Vehicle Clamping

[Erdinger]

In short, i parked my vehicle in an area which at first glance i assumed was a legitimate car park. I was in a hurry to take my son to the nearby railway station, i looked for a ticket machine, there were none, i looked in the other vehicles that were parked there and saw no tickets on display. Apart from large advertising boards within the 'car park' no other sineage caught my eye, there certainly weren't any at the open entrance. I left my vehicle at 14.35, returned at 14.55, (20 minutes) - my vehicle was gone. Eventually saw the 'discreetly' positioned signs in between the big advertising boards warning that the land was indeed private and that vehicles were liable in the first instance to be clamped, ultimately towed away, the other vehicles remained, only mine was taken away, it later transpired that the other vehicles were left in place by the clamping company as decoys to lure fools like me to park there. I had to pay �375.00 to get my vehicle back. The charges were as follows, �200.00 for towing away, �125.00 for clamp release, and �50.00 for storage. 'Q', Is there not a period of time required from clamping to actual towing away, 20 minutes does seem to be a dreadfully short time before resorting to such actions. Thanks.

[Ethel]

It seems not - this article is a year old but describes your situation nearly exactly - and states the company has acted within the law:

http://tinyurl.com/3np3ec

And good information here:

http://tinyurl.com/4bleff


If you wish to make a complaint, or think you might - get photos as soon as possible, in particular of the signage and the place you parked.

[Mamjet]

Unfortunately, parking illegally for 'just 20 mins', not looking for a sign or just 'thinking you can get away with it arent valid reasons for not paying a fine.

My advice would be to pay up, grow up and shut up.

[fiesata]

My advice would be to complain to your MP this is legalised robbery imho. You won't get your money back unfortunately - though if you feel you have a case you could go to the small claims court watch out in the future for small signs

I think the laws are different in Scotland they need to be changed for the rest of the UK

Mamjet if you're not a clamper already I think there's a career waiting for yo out there :-)

[Mamjet]

Have you considered writing to Esther Rantzen of TV's That's Life? Nominate the clamper for a Jobsworth award.