Private Parking Tickets discussion

peter_the_piper

Sorry Sir, its a civil matter and we've got better thing to do.
Bolt cutters, angle grinder etc are often touted as self help means. Just make sure the good samsriton leaves the clamp behind though.

donglefan

How about for a single female who needs the car to get home safely officer?

Or call the local MP's office... or the local newspaper?

peter_the_piper

Regretably I don't think there's much likelyhood of any help from any of these.
BiB would say get a friend to help and I don't see how the local MP's office would be able to help and newspapers are good at reporting after events but not at assisting. Thats of course assuming that she has their numbers in her phone and they are there at 10 o'clock at night.
I do get your drift but really its like the wild west out there with all the cowboy clampers.

Number14

I've just been "victim" to a clamper. I visited a local pizza takeaway to collect dinner (my turn to cook) and parked in the carpark at the rear of the premises. When I arrived in the carpark a whte van was leaving. Once parked, I got out of my car and walked 20m to the front of the building, was immediately given my dinner and immediately paid by credit card. By the time I walked the 20m back to the car the white van man was back and still in the process of putting the clamp on. I actually saw him close the padlock.

Release fee is £150 and lots of charges if payment is delayed and they have to come back to release the car. I felt I had no choice except pay the release fee as I need the car and I could not afford the potential increased fees. I informed the clamper that I was paying under protest and paid by card over the phone. On paying, I asked the woman I was talking to on the phone that I wanted the called recorded, and I also recorded the call myself. I informed her I was paying under protest and subject to appeal.

Mr Clamper unclamped me and I was on my merry way.

Serveral points:

1. The sign that I parked next to was not wholly visible, part of it was obscured by a bush (photos taken), although other signs in the carpark were clearly visible.
2. The sign said that you may park there if you have a permit, but there was no information given to allow me the opportunity to seek a permit. Only contact details to release the vehicle. Does this make it an unfair contract?
3. I asked the clamper if he regularly clamps there and he said he frequently does but not after 6 pm as the carpark backs onto a chinese restaurant and customers are allowed to use it. This was confirmed following discussion with the restaurant owner. There was no mention on the signs that the parking restriction is not enforced after 6pm. If there were no time constraints displayed is it unfair and legal to only clamp those parking before 6pm?

A telephone call to local trading standards is happening at 0900hr tomorrow followed by my appeal to the company. You can only appeal after paying the release fee - again I think this is unfair and possibly extorion or menaces.

I doubt the company will refund the money so it looks like a small claims court. Watch this space ....

Any comments/advice will be gladly accepted.

And for information only,the clamper was working for Shoal Enforcement and I will say he, and his colleague on the phone, were polite at all times.

poet123

peter_the_piper wrote: »

IGNORE. Check all the other posts regarding private parking and you will see that in 99.999% of the cases its the same message.
Ignore
Don't contact
Dont respond
Don't reply
They give up quicker that way.

So you would not agree with the advice to write and tell them that the registered keeper was not the driver? We have just got the letter from National Clamps stating that the charge is now £80, and that failure to pay will result in the "debt" being transferred to a debt collection agency.

Would it not be wise to tell thm he was not the driver and so put the"debt" in dispute, which according to what I have read would then prevent it being sold on to such a company.

We have never had a bad debt, or any debt and don't want to start now.

peter_the_piper

Just my choice, Martin believes its best to get your denial in first then ignore the following letters. Its up to you really.

Domthemon

CommonSenseClive wrote: »

You really need to pay this before the matter goes any further.

CommonSenseClive wrote: »

The great British motoring tradition demands that order be maintained on and off the road.

If you receive a ticket, you have done something wrong. Payment is your first priority.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Thanks for the laugh, you really are very amusing. Don't think I'll take your advice tho thanks all the same :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

vdubber86

i did post up a message on the thread a while back, (page 19), the 1st letter i recieved from threthowens told me i had 7 days to make payment, i didnt pay of course, now, i have recieved another letter as a final warning giving me another 14 days to pay or it will be court action.....im getting a little scared now just in case i do end up being one of the unfortnate ones, would be just my luck....should i ignore this as well???

trisontana

vdubber86 wrote: »

i did post up a message on the thread a while back, (page 19), the 1st letter i recieved from threthowens told me i had 7 days to make payment, i didnt pay of course, now, i have recieved another letter as a final warning giving me another 14 days to pay or it will be court action.....im getting a little scared now just in case i do end up being one of the unfortnate ones, would be just my luck....should i ignore this as well???

Just sit tight, ignore all their threats, and eventually they will go away.

poet123

What I dont understand is how, if there is no legal basis for their claims, they are allowed to issue such letters? Does this not amount to intimidation, and threatening behaviour, and harrassment? and so should it not be a matter for the police?