Charges for ambulances/fire engines

Boom__Boom

Just wondering does anyone know what legal basis ambulances and fire engines services have for charging people who didnt call them?

Often when there's a fire or an accident someone besides the parties directly involved will call a fire engine or ambulance. Later on when the situation is settled the fire services or the ambulance will send out a bill to the person involved. In most cases the person involved will pay and be thankful for the service provided but what happens as regards payment if say a fire engine or ambulance is called out when it's not needed and they seek to recover payment from the individual involved.

Say a fire engine is called to the scene of a minor car crash in error or someone mistakenly calls a ambulance thinking someone is having a heart attack when it was merely an allergic reaction. Do these emergency services have any legal basis for billing the party involved?

Obviously it would be pretty poor form not to pay but whats the legal situation in terms of payment? Is there any legislation that covers this area?

XxMCRxBabyxX

Haven't we had this exact thread already?

EDIT: Found it!
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057014051/1/#post85985641

ScouseMouse

Sorry boomboom, but I read the same thread over in the kerry forum and got the same idea you had.

I posted that question last week