Towed at the drop off at Luton airport

maninthestreet

Rachelkoo wrote: »

I had the same penalty, I was so desperate and needed to go for a whee, came back in 5 min litterally to find out that my car is about to be towed. Am I supposed to urinate in public to avoid leaving the car unattended???

When did this occur??

Joe22

Rachelkoo wrote: »

I had the same penalty, I was so desperate and needed to go for a whee, came back in 5 min litterally to find out that my car is about to be towed. Am I supposed to urinate in public to avoid leaving the car unattended???

Hi guys,

I did the same thing and had to pay £180 to release my car! Didn't know I can't leave my car unattended and the sign next to my car wasn't clear enough to help me (see photo) and I am planning to appeal on that ground. Does anybody think I have a chance against these well trained/prepared solicitors? If so, can anybody help me to write an short appeal letter PLEASE?

dropbox.com/s/z17brup0q88oucu/IMG_0615.jpg?m

ManxRed

An appeal won't work - there is no incentive for them (a profit making business, and a grubby one at that) for simply hand back your money.

I would suggest that legal action is your best bet but discussions around how to best construct a case for this are ongoing in other threads and over on www.pepipoo.com - I suggest you wander over and have a look.

Coupon-mad

Joe22 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I did the same thing and had to pay £180 to release my car! Didn't know I can't leave my car unattended and the sign next to my car wasn't clear enough to help me (see photo) and I am planning to appeal on that ground. Does anybody think I have a chance against these well trained/prepared solicitors? If so, can anybody help me to write an short appeal letter PLEASE?

dropbox.com/s/z17brup0q88oucu/IMG_0615.jpg?m

Yep it's an illegal towing we believe but no-one has so far taken them to Court over this purely because the law only changed in October. Post on pepipoo asap.

Here's the pic of your sign as a clicky link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z17brup0q88oucu/IMG_0615.jpg

and here's the right forum to post your case on pepipoo:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60

On pepipoo you can add pics to your new thread straight away and you will need to show them all sides of the paperwork you were given as well. They would prefer direct pics on the thread (not links) so read their FAQs first about 'how to post pictures'.

Joe22

Thank you very much guys. I will post on pepipoo as Coupon-mad advised.

kameleon6935

I also had to pay £180 fine for leaving my car unattended at Stansted airport and I also desperately had to run to use the bathroom facilities. It took me 3min to come back to my car to see it about to be towed away. I told the person who `issued` a ticket (he didnt have any kind of identification displayed and he was still `producing` my ticket) about my desperation act and all he said was that I shouldnt have used the facilities inside the terminal but the toilet situated by the bus stop ( i wish I knew that). There is nothing he can do and I have to pay otherwise my car is gonna be taken away. Anyway, the point is that I didnt want to break any law, I saw the big, `inviting` sign stating the charges and indicating a fine of £50 for staying longer than 15min but I didnt spot the sign `do not leave your car unattended until the guy pointed at it. He couldnt even tell me exactly what was written on that small, blue sign with black small letters when I asked him to do so. I would have asked my brother, who i dropped at the airport, to stay in the car and wait for me if I knew I cant leave my car there. The whole `experience` from entering to leaving the car park took around 15min (most time however was spent on the discussion with the person issuing the ticket) Anyway, I wrote an appeal and Im waiting for their reply. it seems that Im not the only one who has a problem with E.V.S. Tomorrow I`ll call VOSA and also Im tempted to write to BBC Watchdog. Is there anything else I can do?

The_Slithy_Tove

kameleon6935 wrote: »

Is there anything else I can do?

Report the illegal tow to the police. They'll fob you off, but insist on a crime number. Eventually te may "get it".

And once your appal is rejected, as it will be, sue the b******s.

pustit

I don't think they would tow you away - that is too much work for them !
They simply pounce on your car as soon as you walk away, lift it then stand and wait for you to return to make payment.

Coupon-mad

kameleon6935 wrote: »

I also had to pay £180 fine for leaving my car unattended at Stansted airport and I also desperately had to run to use the bathroom facilities. It took me 3min to come back to my car to see it about to be towed away. I told the person who `issued` a ticket (he didnt have any kind of identification displayed and he was still `producing` my ticket) about my desperation act and all he said was that I shouldnt have used the facilities inside the terminal but the toilet situated by the bus stop ( i wish I knew that). There is nothing he can do and I have to pay otherwise my car is gonna be taken away. Anyway, the point is that I didnt want to break any law, I saw the big, `inviting` sign stating the charges and indicating a fine of £50 for staying longer than 15min but I didnt spot the sign `do not leave your car unattended until the guy pointed at it. He couldnt even tell me exactly what was written on that small, blue sign with black small letters when I asked him to do so. I would have asked my brother, who i dropped at the airport, to stay in the car and wait for me if I knew I cant leave my car there. The whole `experience` from entering to leaving the car park took around 15min (most time however was spent on the discussion with the person issuing the ticket) Anyway, I wrote an appeal and Im waiting for their reply. it seems that Im not the only one who has a problem with E.V.S. Tomorrow I`ll call VOSA and also Im tempted to write to BBC Watchdog.

Is there anything else I can do?

You check out the similar cases on pepipoo forums by searching, and you then sue the towaway company and the Airport. ILLEGAL TOW.