Clampers!

[Samej]

If you get clamped carry out the following
1/ Jack up car as if changeing tyre
2/Let down tyre
3/remove clamp
4/remove wheel
5/replace with spare
6/drive off leaving clamp
7/pump up spare
Job done

 

[drew]

I did try to get the clamp off but didn't have the right tools, I have an angle grinder and would happily have cut it off but annoyingly had didn't have anywhere to plug it into. (the place we were visiting said they didn't want to get involved) I just can't believe this is legal still. What they effectively done was trap me there with a child for over 2 and half hours. It was only privately owned property but that doesn't make it right, luckily I was in a position to pay but it must happen to people who are not. If it hadn't been for the fact I had the my child with me I would have just left the car and come back with the right tools to remove it. I just find it a shame that the idiot who clamped the car seemed to get pleasure out of doing it. utter scum bag, is really do hope karma comes back round to bite him.

Fantastic comment. So, if someone living near you doesn't like parking on the street every night you have no objection to them parking on your driveway all the time. You were in the wrong and got caught out.

 

[BensGrandad]

If you get clamped carry out the following
1/ Jack up car as if changeing tyre
2/Let down tyre
3/remove clamp
4/remove wheel
5/replace with spare
6/drive off leaving clamp
7/pump up spare
Job done

If you have an air inflator that works off of the cig lighter could you not just blow up the tyre again.

 

[Samej]

If you have an air inflator that works off of the cig lighter could you not just blow up the tyre again.

Yep if you have the time , but a hasty getaway is advisable.These pumps take about 20 minutes to fully inflate a tyre from flat

 

[BensGrandad]

That is always assuming the valve is accessible from the start

 

[The Large One]

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.../t_wheel-clamping_on_private_land.pdf

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Some people seem to be willing to commit themselves to hours and hours - even days, weeks and months - to "winning" an argument with parking enforcers.

Is it REALLY worth the effort or the time and money?

 

[BensGrandad]

I fight these charges because time is of no consequence to me and I do not put a stamp on the letter so they have to pay excess charges or if I use a stamp I use 2nd class.

 

[DT Withdean]

IE there were more of them than him

What happened was that the clampers caught him tearing down their signs (remember this was private land, and these were massive, clear signs. This site is NOT a money-making scam. No ones been clamped ever, yet!

He produced the rounders bat and started the trouble, but missed with his swings. Understandably, they were annoyed.

On a previous occasion, he had already bumped one of our legitimate cars of the way, so the land thief, was used to breaking laws.

Great finale.

 

[little al]

So what exactly is the course of action if clamped by one of the cowboy firms. I am currently fighting a parking ticket for my future daughter in law, which I am very confident I shall eventually win but what could I hve done had she been clamped by this firn rather than been issued a ticket

Unless it is a council ticket, you should have ignored their invoice. By entering into discussion, you have agreed the invoice was valid. If you had ignored, you would have received approx 6-8 letters, progressively more threatening, which should all be ignored, then heard no more. A private company cannot fine you.

 

[csider]

Don't park illegally then, simple really. It's like people who hate traffic wardens!!

 

[LadySeagull]

Don't park illegally then, simple really. It's like people who hate traffic wardens!!

Can't believe how many people on here have used that word 'illegally'.

Even on the public highway you can't be parked illegally in Sussex unless you are causing an obstruction or are on yellow zigzags (in which case the Police can act, hence = 'illegal').

If you have parked against any rules on the public highway other than that, then it's not 'illegal', not a crime. It is just an alleged contravention of a Council traffic order - in which case most people can get off the PCN by appealing. Councils try to bluff people into paying but most win at adjudication if you just see it through.

But in this case it was private land with private clampers = SCUM and almost certainly NOT the OP's fault. All private parking companies are parasites, if ever you get a fake PCN (parking charge notice) ignore it completely. Simple. It's a scam.

If ever you get a private clamp shackled to your car, cut it off at the padlock then replace the padlock, or pick the lock, or get a garage to remove your car to another place where they can remove the clamp without damage (cheaper than paying the scammers). Then hand their toy back via the local Police Station as lost property so they can check it is undamaged.

Their practice is due to be made illegal soon but in the meantime all private clampers are stepping up their proctection racket. These are not reasonable people and they set up car parks like a honey trap deliberately, with bad signage etc. Someone mentioned Ethical? They are well-known among many names of shocking practices among clampers, there are NO good ones.

If you have PAID a private clamper (last resort) you can sue the clamper and whoever instructed them to carry out their scumbag 'trade' and can get your money back plus the cost of the Small Claim. No need for solicitors.

There are almost always grounds to show the clamping was unlawful as they never get the signage/paperwork right, even charging a ridiculous amount is enough for you to be able to argue it was a penalty (unlawful/unenforceable contract). Myself and Westdene Seagull (who have never met each other BTW!) go on forums to advise people about the scam of private companies, best place to look is here on pepipoo:

FightBack Forums -> Private Parking Tickets Clamping

LockStock you have been robbed. Get pepipoo forum advice and sue them and whoever contracted them to carry out their worst there.

 

[BensGrandad]

Unless it is a council ticket, you should have ignored their invoice. By entering into discussion, you have agreed the invoice was valid. If you had ignored, you would have received approx 6-8 letters, progressively more threatening, which should all be ignored, then heard no more. A private company cannot fine you.

No my daughter in law wrote and told them to deal exclusively with me. I then wrote stating that I considered their parking notice to not be valid and that in the event of going to county court I will charge them for my time. They have wriiten back to my daughter in law who in turn has written and told them that they were advised that I am dealing with this problem.

Will now wait and see what happens.

 

[BensGrandad]

Can't believe how many people on here have used that word 'illegally'.

