Clamped in a petrol station.....

bellington16

I recently drove to Islington to meet my girlfriend - we stopped at the Shell Gararge on the Holloway road and parked in the 3/4 parking spaces available there (I did not purchase petrol). We both left the vehicle and walked to Greggs bakery (30 seconds walk away) . My girlfriend then went into the petrol station shop and purchased some drinks etc - whilst I went back to the car. To my horror I found a ticket on the window and a clamp on my front wheel !!!! .... I told the clampers that my girlfriend had purchased goods from the petrol station and that we had only left the vehicle for 5 minutes - Needless to say this fell on deaf ears - and £200 - YES £200 later to get the clamp off (all 20 seconds of removing it) I went on my way ....

I have written a letter appealing against this providing cctv images time etc but they have rejected this "as the vehicle was parked illegally, on private property unattended"

I can't believe I am £200 out of pocket for 5 minutes in a petrol station car parking space when my girlf used the shop !!!! .... The people are Direct Parking Control whom control the parking there.

Anyone Help !!!!!!:mad:

sarahg1969

How did you pay? I'm guessing they insisted on cash, but if you paid by CC, then ask your CC company to do a chargeback - you will need to be insistent.

No good appealing to these crooks. You need to write a letter before action to them and to the landowner, and probably pursue the matter through the County Court.

bellington16

yes they insisted on cash ......

any idea how i find out who the land owner is ??? is it not just the petrol station's land .....

Thanks tho for the info

Coblcris

The Land Registry. See their website. Be aware hat you may get the mortgage holder if the land is under mortgage. I would give the mortgage holder the chance to name the mortgagee and if they do not then I would name the holder in the civil suit as they are the landowner.

Coblcris

Let us not get sidetracked by spurious argument from pursuing remedy for the poster.

chadderspepipoo

Would it be the first sign in this forum post?
[email]forums@pepipoo@com/index.php[/email]?showtopic=42544

sorry not allowed to post links yet replace the @ with .

Can you confirm, and also scan and post up (remove identifying features eg your registration number) any paperwork relating to this (specifically the receipt).

sarahg1969

OP (hoping you come back - so many don't!) - you have a PM.

bellington16

Unfortunately, in my angry state at the time I threw both the pcn and the receipt in the nearest bin after having to pay the £200 fine - I'm sorry if this will hinder my complaint and possible refund.
Have copied and pasted the original letter I sent to them (hope it works) ....when I sent it it had cctv images etc included

Any more help would be greatly appreciated ....
*****
Dear Sir or Madam,

Vehicle Registration:

Registered Owner: Mr

Location: Shell Service Station, 104-106 Holloway Road, London N7 8JE

Time / Date: 3rd July 2009 15.57-16.03 pm

Notice Number: Unknown / Lost


I write to you to appeal against a £200 clamping fine received and paid under protest on 3rd July 2009 at 16.01 pm issued by your employees at Shell Service Station, Holloway Road, London.

I have lost the original receipt and trust you have a copy in your records given all the information I have provided.

I am now writing to demand a refund for the following - due to the fact I entered the Service Station with my girlfriend as passenger in my vehicle at 15.57 pm and parked in the parking space provided to the far side of the forecourt. My reason for parking in the Service Station was to buy Red Bull energy drinks for my girlfriend from the Service Station Shop and to go to the local bakery. We both walked to the local bakery (Greggs (30 seconds walk away) to purchase lunch. Upon returning to the Service Station my girlfriend entered the Shell Service Station Shop and purchased 2 cans of sugar free Red Bull, whilst I returned to my vehicle to find it being clamped.

Unfortunately, without the receipt of the purchase at the time from the Service Station I was unable to provide necessary proof and therefore avoid the clamp and extortionate fine.

Attached please find evidence of the purchase from the said Service station including CCTV images of my car entering the forecourt at 15.57 and further images of my girlfriend making the purchase in the Service Station Shop at 16.03, barely 5 minutes later. I trust this is evidence enough of proper use of the Service Station for the 4 minutes I was parked there.

I have been in contact with the Service Station in question (YOUR CLIENT) and the supervisor has agreed to support my case and is happy to provide any CCTV discs / images you require up until 31st July 2009. He is fully understanding of my appeal and agrees the purchase of the 2 cans of red bull makes us a bonafide customer of the shop/garage

I now request a full and prompt refund from you.

If you do not refund me this fee I will be left with no choice but to take further action in the small claims court as I believe the charges I have paid are unlawful and the courts will therefore rule in my favour.

I look forward for a full response to this letter within 14 days
*****

bellington16

and after my apppeal was refused I sent this second letter .....
****
Dear Sir or Madam,

Vehicle Registration:

Registered Owner:

Location: Shell Service Station, 104-106 Holloway Road, London N7 8JE

Time / Date: 3rd July 2009 15.57-16.03 pm


I write with regards to your letter dated 13th July, as I am still unhappy at the outcome of my appeal and wish to take this further.

I fail to understand how using a petrol station car parking space for 5 minutes whilst actually making a purchase at the said petrol station is “parking illegally, on private property, unattended.” The petrol station do not offer “permits” for parking as far as I am aware and therefore feel the fine and clamping of my vehicle is unlawful, when I have used the premises to purchase goods as the previous CCTV images clearly show.


I look forward to a full response to this letter within 14 days otherwise I will be taking further legal advice on this matter
****

to which I await any further response from them ......
I will post the same letters and info on pepipoo.com as requested

Is there anything more I can do ????!?!

Alx*27

Forget the clampers - if you take them to court you will not get your money. They proably have 20 CCJs as it is.

Find out the landowner and sue them.

bellington16

Have joined the land registry site and am awaiting my e-mail verification to find out who the land owner is ........ is there anymore I can be doing ?? Still waiting for a response to my 2nd letter to the clampers - although I'm not holding my breath