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Warning - apcoa - must see

Hi all!


I am posting/starting this thread to warn drivers of action I saw a member of APCOA staff take today.


APCOA - Who run my local train station parking placed a ticket on a car, and then walked off, when I returned and was waiting in my car for someones train to come in, a plain white van pulled up in front of the unattended car that received a ticket and pulled up close in front of him to box him in, even though he was not in/by his/her car, I can only think they did this to prevent anyone who came back driving off.


A bloke then got out of the car with a bit of paper and the ticket bloke came over.

The member of
APCOA staff signed a sheet of paper and then the guy opened the back of his van up and proceeded to CLAMP ALL FOUR WHEELS.

He was there a good 10-15 minutes fixing wheel clamps to all his wheels and then placed a 'DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THIS VEHICLE' Notice to the windscreen.
He then drove off!

It would appear that he did not have a ticket of any kind, although I have double checked and the station is NOT covered my the Railway by-law, therefore appears
APCOA are attempting more intimating tactics.

On passing the train station again this evening, I looked as I went past and the car is still there, so appears the owner is yet unaware.

I wanted to warn others that
APCOA appear now to be clamping cars, although there parking 'invoices' are completely UNENFORCEABLE!!!!!!


Drivers beware!
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Comments

  • sarahg1969
    sarahg1969 Posts: 6,694 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I wonder if they charged for the removal of four clamps??!! lol
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    sarahg1969 wrote: »
    I wonder if they charged for the removal of four clamps??!! lol


    No ideal Sarah!

    But I know that if I came back to find my car with one clamp on not alone four, I'd be making calls!

    I'd advise anyone who gets into this kind of problem to ring the Police, unless your clamped by the Council or Police/VOSA.

    Another bit of advice, there is a way of removing wheel clamps YOURSELF, without causing ANY damage to the clamp (Criminal damage offence will not apply)
  • ""I'd advise anyone who gets into this kind of problem to ring the Police""
    Sorry Sir, but its a civil matter"" will be all you get. The best thing to do is to put a ticket on the car with this and pepipoo's web address. At least the poor b***erd will stand a chance of getting their money back. I'd love to see someone send an NBA to a rail company.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • steve1500
    steve1500 Posts: 1,449 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    So how do you get the clamp off without causing damage - unless of course, you are a master locksmith
    Private Parking Tickets - Make sure you put your Subject Access Request in after 25th May 2018 - It's free & ask for everything, don't forget the DVLA :D
  • Fergie76
    Fergie76 Posts: 2,293 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    steve1500 wrote: »
    So how do you get the clamp off without causing damage - unless of course, you are a master locksmith

    I don't know how clamps are actually locked on, but if it's a padlock, is it not just a case of breaking the padlock and then replacing with a new one? Therefore no damage to actual clamp.
  • kwaks
    kwaks Posts: 494 Forumite
    They are fixed with a padlock, however you would be in line for a criminal damage charge if you broke theirs. However replacing a £40 (high quality) padlock is cheaper than their release fee ;)

    Remember that it is a release fee. If you know a locksmith who is not intimidated by these clowns I am sure his costs would be lower than theirs.

    In addition there seems to be plenty of unknown faceless strangers roaming the streets nowadays with battery angle grinders.

    Short of dropping the suspension, there isnt much else you can do, if you CAN drop the suspension yourself then for the comedy value alone its best to have a policeman standing by as you do it in front of the clampers ;)...no damage and obviously no release fee!
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    No, you simply let your tyre down enough to pull the top of the wheel clamp off - doesn't work for all of them but some it will!

    You need to only allow enough air out of the Tyre to be able to drive off with, but there made from steel and are weak at the top, pulling it will give you some room to play with.

    Failing that, the padlock, simply use a lump hammer, that will cause the locking pin to fail - quite often the padlock is only a Yale, which you can replace for little under £20 cash!
  • anewman
    anewman Posts: 9,200 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    On removing clamps without damage, it depends on how they attach them to the car. If it is a metal chain wrapped around the lower wishbone and/or track rod end on front wheels, then you can undo those and often have enough room to remove the chain. Much easier to target the padlock though.

    BTW I noticed Yale padlocks are currently on sale in Homebase.
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you do damage the wheel clamp, take it with you ;)a
  • Dave101t
    Dave101t Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    did the car in question actually have a valid ticket on display?
    if the car park doesnt say clamping in operation, the clamps are vandalism and the police can intervene.
    if the clamps are from the licences company running the car park and its all above board, he is screwed!
    but if its not a council run car park, bolt cutters for the padlocks, clamps in the nearest skip, and drive away!
    Target Savings by end 2009: 20,000
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