Beware Regional Clamping Services (goes under several names)

usignuolo

Rather a long post this but worth reading as it shows just how a determined rogue private parking company can operate to all intents outside the law, and more worryingly in this case, have its practices apparently condoned by the local trading Standards Office.

Regional Clamping Services are a notorious group of clamping bandits operating in West London area and northern Surrey. They have made headlines several times for their strong arm tactics and been investigated in the past by BBC Watchdog, gone into liquidation, reformed and still continue to operate apparently unrestricted.

September 2005 – this appeared on consumer forum on line in relating to the operations of Regional Parking Services

"A little word of caution to all of you out there, I have just got off the phone with The Security Industry Authority, The SIA, and they have just confirmed that Mr. Lee Peacock aka Paul Taylor, of Metropolitan Parking Services Ltd, / Regional Parking Services Ltd, is not in possession of a license, either Front line or back office to operate in any capacity at all in the clamping industry, and is also under investigation by The SIA for operating a clamping service or as a clamper without a valid or current license."

So what happened next? not a lot it seems. I cannot find any record of any prosecution of Mr Peacock or his company on the SIA website. They were still up their tricks in December 2007 when the Hounslow Chronicle reported that ad representative Paul Coleman parked in the Coach and Horses pub car park in Hounslow to visit a friend and returned his car had gone. he reported it as stolen to the police.

More than two weeks later police told him the car had been found in a compound in Iver, Buckinghamshire, where it had been towed by private clamping company, Regional Clamping Services (the former Regional Parking Services Ltd).

By the time he picked it up on December 24 he had to pay £1,140 to get it back. The cost of towing away the vehicle was £300, plus a £35-a-day storage fee. Mr Coleman, who worked for Newsquest went to collect the car accompanied by a reporter and photographer, which alarmed RPS’s goons. The reporter reported that: “Eventually the cash-only payment was made and the car was released from the compound, but as we drove away stones and bolts were hurled at our car by the employees.”


This account generated the following background in the newspaper's web forum in January 2008:

Regional Clamping is owned and operated by Lee Peacock, who trades under false name of Paul Taylor. Peacock was taken to court by the Met Police for trading as Met Parking services and changed the name to Regional Parking Services, which was again taken to Harrow Crown Court by Brent trading services. Peacock was found guilty of breaching trading standards and declared himself bankrupt. He has once again retraded as Regional Clamping and is once again coming to regular notice. Regardless of the clamping fee, he will always say that a tow truck has been called and therefore a higher amount is charged.

In February 2009 Regional Clamping Services Ltd was forced into liquidation at Slough County Court but two months later started up again as Regional Clamping Services UK Ltd and clamped a car in Greenleaf Way, an action the Security Industry Authority says is illegal.

In April 2009 Ray Khan, a 54-year-old solicitor, was clamped outside his own home in Harrow by the rogue firm Regional Clamping Services UK Ltd and was ordered to cough up £333 in cash to stop his car from being towed away.

Mr Khan, 54, said: Two well-built goons continue carrying out the clamping operations under the umbrella of Regional Clamping Services Ltd. “I have every document to prove that their actions are completely illegal. They do not observe any law and go about clamping people's cars without any let or hindrance.”

Insolvency officials say they are taking enforcement action after the company's directors refused to cooperate with liquidation procedures. Letters sent to the address, a car pound on wasteland in Iver, Bucks, which is printed on the firm's tickets, are rejected on arrival. (Harrow Times)
So what happened to the firm? Nothing, they carried on as before.

July 2009 -back in the local papers again

Residents clamped in July when parking outside the former Social Club in Walton have researched the clamping firm involved and found that Regional Clamping Services went into liquidation in February 2009 and then was reinstated as Regional Clamping Service UK in April. Police were called to the site behind Aldi, in Church Street, Walton, in July as 32 shoppers, who had parked in bays in front of the derelict former club, had their vehicles clamped over several days, and were charged £320 cash-only to release them.