Even on the public highway you can't be parked illegally in Sussex unless you are causing an obstruction or are on yellow zigzags (in which case the Police can act, hence = 'illegal').

If you have parked against any rules on the public highway other than that, then it's not 'illegal', not a crime. It is just an alleged contravention of a Council traffic order - in which case most people can get off the PCN by appealing. Councils try to bluff people into paying but most win at adjudication if you just see it through.

But in this case it was private land with private clampers = SCUM and almost certainly NOT the OP's fault. All private parking companies are parasites, if ever you get a fake PCN (parking charge notice) ignore it completely. Simple. It's a scam.

If ever you get a private clamp shackled to your car, cut it off at the padlock then replace the padlock, or pick the lock, or get a garage to remove your car to another place where they can remove the clamp without damage (cheaper than paying the scammers). Then hand their toy back via the local Police Station as lost property so they can check it is undamaged.

Their practice is due to be made illegal soon but in the meantime they are stepping up their proctection racket. These are not reasonable people and they set up car parks like a honey trap deliberately, with bad signage etc. Someone mentioned Ethical? They are well-known among many names of shocking practices among clampers, there are NO good ones.

If you have PAID a private clamper (last resort) you can sue the clamper and whoever instructed them to carry out their scumbag 'trade' and can get your money back plus the cost of the Small Claim. No need for solicitors.
.
There are almost always grounds to show the clamping was unlawful as they never get the signage/paperwork right. Myself and Westdene Seagull (who have never met each other BTW!) go on forums to advise people about the scam of private companies, best place to look is here on pepipoo:

FightBack Forums -> Private Parking Tickets Clamping

LockStock you have been robbed. Get pepipoo forum advice and sue them and whoever contracted them to carry out their worst there.

The problem there is that you have to find out who owns the land that you were parked on. In the case I fought for my other daughter in law who paid £200 to have her car unclamped I am having problems finding out who owns the land. It was a service road behind the main shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells.

 

[LadySeagull]

The problem there is that you have to find out who owns the land that you were parked on. In the case I fought for my other daughter in law who paid £200 to have her car unclamped I am having problems finding out who owns the land. It was a service road behind the main shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells.

Pepipoo forum posters could help you with that, start a new topic at that link.

You may not need to know the landowner, you need whoever contracted the clamper which may be an onsite company or rarely, an individual. Sometimes you can find out by going back and asking at the local shops/offices, trying to catch the Manager out with a simple question. This approach has worked for others on pepipoo to find out who contracted the clampers (as it may NOT be the landowner, could be an occupant/trader and it's imperative you sue the right people).

You go into each shop/office, all friendly, and say 'my daughter in law's car was clamped and I think the clampers were unauthorised, have you heard of any rogue unauthorised clampers on that piece of land?' If the shop/office Manager knows the clampers were contracted by their own boss - or even another retailer or the main landowner - they may answer the question without thinking...Hey presto you have your second party to sue!

If not then the Land Registry can help with the owner if you are very specific with the location. It's at minimal cost (all costs can be added to your Small Claim, but not Solicitors costs). There have been cases on pepipoo where the info has been gleaned for free with a quick call to the local Land Reg.

Then you'd have to send a 'Letter before Action' to the clampers and the Landowner and if he/she was not party to the contract then hopefully they would say so. It doesn't matter that no money changes hands- clampers usually 'work' for free - hence my reference to 'protection racket' as IMHO the scam is exactly the same.

You have six years to take a case to Small Claims - and there are a couple of cases on pepipoo at the mo where the poster is suing now after a 2009 clamping. So it's not too late.

 

[LadySeagull]

No my daughter in law wrote and told them to deal exclusively with me. I then wrote stating that I considered their parking notice to not be valid and that in the event of going to county court I will charge them for my time. They have wriiten back to my daughter in law who in turn has written and told them that they were advised that I am dealing with this problem.

Will now wait and see what happens.

With the fake PCN scam it's simple, you just ignore them. Your DIL needs to stop writing, she is taking the bait and it is completely pointless.

I have ignored EuroCarParks threatograms before and would ignore any private parking company rubbish. Only a mug would pay and I hope none of the posters here would fall for this old rubbish.

Wait and see what happens? Well I can tell you that this letter chain will happen (find the company or debt collector you are dealing with):

Private Parking Companies' Letters: What to Expect (add your own) - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

Then once the letters have run their course, there maybe a few debt collector phone calls - tell them to get stuffed or similar - then nothing. End of scam, no effect on credit rating (of course, as this is a BOGUS PCN and is not a fine nor a debt).

It's a scam, a moneymaking scheme and ignoring them is exactly like ignoring a phishing emailer.

 

[BensGrandad]

Are the clamping firm not compelled to give the names of who have employed them and under what authority they have to operate.

 

[fork me]

A mate of mine had his Land rover clamped and he just drove off with it attached. It lasted about 100 yards.

A friend of mine years ago had a long wheelbase transit munibus with double wheels at the back. They can't clamp double wheels and they're not allowed to clamp turned front wheels so he used to actually look for wheel clamp signs and park over as many spaces as possible with the front wheels turned.

 

[csider]

Re illegal....You may be correct, however being a bit anal.... You know what I'm saying.

 

[LadySeagull]

Re illegal....You may be correct, however being a bit anal.... You know what I'm saying.

You wouldn't say so if you had been caught by private clampers - and they do set up car parks to catch people. You may need to know the difference one day.

I had to reply when I saw at least 4 posters here with the knee-jerk reply 'don't park illegally then...' when the situation suffered by LockStock was IMHO more like a mugging and any illegality is 99% certain to have been on the part of the scum clamping firm.