CCJ lead to car being clamped in the street.

bsa77

A year and a half ago I was leaving my house to go to work and went to my car, to find it had been clamped in the street. It had been clamped due to a CCJ instruction after a parking fine wasn't paid and a change of address, council not getting the updated details from the DVLA and so on lead to me being taken to court without knowing about it.

Any way, my car was clamped at 07:00 in the morning (funny how they could get the right address but not the court or the council) and a note stuffed through my door. I had to pay over £500 to get my car back - was clamped even though it had a "fire-fighter on call" sign in the window.

Now I just accepted it all as bad luck but nothing I can do, several people have suggested this isn't true.

Firstly, should the bailiffs (who clamped my car) rung the door bell and given me the chance to pay the amount without their clamping fee on top?

Secondly, is it ethical to clamp the (clearly marked) vehicle of an on call emergency worker?

I appreciate that I should have arranged some form of mail forwarding service when I moved but I contacted every one (bank, dvla, council, utilities etc.) when I moved to give the new address. It is one of those things that really grates and I'd love to get some of my money back, even if just the £140 the clampers charged for clamping my car.

Cheers.

sporedude

I dont think it matters if its ethical or not, Would you rather the bailiffs took stuff from your house instead of the car?

bsa77

No, I'd rather they knocked on the door and asked for the money which has been suggested to me was what they should do, hence me posting to ask for advice.

You will be pleased to know, no doubt, that I wasn't called to a house fire during the time my car was clamped.

pogofish

Try having a shufty on here:

http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/

There is a detailed section on just what they can and can't do in relation to your car.

They will probably be along soon too.