Once information was handed to police officers, Trading Standards and the owner of the building became involved and the clamping stopped.

Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Haycock said: "Following intervention by Surrey Police and members of the public I am pleased to confirm the practise of car clamping has now ceased at the site."

A spokeswoman for Surrey Trading Standards told the paper: "As they were employed by the landlord of the social club what they were doing was not illegal. “ (Surrey Herald report)

Not long afterwards Surrey Trading Standards popped up on the Surrey Herald website forum with the following post in relation to the Walton incident:

I am a Trading Standards Officer working for Surrey County Council. I am about to begin a project that will attempt to tackle such cases as those described in the article. Please get in touch but only if you have actually been clamped at this location and only if you would be willing to provide formal assistance with my investigation. For other consumer issues, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Thanks
Matthew Bickle
Surrey Trading Standards

[EMAIL="matthew.bickle@surreycc.gov.uk"]matthew.bickle@surreycc.gov.uk[/EMAIL]

In October 2009 the Hounslow Chronicle reported the paper had been inundated with complaints from readers, particularly those around Hounslow West, in recent weeks about the 'unfair' charges imposed by Regional Clamping Services (UK).

And one motorist who successfully challenged the clamping fine was unable to collect. "Lavoisier Fernandes' car was clamped in Cavendish Parade, opposite Hounslow West tube station, while he was shopping nearby on August 15. The 29-year-old was ordered to pay £320 cash despite returning to his vehicle while the employee from Regional Clamping Services (UK) was still attaching the device.

He challenged the fine and won his case at Northampton County Court on September 29 after the Buckinghamshire-based company failed to respond to his claim within the two-week time limit. He sent a bailiff to collect the money from the address at Court Lane Industrial Estate, Iver, only to be told the property was derelict and no one had answered the door.

When the Chronicle contacted RCS (UK) a member of staff told us the building in Iver was still used but staff did not answer the door due to the risk of being threatened or attacked. He refused to explain why it had not responded to Mr Fernandes' claim.

One of the many worrying things here is the woeful or maybe wilful ignorance of the Surrey Trading Standards Office, who appear to believe that if the owner of a property invites a group of goons to “manage” the parking on their (private) land, then this makes all the enforcement techniques they use legal.


Clampers should of course be SIA registered. As is clear above, those used by RPS were not registered in the past although RPS website claims they are. If so this is a surprise in view of their track record and the SIA has some questions to answer. (www.regionalparking.com) The only thing which appears to be true here is that they make no charge to the landowner for clamping, making their money instead from the motorists clamped.

jkdd77

At present, the only realistic recourse is to cut off the clamp, which is what I urge all victims to do.

dacouch

My friends go to the local tool hire company, they do a roaring trade hiring out their angle grind for 1 hour at £20 a pop

anewman

We need Angle Grinder Man (wonder where he is these day's, he's been awfully quiet.)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3485625.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGQMq3hNv-g

vic2000

Been clamped and paid cash of £355 at offcie in Iver, Bucks.

waited outside. they turned up....paid and noticed damage to my vehicle. raied it with the guy and he flipped and was agressive, put his fist up and offered me out swearing agressively etc etc. very abusive and i tried to calm him down coming from a prision officer background. all i wanted was the procudure to raise my issue with the dents and damage they have caused on my arches of my vehicle. in the end i rang the police as it was threatening behaviour with intent. police calme dit down and i had shock his hands etc. will take dig pic and write in within 7 days....

they work under regional clamping services (uk) ltd
company hse web site they regisered at an address in feltham.(residental adress bires eye view through multi map) but office in iver.

