Police towed our car from outside our house - now we have to pay?

scarlet74

I deliberately had to simplify the title to make it fit, but I hope somebody might be able to offer some advice! On Friday night while we were out, our car window was smashed and the door partially bent back by somebody trying to break in to it. This was on the street right outside our house. When we got home at 2.30 am (!) the car had gone, and there was a note from the police in our letterbox sying that they had arranged to have it towed away to prevent further damage.

At first I thought they had done us a favour, stopping anyone setting it on fire for a laugh, etc. On Tuesdsay, we had a letter from the recovery agency, stating they they had removed the vehicle under the instruction of the Chief Constable of South Wales Police under the Road Traffic Regualtions Act 1984, as "the vehicle had either been causing an obstruction or danger, or had been abandoned. As the registerd last keeper you are responsible for the statutory fees incurred".

There was also a lovely notice that we had to collect the vehicle withing seven days, or it would be scrapped. £200 or so for the recovery fee, plus and extra £20 per day. Nice.

My understanding is that the damage was not extensive, and we certainly didn't ask for it to be towed away. On top of the repair work, we now have an extra £250 or more to cough up for something that was beyond our control, which we can't afford - plus the car is only insured for about £250 as it cost even less than that.

Are we really liable for this fee, or should the bill be directed to the police? The insurance won't cover the repair and the recovery fee, and maybe we should just cut our losses and let them keep the car, or pay the recovery fee off the insurance and sell the unrepaired car for scrap. I should maybe point out that it is my girlfriend's car, and she has only been driving for about six months, whilst I can't drive at all - so we are already a bit out of our depth!

thescouselander

I'm not entirely sure about this but I'm think I heard that even if you let the recovery company scrap the car you are still liable for the recivery fee. Its all a bit of a ripoff if you ask me but I'm note sure how far you'll get contesting it.

somech

its called fire prevention and no the police wont pay.
i would question the charges as it was removed under police powers not owners request.
would it make you feel better if some little scrote set fire to it instead. also if you let them keep it they will bill you for the charges.

Hintza

somech wrote: »

would it make you feel better if some little scrote set fire to it instead. also if you let them keep it they will bill you for the charges.

Probably...lol. At least the insurance would pay out.

maninthestreet

Given that motorists pay £40BN pounds a year in duty and taxes, then you would have thought that would cover costs like this, wouldn't you?

somech

maninthestreet wrote: »

Given that motorists pay £40BN pounds a year in duty and taxes, then you would have thought that would cover costs like this, wouldn't you?

wishfull thinking.

also i will just add that if anyone thinks the recovery agent are on to a winner. trust me their not

missile

If I were you, I would write to the chief constable. I doubt you will get the charges back, but worth a try?

maninthestreet

somech wrote: »

also i will just add that if anyone thinks the recovery agent are on to a winner. trust me their not

£200 for recovery, plus £20/day storage sounds a nice little earner to me.
Remember, the OP's girlfriend is a VICTIM of crime, but has been asked to cough up hundreds of pounds by the authorities as a result.

somech

maninthestreet wrote: »

£200 for recovery, plus £20/day storage sounds a nice little earner to me.
Remember, the OP's girlfriend is a VICTIM of crime, but has been asked to cough up hundreds of pounds by the authorities as a result.

minus management fee
also all police recovery charges are set by the police and not the recovery agent.
if its such a nice earner lots of very proffesional recovery firms would'nt be going bust.

thescouselander

This is blatantly a con - there have been others on here who have been sucked into the same trap. How about the bloke who had his car crashed into outside his house - the police towed it even though they could have knocked on his door and go him to deal with it but no, that was all to much effort for them

Its a disgrace that the police should be punishing crime victims - they are no better than the criminals.

anewman

somech wrote: »

minus management fee
also all police recovery charges are set by the police and not the recovery agent.
if its such a nice earner lots of very proffesional recovery firms would'nt be going bust.

And if it wasn't a nice earner they wouldn't be doing the job. You have a tow truck, all you have to do is drive to a destination, lift a car, and take it to the destination. £200 for potentially well under 2 hours work, wish I could get that sort of cash.