My Car Broke Down and Police Recovery Took It To Compound

Warwick_Hunt

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

The money payable (both the towing and storage) is only meant to cover the costs incurred so there shouldn't be any profit to go to the police.

It's not profit, its money to cover police costs.

shaun_from_Africa

Warwick_Hunt wrote: »

It's not profit, its money to cover police costs.

Isn't that exactly what I stated?

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

The money payable (both the towing and storage) is only meant to cover the costs incurred so there shouldn't be any profit to go to the police.

Norman_Castle

The police insisting the car is moved as they think its dangerous is understandable but surely it could be moved to somewhere safe or a nearby location as requested by the driver. Why should the recovery company choose where it is recovered to?

TH71

This Government regulations needs reviewing for a vehicle breakdown to which the driver does not leave the scene

Police Recovery called

• Abandoned vehicle - YES FAIR ENOUGH
• No Tax/Insurance - YES FAIR ENOUGH
• No Breakdown Cover so have to pay tow away fee - YES FAIR ENOUGH
• Have Breakdown Cover - NO NOT FAIR

TH71

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

I know that road & the surrounding area very well - I live about a mile & a half away myself.

Thing is at around 5.15 every evening bar the weekend, the traffic is always at a snails pace there

Norman_Castle wrote: »

The police insisting the car is moved as they think its dangerous is understandable but surely it could be moved to somewhere safe or a nearby location as requested by the driver. Why should the recovery company choose where it is recovered to?

This is what is angering us. It broke down around a mile from our home and repair garage

phillw

TH71 wrote: »

But why have they taken it 15 miles away and locked it up in a compound?

To make sure they get your money

TH71 wrote: »

The information the officer gave when she turned up about the recovery process was false.

A cynical man like myself would assume that they get a commission. At the very least they told you anything to get you to comply. Don't believe what they say, the police are allowed to lie to you.

Your mistake was telling them it would take up to an hour. If the car was safely off the road you should have sat in the car and locked the doors until your recovery turned up and refused to let theirs take it.

System

Warwick_Hunt wrote: »

Under what law could they take it?

Section 99 of the Road Traffic Act. A vehicle deemed to be causing an obstruction or a danger will be removed under the Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The owner may reclaim his or her vehicle from the garage concerned upon payment of the statutory fees.

When the police call a recovery company to tow you the only option is to storage because that is what the rules the government made say the recovery company have to do. The fee is a flat one that is the same no matter where you are in the country and is one set by the government.

System

Norman_Castle wrote: »

The police insisting the car is moved as they think its dangerous is understandable but surely it could be moved to somewhere safe or a nearby location as requested by the driver. Why should the recovery company choose where it is recovered to?

They don't. Government regulations, as well as setting the statutory fees, require any recovery vehicle recovering a vehicle on orders of the police to recover it to their storage compound. This is to prevent unscrupulous recovery companies from taking advantage.

TH71

phillw wrote: »

Your mistake was telling them it would take up to an hour. With the car safely off the road you should have sat in the car until your recovery turned up and refused to let theirs take it.

That is what we said after. In future it will always be about 30 minutes

Just had a google around and there a quite a few that have experiencing what we are. Here for one https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10&t=136225&i=0

Tarambor wrote: »

They don't. Government regulations, as well as setting the statutory fees, require any recovery vehicle recovering a vehicle on orders of the police to recover it to their storage compound. This is to prevent unscrupulous recovery companies from taking advantage.

Well this needs reviewing as I mentioned a few posts back. We are not talking a unattended vehicle or stolen car.

And just to be clear, the car was taken to the recovery services compound and not any police compound

Wig

Tarambor wrote: »

Section 99 of the Road Traffic Act. A vehicle deemed to be causing an obstruction or a danger will be removed under the Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The owner may reclaim his or her vehicle from the garage concerned upon payment of the statutory fees.

When the police call a recovery company to tow you the only option is to storage because that is what the rules the government made say the recovery company have to do. The fee is a flat one that is the same no matter where you are in the country and is one set by the government.

And so Warwick, Under what law would the OP have had a choice?