Please get in touch if been clamped as i like to set a talk group and get this company closed as it changes its name and carry on with its rocket prices.. vicsharma_@hotmail.com

vic2000

Been clamped and paid cash of £355 at office in Iver, Bucks. REGIONAL CLAMPING SERVICES (uk) LTD.

waited outside. they turned up....paid and noticed damage to my vehicle. raised it with the guy and he flipped and was aggressive, put his fist up and offered me out swearing aggressively etc etc. very abusive and i tried to calm him down coming from a prison officer background. all i wanted was the procedure to raise my issue with the dents and damage they have caused on my arches of my vehicle. in the end i rang the police as it was threatening behaviour with intent. police calmed it down and i had let it go shaken his hands etc. will take dig pic and write in within 7 days....and try and claim if not than small claims court.

they work under regional clamping services (uk) ltd
company hse web site they registered at an address in feltham.(residential address but office in iver.



Please get in touch if been clamped as i like to set a talk group and get this company closed as it changes its name and carry on with its rocket prices. And aggressive behaviour !!

vicsharma_@hotmail.com

peter_the_piper

vic2000 wrote: »

Please get in touch if been clamped as i like to set a talk group and get this company closed as it changes its name and carry on with its rocket prices. And aggressive behaviour !!

vic_@hotmail.com

If that's the way you wish to go then it would pay you to start your own thread as this one will get lost in the others before long..
And edit your email out as the clampers read this, and other, threads. You'll only get a load of junk or venom.

buzziebee

It was interesting to see this thread about this company RCS. They are not just carrying out thier crimes in Hounslow and West London, they are coming out to Hertfordshire to rain terror on poor unsuspecting victims too. Saturday 29th May 2010 to be exact, two men in a Tow truck clamped my daughters car and one other, they demanded £320 cash only, and handed her a leaflet with the Iver address. We have already started proceedings to appeal but I am guessing having read these threads it will be a waste of time. But try we will any how. My Daughter parked in a private car park to visit with her father and a freind. She arrived late and could not get the parking permit from her dad so decided to leave it until the morning. Too late these guys turned up with thier tow truck and sat there until we paid up. Even the Police could not help. The fine apparently is part clamping fine part towing fine but my daughter had to pay all of it even though her car was not towed. They gave a rubbish excuse saying they do not send out a van to first clamp then call a tow truck after they come armed with the tow truck so you have no chance to just pay the clamping fee. The guys in the van seemed pretty nice but this could have been just a front. The guy at RCS however was rude and just slammed the phone down on me his name was Martin but I suspect that was not his real name he refused to give me a last name. This company are theives and yet seem to be above the law. They mugged my poor daughter of £320 and the Police just stood by and were powerless to interviene. They clamped another woman who had parked there also she too had to pay up £320. £640 for ten minuets work thats not a bad days wage think I might go into the clamping business. Perhaps not I have a conscience. I have also read that this comapny do not have a proper license does this mean that they have no right to clamp cars and demand the money? Please keep this thread going lets try to fight them back. I will go to court, dont know if we will get a refund but at least it will keep thier company in the public eye.
Very very angry

peter_the_piper

buzziebee wrote: »

It was interesting to see this thread about this company RCS. They are not just carrying out thier crimes in Hounslow and West London, they are coming out to Hertfordshire to rain terror on poor unsuspecting victims too. Saturday 29th May 2010 to be exact, two men in a Tow truck clamped my daughters car and one other, they demanded £320 cash only, and handed her a leaflet with the Iver address. We have already started proceedings to appeal but I am guessing having read these threads it will be a waste of time. But try we will any how. My Daughter parked in a private car park to visit with her father and a freind. She arrived late and could not get the parking permit from her dad so decided to leave it until the morning. Too late these guys turned up with thier tow truck and sat there until we paid up. Even the Police could not help. The fine apparently is part clamping fine part towing fine but my daughter had to pay all of it even though her car was not towed. They gave a rubbish excuse saying they do not send out a van to first clamp then call a tow truck after they come armed with the tow truck so you have no chance to just pay the clamping fee. The guys in the van seemed pretty nice but this could have been just a front. The guy at RCS however was rude and just slammed the phone down on me his name was Martin but I suspect that was not his real name he refused to give me a last name. This company are theives and yet seem to be above the law. They mugged my poor daughter of £320 and the Police just stood by and were powerless to interviene. They clamped another woman who had parked there also she too had to pay up £320. £640 for ten minuets work thats not a bad days wage think I might go into the clamping business. Perhaps not I have a conscience. I have also read that this comapny do not have a proper license does this mean that they have no right to clamp cars and demand the money? Please keep this thread going lets try to fight them back. I will go to court, dont know if we will get a refund but at least it will keep thier company in the public eye.
Very very angry

