Can someone please tell me if it is legal to get a fine which is 700 per cent the amount of a payment due? I received an invoice from CVA Technologies Ltd for €0.82 for entering and exiting Valletta. This invoice remained on my desk for a couple of weeks as I did not deem it justified to issue a cheque for that amount or even go to Marsa to pay it in cash.
Finally, on September 17, I decided that since no more invoices came in I wrote the cheque and mailed it to their offices.
This seems to have arrived a couple of days later than the stipulated time of one month from date of issue. Within two days I received another invoice of €5.82 as penalty for not paying the €0.82 on time.
Is this legal or just another form of usury from approved entities?