Clamped with occupants still in the car - allowed??

KierAn20_2

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help on this.

I was clamped yesterday outside a Mcdonalds "restaurant" whilst running in to get my daughter a meal - I left her in the car.

I (wrongly) assumed that, because the piece of concreted land next to the restaurant had four Mcdonalds bins located around it and is used by Mcdonalds customers cars to queue for the drivethru, it was owned by Mcdonalds. I now know it is not!!

After four minutes away from the car (receipts to prove) I returned, only to be relieved of £130.00 for the clamp to be removed and to have the sign pointed out to me.

They are an SIA registered company and are acting on behalf of the landowners, but I have this morning been told that they are not supposed to clamp a car unless it is unattended. I cant seem to find anything on the web to confirm this though.

Can any of you guys shed any light on this at all please?

Any help greatfully received.

Rikki

How old is your daughter?

Old enough to be left in the car on her own but not old enough to go in and get her own burger.

KierAn20_2

Rikki wrote: »

How old is your daughter?

Old enough to be left in the car on her own but not old enough to go in and get her own burger.

She's fourteen - old enough to be left in the car on her own but not old enough to be trusted to remember my D/C pin number I'm afraid!

Thanks for the help!

anewman

Old enough to slam the door in his face as he bends down to put the clamp on then! Or take the handbrake off and let the car roll.

It hardly matters if someone's in it does it really?! If the sign was there the sign was there sadly. Yes it's wrong, yes it's extortion - it should be made illegal as it has been in Scotland, but unfortunately we have to live with it.

Coupon-mad

anewman wrote: »

Old enough to slam the door in his face as he bends down to put the clamp on then! Or take the handbrake off and let the car roll.

It hardly matters if someone's in it does it really?! If the sign was there the sign was there sadly. Yes it's wrong, yes it's extortion - it should be made illegal as it has been in Scotland, but unfortunately we have to live with it.[/QUOTE]



No we don't! More people should do something about this extortion.

Nothing to lose by challenging the legality of the clamp, seeing as the OP has paid they have nothing to lose by trying. If he/she paid the clamp fee by credit card maybe they can do a chargeback. Or for an outlay of £30 take the scumbags to the County Court, info is on the net to help (e.g. look on pepipoo.com).

Also, there's a 'Guide to Clamping on Private Land' thread on this board, here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1957787

HTH

return

Keep away from Smacdunalds, go to your local chip shop, vote with you feet.Go and buy some bolt cutter, and uase self defence on these thieves.

AlexisV

You can clamp, but not tow with someone inside.

Mark_Hewitt

McDonalds should take some responsibility here and put up large signs of their own saying don't park!

Inactive

KierAn20 wrote: »

She's fourteen - old enough to be left in the car on her own but not old enough to be trusted to remember my D/C pin number I'm afraid!

Thanks for the help!

I heard a rumour that McDonalds take cash as form of payment.;)

gaz_jones

Inactive wrote: »

I heard a rumour that McDonalds take cash as form of payment.;)

What a stupid comment. How is that useful to the OP? I'm assuming all she had on her was a Debit Card. Or perhaps she did have cash on here but needed it for parking later.