Was I right to be towed?

Skurwix101

I recently used a car sharing service and left the car in what I believed to be a regular parking spot on the road. This was on a Saturday on a quiet (no other cars around whatsoever) industrial road with no businesses open.

I returned to the car to find it gone about an hour later. I noticed there was a P sign with a truck underneath. At this point I contacted the company who were apologetic (the car wasn’t booked by me at this point so wasn’t my responsibility) and just booked another car.

I’ve just received a towing invoice from the car sharing company who have paid a £265 fine on my behalf which they are claiming as well as a £25 admin fee.

My question is, is it legal that I was towed from a spot with ONLY ONE sign nearby with a P and a truck underneath it!? It seems outrageous to me that there would be no towing warning or even a sign saying TRUCKS ONLY or NO PARKING for example and they can still manage to tow me for a fortune. It was towed my harringay council so not from a private land owner.

Pretty unlucky for me as there were no other cars around and plenty of regular spots. 2-3 meters further down and I’d have been fine. I guess these towers work on commission..

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

waamo

Who are responsible for towing you? Was it the local council or police?

Aylesbury_Duck

Skurwix101 wrote: »

I recently used a car sharing service and left the car in what I believed to be a regular parking spot on the road. This was on a Saturday on a quiet (no other cars around whatsoever) industrial road with no businesses open.

I returned to the car to find it gone about an hour later. I noticed there was a P sign with a truck underneath. At this point I contacted the company who were apologetic (the car wasn’t booked by me at this point so wasn’t my responsibility) and just booked another car.

I’ve just received a towing invoice from the car sharing company who have paid a £265 fine on my behalf which they are claiming as well as a £25 admin fee.

My question is, is it legal that I was towed from a spot with ONLY ONE sign nearby with a P and a truck underneath it!? It seems outrageous to me that there would be no towing warning or even a sign saying TRUCKS ONLY or NO PARKING for example and they can still manage to tow me for a fortune. It was towed my harringay council so not from a private land owner.

Pretty unlucky for me as there were no other cars around and plenty of regular spots. 2-3 meters further down and I’d have been fine. I guess these towers work on commission..

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I don't understand the contradiction between these two sentences. If it wasn't your responsibility and the car-sharing company apologised, why are they passing the bill onto you?

unholyangel

waamo wrote: »

Who are responsible for towing you? Was it the local council or police?

OP says it was the council.

However this could get quite complicated as theres not just what the council are allowed to do to consider but also what the terms of the contract he has with the car share company.

Skurwix101

Apologies, what I mean Is that as I hadn’t had the car booked when it was towed, my rental had ended and available to other users), no liability was given to me at the time. The car sharing company thought there was a technical error and another user must’ve picked the car up. Obviously once it was discorvered to be towed, I was held responsible as the last driver. I added this detail in as regular car owners obviously realise straight away and deal with the fine themselves. I on the other hand am pretty surprised to get this invoice for nearly £300 a few weeks later.

EdGasketTheSecond

You might get a better response on the parking sub-forum. If there were not adequate markings/signage then you may be able to successfully defend it.

dacouch

Can you post a photo of the sign

Skurwix101

imgur.com/a/TzaAzfE

(sorry it wont let me link it as im a new user!)

Here's a photo of the sign (visible on left) and the whole area. I was parked on the same side as the sign.

missile

I think you are bang to rights, unless you can find some technicality which lets you off the hook.

Arklight

That looks more to me like you are meant to park there. It has a bay outlined and a P sign.

Unfortunately the car share company have already paid the fine.

Robin9

P with a sign a lorry means Lorry Parking (not cars)