Endeavour Vehicle Services strike again. Towed at Stansted Airport

vaclove

Hello Everybody,
I went through quite unpleasant experince yesterday. I left my car unattended for ca 3 minutes at drop off zone at Stansted airport (my fault).
When I came back, vehicle was surrounded by staff from Endeavor Vehicle sevices and they were lifting it up. One of the guys was just starting with paperwork. The only way to gat the car back down was to pay a fee of £180.
I have received a receipt stating that I have paid £180. I have not signed anything. I did not receive any information why I was charged, based on what regulations etc.
The situation was clearly hat the Tow Car (of private comapny) was waiting there for me (or anyone else) to leave the car so they can act immediatelly. They have lifted the car even before issuing any sort of ticket.

Does anyone have a same experince? I have found a similar thread by person being towed at Luton, but there were no conclusions how it finally went.

I strongly feel that it is unfair to charge such high fee for basically nothing. Yes, I was not in the car when they have lifted it, but they really did not waste any time to do that.
Or should I call my bank and try to cancel the transaction it possible?

Any suggestions on how to appeal and to whom actually?

Many thanks

The_Slithy_Tove

There are probably Bylaws covering the airport, which make towing legal (unlike elsewhere).

peter_the_piper

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4252189
Worth a read and I suggest you also put this onto pepipoo.com in the clamping section.

ILW

You left a car unattended is a high security area of an airport. What do you expect?

atilla

ILW wrote: »

You left a car unattended is a high security area of an airport. What do you expect?

Well, if it's considered a security threat then the BiB and the bomb squad.

System

ILW wrote: »

You left a car unattended is a high security area of an airport. What do you expect?

If it is a high security area then the LAST thing that should happen is a private company towing the vehicle away!

peter_the_piper

What time limit do the signs at the drop off point give you, eg dropping off disabled people etc.? IIRC endeavour do not have an O license for towing non abandoned vehicles.

Stroma

ILW wrote: »

You left a car unattended is a high security area of an airport. What do you expect?

If it is a high security area then absolutely no vehicles should be there! This is a money making process and there is probably no bylaws there specifically say towing can be done like Luton Airport. No bylaw would mean this is an illegal tow on private land.

Suggest that OP post on https://www.pepipoo.com about this.

surfboy1

Wasn't it Endeavour Vehicle Services that has recently been spanked in court over an illegal tow away?
Although different circumstances i think.
Cost them a lot of money i believe.
Maybe they are trying to recoup that loss.

jkdd77

The_Slithy_Tove wrote: »

There are probably Bylaws covering the airport, which make towing legal (unlike elsewhere).

Some airports (perhaps the majority) do have such byelaws to authorise clamping and towing, and some don't.

I tried to look at the Stansted Airport byelaws at: https://www.pnld.co.uk/docportal/content/@1324.htm
but it appears that they are password protected(!), although none of the 'titles' of the various byelaws appear to refer to clamping or towing.

Without such 'lawful authority' from byelaws, towing for a ransom would be a criminal offence, but we won't know for sure whether an offence has been committed without seeing a full copy of the byelaws.

The OP could probably make a written request for a copy of the byelaws, although I am not completely certain whether a private airport would fall under the FoI Act.

ILW

atilla wrote: »

Well, if it's considered a security threat then the BiB and the bomb squad.

So close the airport due to some inconsiderate !!!!!!!!?

Got everything he deserved in my opinion.

It says no leaving unattended vehicles for a very good reason.