the charges and waivers on the meath coco Fire department

http://www.meath.ie/CountyCouncil/FireDepartment/FireBrigadeCharges/

fepper

the other vehicle owner will get exactly the same bill from fire brigade dept

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Mrs OBumble

OP who do you think cleaned up the debris from the crash? Who removed your car f4om the scene?

fepper

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

fire brigade doesnt know who was liable at accident site so they send on same bill to registered owners and hopefully one of them will pay eventually

GM228

The person who benefits from the service is liable for the charges (i.e the beneficial owner of a vehicle or home etc) irrespective of who makes the call.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

So they get paid twice for the one job?

But the charge isn't a per job charge, it's a per user or beneficiary charge.

infogiver

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

Who asked them to?

Debris from traffic accidents should be left where it is?

Mrs OBumble

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

Who asked them to?

Irrelevant.

If your car is responsible for glass etc on the road, and you are in no fit state to sort it yourself, then the state has to organise it. But you need to pay.

sweetie

I'm sure you'd be glad of the fire brigade if you needed to be cut out of your car at a RTA. Its better to err on the side of caution, especially considering there were two cars involved.

lifeandtimes

It should be up to the person who caused the accident to foot the bill,it's a hot topic but if both are to blame then it must be split,in this case you can't fire it off too your insurance company as they don't cover it,no matter how far you go up the ladder that won't change,maybe knowing this will set a fire under you to get it sorted quickly by contacting the other drivers insurance company and this will take some heat off you

Fred Swanson

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rikili

Thanks all for your replies and advise.
I talked to the Fire Services, and I have to admit they were very helpful.

When I explained my situation about not being able to fork out the full amount, they agreed to be paid over 12 months by Direct debit.

So all happily sorted!

Little CuChulainn

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

OP who do you think cleaned up the debris from the crash? Who removed your car f4om the scene?

Tow truck driver usually does that.

Stark

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Irrelevant.

If your car is responsible for glass etc on the road, and you are in no fit state to sort it yourself, then the state has to organise it. But you need to pay.

It takes a fire truck to clean windscreen glass off a road?

Yawns

Stark wrote: »

It takes a fire truck to clean windscreen glass off a road?

what happens if fuel is leaking and the possibility of a fire breaking out?

Mrs OBumble

Stark wrote: »

It takes a fire truck to clean windscreen glass off a road?

If there was someone else summoned to do the job, then no.

But that is who the guards routinely call AFAIK. (Sweeping is outside their skillset.)

Little CuChulainn

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If there was someone else summoned to do the job, then no.

But that is who the guards routinely call AFAIK. (Sweeping is outside their skillset.)

You don't know a lot so. Fire service aren't called to clean up anything after a crash. The tow truck driver and Gardaí will clean up small debris. The council will be called for large debris or liquid spills.

xlogo

lifeandtimes wrote:

It should be up to the person who caused the accident to foot the bill,it's a hot topic but if both are to blame then it must be split,in this case you can't fire it off too your insurance company as they don't cover it,no matter how far you go up the ladder that won't change,maybe knowing this will set a fire under you to get it sorted quickly by contacting the other drivers insurance company and this will take some heat off you

There shouldn't be a charge for the service. And what situations do they charge for? If my house is on fire and I call them out am I charged for that?

Peregrinus

xlogo wrote: »

There shouldn't be a charge for the service. And what situations do they charge for? If my house is on fire and I call them out am I charged for that?

Yes, in most or all local authority areas. But your household fire insurance covers it.

infogiver

xlogo wrote: »

There shouldn't be a charge for the service. And what situations do they charge for? If my house is on fire and I call them out am I charged for that?

Who pays for it then?

December2012

Does agreeing to pay for the fire brigade affect any claims for liability in the accident?

Little CuChulainn

December2012 wrote: »

Does agreeing to pay for the fire brigade affect any claims for liability in the accident?

No more than paying for your car to be towed or for a doctor to treat you after.

Mrs OBumble

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

You don't know a lot so. Fire service aren't called to clean up anything after a crash. The tow truck driver and Gardaí will clean up small debris. The council will be called for large debris or liquid spills.

So why did the OP get a bill?

Little CuChulainn

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

So why did the OP get a bill?

because they attended. it's a call out charge.

xlogo

infogiver wrote:

Who pays for it then?

Taxes

Wile E. Coyote

xlogo wrote: »

Taxes

Ah yes, that magical never ending pile of cash we have floating around :rolleyes:

infogiver

xlogo wrote: »

Taxes

you drive into a telegraph pole while testing and make a whole mess and taxes that we need to pay for schools and hospitals and teachers and dpctors should pay to clean it up?

Victor

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

You don't know a lot so. Fire service aren't called to clean up anything after a crash. The tow truck driver and Gardaí will clean up small debris. The council will be called for large debris or liquid spills.

And the council uses their employees, the fire bridade.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Little CuChulainn

Victor wrote: »

And the council uses their employees, the fire bridade.

You think the council sends to fire brigade for debris and spills? They send a couple of guys with sand.

xlogo

infogiver wrote:

you drive into a telegraph pole while testing and make a whole mess and taxes that we need to pay for schools and hospitals and teachers and dpctors should pay to clean it up?

Testing what?

xlogo

Wile E. Coyote wrote:

Ah yes, that magical never ending pile of cash we have floating around

Nope - just what there is should be better managed or maybe even an increase if it means somebody won't be in a situation were they have to think "if I dial 999 and the fire brigade come - will I be liable for a charge" and they then walk away just incase they are.

Wile E. Coyote

xlogo wrote: »

Nope - just what there is should be better managed or maybe even an increase if it means somebody won't be in a situation were they have to think "if I dial 999 and the fire brigade come - will I be liable for a charge" and they then walk away just incase they are.

If someone walks away from an emergency just because there may a small charge, which most insurance companies cover anyway, then they're (A) An Idiot, and (B) didn't actually need the service in the first place.

infogiver

xlogo wrote: »

Testing what?

typo
texting I meant.
Well, who should pay for your mess to be cleaned up?

xlogo

Wile E. Coyote wrote:

If someone walks away from an emergency just because there may a small charge, which most insurance companies cover anyway, then they're (A) An Idiot, and (B) didn't actually need the service in the first place.

Lots of idiots out there and lots who just wouldn't know all the facts due to lack of information etc.

infogiver

xlogo wrote: »

Nope - just what there is should be better managed or maybe even an increase if it means somebody won't be in a situation were they have to think "if I dial 999 and the fire brigade come - will I be liable for a charge" and they then walk away just incase they are.

Everybody else has to pay more taxes just because you don't want to take personal responsibility for your mistakes?!? do you know how ridiculous that sounds to me?