Police have had my car towed away without my consent. Do I have to pay for this?

KGR54

My car was parked legally on the street in Brighton but when I returned to leave town it was missing. I found out from the traffic wardens that the police had instructed a contractor to take my car away because it has been hit by anothger vehicle and it is severley damaged.

The car is in a private compound and I have received a registered letter telling me that I owe this company £300 for towing charges and I will have to pay them £26 per day until I remove the car. If I don't pay their charges and remove the car within 14 days they will destroy it.

The police ordered the company to remove my vehicle without my agreement by a contractor that is charging an extortionate amount.

I have committed no offence and have only third party insurance. I have no contract with this company. The police can't tell me the details of the vehicle that hit my car as the relevant officer hasn't filled in the paperwork and so I cannot contact that vehicle's insurer.

Am I liable to pay these charges?

Can a third party destroy my car against my wishes?

Is the other vehicle's registered keeper liable for the damage and costs caused by their vehicle?

Please help as soon as possible as this is a current ongoing dilema.

Gr1pr

Please go and join the ftla parking forum ASAP and post your query in the appropriate section on that forum, once you have read their posting requirements for new topics 

So its the Free Traffic and Legal Advice forum 

Brie

The other car's insurance should be paying for repairs, damages and likely expenses so I'd start by reporting it to your insurance so they know there's been an accident.  They should take it from there.

KGR54

Thanks Brie. The problem is the insurance is third party only and the insurers have no interest in the matter nor will they provide any advice. The breakdown cover won't help because it isn't a mechanical breakdown.

Half_way

breakdown cover company may have a legal advice service for members.
 
if the vehicle was damaged, but not presenting an immediate hazzard or danger to other vehicles /road users is it's not going to catch fire or leak toxic substances then it should have been left.
 If you have a dashcam it may have recorded the crash with motion detection on

But essentially take this to the ftla forum as there are a few ex (current?) pepipoo posters there with police service/exierience

Gr1pr

Although your vehicle is insured third party, it was parked and damaged by another vehicle, who may or may not have insurance, so their insurance should be liable for your third party damages etc , their fault, their problem , their minimum insurance would be third party, that third party is your vehicle, so you

If they were not insured, then it gets more complicated, but the ftla parking forum should be able to provide proper advice 

elsien

Except the OP needs the other parties  details Which they haven’t got as yet.

What have you done to chase the police up?

KGR54

The immediate problem is the inaction of the Sussex police

KGR54

Hi Half_way,

I can't work out how you can reply to someone's response on this forum.

Similarly, the Free Traffic Legal Advice forum is equallty abstruce.

But thanks for the advice

Umkomaas

Similarly, the Free Traffic Legal Advice forum is equallty abstruce.

Can you try that one again please❓

Coupon-mad

KGR54 said:

The immediate problem is the inaction of the Sussex police

Tell me about it...!  Been there done that.