Impounded Trailer

squirehorse

Can anyone offer advise? My husband was driving my car (which he is obviously insured on) and had an accident on the A12, car was fine, trailer axle broke (trailer was looked after and it wasn't foreseen) so trailer was more of less knackered and not going anywhere. Essex Police came and asked if we wanted to use their pick up truck services to get the trailer home. It was a very dodgy place it had happened so we said yes but wanted a price first. They rang through and said £200, when they arrived they also said £200 (they knew the address, milage ect). a short way into the journey they stopped and said actually they now want another £100! Apparently the manager had made a mistake! Yeah right, a scam more like like! Anyway we said we didn't have the money and only had £200 but they wouldn't have any of it so took the trailer back to their lock up, but allowed us to take the contents out. They took my husbands photo without his permission and also of the car. We didnt pay them any money but they said it would be either £200 tomorrow or/and a daily fee till we get the trailer. The trailer isnt worth more than £40 or £50 and cant be towed so, after our treatment, I've a good mind to leave the trailer there and tell them to shove it! However i am worried this is not a good idea. Anyone with any experience of this, did they just scrap your car/ trailer, did they send the baliffs out or take you to Court. I presume they can trace a address through the dvla? NB - i complained to Essex Police and they were absolutely not interested in the fact we had been scammed by a company THEY used, couldn't have cared less!

squirehorse

I have emailed the company and written a letter explaining we agreed £200 and feel ripped off, i have also written a complaint to Essex Police.

TrickyWicky

You waited 19 minutes before posting a second topic about the same thing on a saturday night. Do you not perhaps think that you might be expecting a little bit too much by wanting an instant answer when many people are out socialising?

Chopper_Read

squirehorse wrote: »

I have emailed the company and written a letter explaining we agreed £200 and feel ripped off, i have also written a complaint to Essex Police.

What's your complaint with the police? They appear to have done nothing wrong.

Johno100

Chopper_Read wrote: »

What's your complaint with the police? They appear to have done nothing wrong.

I for one would think the police would like to know if one of the contractors they use are ripping off members of the public.

squirehorse

You would think so wouldnt you but they didnt want to know!

Chopper_Read

Johno100 wrote: »

I for one would think the police would like to know if one of the contractors they use are ripping off members of the public.

Is that a complaint about the police or a civil matter?

Johno100

Chopper_Read wrote: »

Is that a complaint about the police or a civil matter?

It would be a complaint to the police about their agents. If they are ripping members of the public off, imagine what flankers they maybe pulling on jobs they are doing directly for the police i.e. the tax payer.

Chopper_Read

Johno100 wrote: »

It would be a complaint to the police about their agents. If they are ripping members of the public off, imagine what flankers they maybe pulling on jobs they are doing directly for the police i.e. the tax payer.

It's a civil matter and I have already started their fees on behalf of the tax payer. Theses are national fees.

forgotmyname

There maybe a charge for storage and disposal of the trailer though.

Ratboy

I can understand your frustration regarding this, but you state that the trailer is not worth anything.

So give it up, let them scrap it. Job done.

Then there is no comeback for storage charges etc, as they have your details.

I don't understand why the recovery company would need to take your pictures, or those of your vehicle, unless, as I suspect, you went down there kicking off and abusing them, and they needed that as evidence.

It all sounds like a storm in a teacup. Buy a decent trailer that works, that doesn't cause accidents, hold up the public, or use the emergency services, when they can be deployed elsewhere.