Advice Please re clamping/tow away of car

madmax2

A few weeks ago I parked my car in the local car park near some shops to do some shopping with my baby. I put him in the pram and did my shopping. He fell asleep so rather than wake him I walked home with him. Later on my partner went with my daughter to go and collect it and rung me to say it wasn't there - we initially thought it had been stolen which was very distressing. I rung the police and reported it stolen. I even rung the pub near the car park to check if they had cctv thinking they might have seen something - I was told by the pub that it wouldn't have been stolen that it had been towed away. We eventually tracked it down and had to pay £285.00 to get it back. We were told by the clampers it had been clamped and then towed away as it had been there longer than 2 hours which states on the board (which we read afterwards although it states in very small print about the 2 hours - although I park here regular I wasn't aware of his). I tried to explain to them that it hadn't been there 2 hours (this is my recollection) but they just said appeal. Just wanted some advice as to whether it is worth contacting the person who privately owns the car park to try and appeal to his better nature! or should I also appeal to the private firm who clamped me. I am very sick about having to pay £285.00 and would like to somehow try and appeal to get it back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Coblcris

Letter before action to the Clampers and the landowner. Then sue them both in small claims. Quickly go and take pictures of the signs before they have a chance to change them.. Read the Vine v Waltham Forest case. Have you checked that their SIA number is valid ?

peter_the_piper

Did you have to pay cash or were you able to use a credit card or visa debit. If C/c or V/d then its worth chasing them for a chargeback.

madmax2

Thanks for your replies. I had to pay cash as they wouldn't accept anything else so my partner had to draw the money out of his bank as I didn't have enough. Iv'e just briefly looked at Vine v Waltham Forest case that Coblcris refers too - interesting! What do you think I should do - and what should I put in the letter to the Landowner/Clampers? Never dealt with anything like this before so bit bewildered by it all and still really upset about it - I suffer with asthma and panic attacks and had a panic attack on the phone when my partner rang me to say the car had been stolen! Just want to try and get my money back if I can - any help/advice would be greatly appreciated thanks again.

Coblcris

I stand by post number 2

mrbadexample

Can you tell us who the clamping company were and roughly what area you were in?

madmax2

On the receipt it says Parking Control Ltd with an address in Manchester although this incident happened in Hull and I believe it is a local company in Hull who clamped me and towed my car away. Is it worth writing to both this company and the land owner?