Car clamped

ethereal

My car got clamped whilst being parked in a hotel car park the other night whilst we were attending a major city event. Thousands of cars ascended onto the streets looking for parking spaces and parking anywhere and everywhere possible. This event lasts for two nights every year. Thousands of visitors show up. It was dark when we arrived so we didn't see the warning signs of it being a clamping area. When we returned about 2 hours later we had a ticket stating that we needed to pay the £95 release fee or the vehicle would be towed and impounded at our expense of £130 plus £25 per night. We just don't have £95 let alone to just give away to some callous company employed to make money for nothing from people who can't afford it! We checked with the hotel who said we should have paid £5 at the reception but we had no way of knowing this before, As it was a genuine mistake we asked if they could backdate a ticket for us, seeing as the contract was between them and the clamper, but they refused. A friend paid for us as we really needed the car but I feel it is such an injustice that they can charge such a huge on the spot fee for such a small "offense." I have checked the SIA website and cannot find this clamping company listed on its register of licenced operators. I want to at least try for a refund but what do I do first? Write to the clampers, the hotel or contact the SIA?