Find out who own/leases the land and send a notice before action to both the clampers and their employers. The odds are against you getting any loot from the clampers but the landowners find it harder to hide or evade justice.
It just needs a good lawyer with contacts in the right places and it could be stopped, needs the "old boys network" though. So far no lawyer or MP have had the courage to stick their heads above the parapet.

Coupon-mad

buzziebee you will get no response or a negative reply to any appeal.

What you need to do is take the clampers and whichever occupier or landowner contracted them on that site, to Small Claims Court. It will cost you £30 or £40 as a Court fee but you can claim that back in your action. As PTP says, sending both parties a Notice before Action is the first place to start.

RCS have such a bad reputation as rogue clampers, that I reckon you could include in your argument against the landlord/occupier the fact that they have a duty of care to their customers/visitors to ensure that any parking firm they employ isn't a bunch of scammers (or words to that effect).

Then there's the signage - what does it say? Take photos of the wording, draw a plot of where those signs are on site. Did your daughter see the signs and was she aware of the risk of not displaying her permit immediately - if not then the signs could be argued as not forming a contract between her and the clampers.

Then there's the paperwork they gave her - in particular the receipt and appeal info. Does it include the readable name, SIA number and signature of the person who released the clamp, plus the location etc.? If not it can be argued as inadequate - and in the case of no SIA number it's illegal.

Then there's the fact that the release amount is extortionate and unreasonable for the 'service' it covers. That makes it a penalty - if you can convince a judge of that then he cannot uphold their fee as private companies/people cannot issue penalties/fines.

All of those facts can be put together into a small claims case, even if they are SIA registered.

There's also Trading Standards, don't dismiss them as toothless until you try. I think Windsor announced they would serve ASBOs on any private clampers daring to act in their borough! Even better, both Wolverhampton TS and Birmingham TS have very recently got rogue, bullying clampers put in jail. If your local TS isn't willing to look into those cases and find similarities that they can apply to bringing down RCS - then ask why on earth not?

Post about this on pepipoo.com as MSE hasn't got much experience in helping people get clamping money back, writing a Notice before Action, etc. Pepipoo does, read some clamping threads on this link first - there are lots of them on pepipoo - and read the FAQs before posting. Don't forget they will want to see pictures (as per other clamping threads):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

HTH

Coupon-mad

I found the cases where two local TS separately got rogue clampers jailed very recently. These cases may help you force through similar action in your area.

I posted about it (as SchoolRunMum) on a shocking clamping thread on pepipoo here (worth reading all four or more pages on that thread, even though it's a different bunch of crooks):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=51561&st=0

QUOTE
Some Trading Standards will follow through and get rogue clampers jailed. Wolverhampton TS did recently:

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/n....cfm/newsid/443

and then Birmingham TS are in the news as getting a bully-boy clamper jailed:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

QUOTE

Refer your local TS to these cases and ask why they are not taking similar action. If your local TS isn't willing to look into those cases and find similarities that they can apply to bringing down RCS - then ask why on earth not? Take it to the local press. Complain to the Police about their inaction against illegal activity, show them the cases above to demonstrate that bullying clamping tactics ARE illegal. RCS are not bailiffs so the Police have no business to support their protection racket.

I think TS can even make money from taking such action as they are entitled to a wedge from any ill-gotten gains seized after the Court finds them guilty of certain offences. So there is something in it for TS to sort these scammers out, quite apart from the fact they are ripping people off and need removing from the streets.

BTW, when you post on pepipoo, start your own thread, don't post on that linked thread.

Good luck.