Clamping - over £1000 for ringing a bell for delivery

DailyClicker

Just wanted a little bit of advise, I know about Visa Chargeback, and Small Claims Court - but how can illegal clampers be told to move on?

I live down a small private road owned by Sainsburys, which usually has no issues. Over the last 4 weeks, a clamping company has come and put up signs, some with permission and some without.

They use very unfair techniques, following behind cars and waiting for them to do a three point turn, and blocking them from exitting and clamping them.

They are extremely abusive, and threaten with violence. Police do not want to get involved, and even after asking them to take the signs down on the land they have not been asked to cover, they have refused.

Today, a delivery van pulled up to a local newsagent (back road) - this has been fine for the last 10 years. He got out to ring the bell, so he could get the gate open and reverse the truck into the yard.

His first two wheels were over the entrance to a parking bay, which sign had been put up a couple of days ago. The clamping started as soon as he got out of the vehicle, as he was followed down the private road.

The clampers often sit at the end of the road, in un-marked vehicles, and block and start clamping without even asking people to move on. A friend put a plastic cone across the parking space to warn people not to park in there, but they have removed this and put it a couple of streets away, trying to get people to park in there.

I understand he shouldn't of stopped, but being charged over £1000 for this is unacceptable. He paid via Visa Credit Card, and have called up the bank on his behalf but they wouldn't stop the transaction and have advised him to fax through for a Visa Chargeback, but this cannot be guaranteed.

What can be done to get rid of these illegal and clampers who are bullying people down this small private road? I'm more than happy for a company who work fairly, and if you park in a bay for more than 2 mins, yes you should be clamped.

Any advise would be appreciated.

king100

Sort of lost on the small private road owned by Sainsburys?

Who has asked them to be there?

Have you checked with Sainsburys?

Are you sure Sainsburys own the road?

If they have asked them to be there I would be inclined to complain to Sainsbury.

If they are illegal, then I would one remove all signange that they have put up.

If I ever saw them I would report to police that some dodgy looking guys are waiting in a vehicle.

Print off some leaflets if you have spare time and stand at top of road handing them out to anyone that passes by the road.

Find out what company they work for.

They have to be registered to clamp.

Inform you local MP.

Just a few suggestions.

king100

DailyClicker wrote: »

They use very unfair techniques, following behind cars and waiting for them to do a three point turn, and blocking them from exitting and clamping them.

They are extremely abusive, and threaten with violence. Police do not want to get involved, and even after asking them to take the signs down on the land they have not been asked to cover, they have refused.

Police should really respond to threatening behaviour.

Just another idea.

Buy a set of bolt cutters, see a clamp cut it off and run.

king100

I understand he shouldn't of stopped, but being charged over £1000 for this is unacceptable. He paid via Visa Credit Card, and have called up the bank on his behalf but they wouldn't stop the transaction and have advised him to fax through for a Visa Chargeback, but this cannot be guaranteed.

On this point he must insist that he was under duress when this payment was made, tell him to continue to do this and get on the back of his bank.

DailyClicker

king100 wrote: »

Police should really respond to threatening behaviour.

Just another idea.

Buy a set of bolt cutters, see a clamp cut it off and run.

Thanks again for your reply.

Police do respond, but when the Police come, the clampers soon calm down, and even open the door on the Police's van. There was 2 of the clamping small 'patrol' vans, and one of their delivery trucks, and around 8 of them to deal with one

This is the second time they have been called out down this private road that I have witnessed.

I understand that because it's a 'civil' not 'criminal' issue then the Police can only be there to prevent any violence.

DailyClicker

king100 wrote: »

I understand he shouldn't of stopped, but being charged over £1000 for this is unacceptable. He paid via Visa Credit Card, and have called up the bank on his behalf but they wouldn't stop the transaction and have advised him to fax through for a Visa Chargeback, but this cannot be guaranteed.

On this point he must insist that he was under duress when this payment was made, tell him to continue to do this and get on the back of his bank.

I called up his bank on his behalf, and pressed them to stop the payment immediately but because it was not fraud they claimed they couldn't.

I informed them that he had to pay the amount, as they were extremely threatening and he was scared of their behaviour, and paid to get them to leave. (Didn't use the exact phrase duress though)

daveyjp

Call Trading Standards. They will prosecute clampers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/birmingham/10165899.stm

I would also do some work in trying to find out who has employed them - it could be no one and they have taken it on themselves to 'police' this stretch of road and make money from it.

king100

DailyClicker wrote: »

Thanks again for your reply.

Police do respond, but when the Police come, the clampers soon calm down, and even open the door on the Police's van. There was 2 of the clamping small 'patrol' vans, and one of their delivery trucks, and around 8 of them to deal with one

This is the second time they have been called out down this private road that I have witnessed.

I understand that because it's a 'civil' not 'criminal' issue then the Police can only be there to prevent any violence.

Civil matter yes, I would suggest that the element of criminal is

"paying under duress"

basacially they are holding a loaded gun to you and saying you need to pay £1000, holding you to ransom.

What is the company called that is clamping?

Has Sainsbury asked them to clamp?


Have you also tried trading standards as well, they might help.

You need to find out as much information as possible.

Also maybe take pictures of their vans and equipment, they dont appreciate that.

DailyClicker

king100 wrote: »

Sort of lost on the small private road owned by Sainsburys?

Yes, it's like a delivery road for Sainsburys. Quite a small road, one side backs onto the car park fence, and the other side is where the shops/houses are (back entrance to shops)

Who has asked them to be there?

I'm 99% that the road and side along the fence belongs to Sainsburys, as there were cars parked there on double yellow lines that do not get clamped.

The landlord of the properties doesn't want to get involved, he rents out the properties and I believe this clamping firm has approached them and offers to clamp people parked or those who drive over their land.

Have you checked with Sainsburys?

I asked the Store Manager to come out, he was very confused and didn't really want to get involved. By clamping this delivery van, it prevented two Sainsburys delivery lorries from getting past, but the clampers went into the local shops and asked who was parked on Sainsburys side and threatened that he would clamp them if they didn't move. (They have no control over Sainsburys side)

Are you sure Sainsburys own the road?

Not 100%, but will confirm this. Two wheels were on the road, and two were just over the other bay. (He was out of the vehicle for at most, 20 seconds)

If they have asked them to be there I would be inclined to complain to Sainsbury.

Yes, I'll be speaking to Sainsburys about letting these clampers come down their private road.

If they are illegal, then I would one remove all signange that they have put up.

I've considered this, but do not want to get in trouble myself.

If I ever saw them I would report to police that some dodgy looking guys are waiting in a vehicle.

Police really aren't interested in these cases. The officer was extremely friendly with the clampers even though he agreed £1,000 is far too much for a clamp

Print off some leaflets if you have spare time and stand at top of road handing them out to anyone that passes by the road.

I'll be doing this from next Friday, around this road and around Sainsburys and the other private roads that they operate around this area.

Find out what company they work for.

I have but their 'office' telephone number does not pick up, and they do not respond to disputes even when sent via Special Delivery. They have featured on Watchdog for clamping those who own the actual land numerous times and not refunding/unclamping.

They have to be registered to clamp.

They all have SIA registered badges

Inform you local MP.

Will do, but is it likely they will look into this as it's down a private road?


Thanks again for your help with this

anewman

DailyClicker wrote: »

They use very unfair techniques, following behind cars and waiting for them to do a three point turn, and blocking them from exitting and clamping them.

If this happened to me they'd have the car moving while they clamped it, or be treated to a slam of my door in their face.

DailyClicker

daveyjp wrote: »

Call Trading Standards. They will prosecute clampers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/birmingham/10165899.stm

I would also do some work in trying to find out who has employed them - it could be no one and they have taken it on themselves to 'police' this stretch of road and make money from it.

The landlord has claimed he has not asked them to patrol down this road. But he believes the individual properties who he has rented out have been approached by these clampers, probably offering a free clamping service for the money they make.

Who is responsible? The landlord or those who are renting/leasing the property/land?