Have you fallen victim to cowboy clampers

Although I am registered disabled and had parked in a a disabled bay correctly showing my blue badge I was fined £60 when I parked at a Leicester University car park. I was taking my Grandson back and we had about 4 suit cases to take up 6 floors in an high rise block. Although we were as quick as possible about 20 minutes, when we arrived back at the car we had been booked, I later learnt that they had watched us park and must have placed the ticket on the car as soon as we had disappeared. We wrote to the parking company involved but they just did not want to know, and I having limited resources did not want to pursue the matter. We were told we had been booked because the disabled space was not registered to us because the grandson had not applied for a parking space.

clamping should definately be made totally illegal its essentially highjacking /theft and should carry a severe penalty once again scotland leads the way our mp,s seem incapable of dealing with this issue

Some years ago my wife & I parked in a car park of a large national kitchen multiple store. We visited the store and then two others on the site. When we returned our car had been clamped by a private clamper who had only TWO TINY notices 'inconspicuously' displayed in the car park. We spoke to the manager of the store who was unhelpful.

As the store was about to close we waited until the last minute, then refused to leave his store, taking the attitude that as he had detained our car we were 'Detaining Him' in his store. We never offer any foul language, threats or violence.

The manager of the store sent for the 'Clampers' in the first instance these were brash young men of little brain but plainly out to intimidate. I pointed out to the manager [Who had NOT let his staff go home] that we would GLADLY Leave if our car was unclamped and to his anxious looking staff that we were 'Offering NO Violence', and to WITNESS our just 'Peacefully' protesting.

The 'Boss' of the clamping firm was then sent for, a further 'None violent' but 'Heated' discussion ensued, [By now the store and about twenty people had spent over two hours debating the matter. [Presumably all on 'Paid Time' versus my wife and I being on our own 'Free Time'. being unable to go anywhere anyway as our car was clamped.

The manager then sent for the police [who took 40 minutes to arrive] we then, [Still in the store] explained our situation [slowly] to the sympathetic, but 'Neutral' Constable, [taking in writing his 'Collar number'.

We then asked him to make notes in his book about the 'Civil Dispute' and to move outside [for the first time] and note the scarcity of warning signs and their location in the car park. [The manager of the store closed his store just on four hours late.] The Police told us they had had a 'Few complaints' but it was a 'Civil Matter' [Which we knew]

We then finally, but 'Under Protest' paid the clamping fee, however the next day we RETURNED with a reporter and photographer from the local press, [I brought £50-00 in NEW tenners to signify the amount we had been 'Ripped Off', we were both THEN photographed in front of the store [Showing it's Logo & Name & Holding up the Money]

We also noted [and pointed out to the reporter & photographer] that several new signs had been erected about parking in the past few hours, however the little heaps of 'Brickdust' remaining from the drilling for these clearly showed these were new.

A few days later the story appeared [With Photograph of our disgruntled selves holding up token £50-00] in the local paper.

We bought 5 copies of the paper, sent one each of the article & photo to the company CEO, the Store Manager, the Local Chief Constable and chairman of the local council.

In the letter to the CEO we pointed out that the following week we might be appearing on T.V., Radio and in the NATIONAL Press.

Within a few days we received an abject apology, a cheque for £100-00 plus our
£50-00 'Clamping Fee'.

The 'Clamping Firm, we understand, lost the contract.

We heard later [On local Radio] of a guy that bought a set of Bolt Cutters from a car boot sale for a fiver and removed private clamps himself. [This is of course illegal in cases of council or police clamps, though may just be a 'Civil Matter' with Cowboy Clampers.]

As I understand it Scotland has made private clamps illegal, England and Wales still seem to  have these, many of the 'Clampers' are thugs who rely on 'Intimidation'.

Whilst I would NOT recommend the course of action we took to everyone in every situation, IF victims ALL made the MAXIMUM FUSS in the most arenas to the great & good [Locally & Nationally'] then clamping in England & Wales would follow Scotland into obscurity PDQ.

Arthurian.

I pulled into ‘The Bull’ car park in Barking, and got out of my car to read the parking regulation sign as you do. After reading the board I realised it was not pay and display and then confirmed it with a man who I subsequently identified as a clamping Officer on site. We walked together to my car at which point he started clamping my rear wheel while saying “you should not have got outside your car to read the board”. This all happened within 1 minute of me pulling into this car park.

I was totally shocked and appalled at his manner and attitude towards me knowing I had just got out to read the sign. He had just witnessed this. The Clamping Officer said there is nothing he can do and I should speak to the office. He rang the office on his phone and passed the phone to me. I explained the situation to the man on the phone who replied “it’s because I got outside my vehicle to read the board” and I must pay £125 to get my car release. While I was finishing this conversation the Clamping Officer informed me that he has now called the tow truck which was further £250 on top of £125 to release the vehicle.

The clamping Officer also had a colleague with him. Both officers pressurised me to pay all in cash otherwise the amount will go up further and further. I was intimidated and harassed into going to the cash machine and getting £350.00 cash from my account to pay for this bullying. I ran to the nearest cash machine and arranged the cash amount of £300, and also had to get cash back from Asda in Barking. They took £350 cash from me and released my vehicle.

Without fabricating or exaggerating any facts, this was as anyone with a right mind can see a day light robbery. I would also like to point out that there was no sign of tow truck at the time of release as clamping officer Mr G Chambers wrote on the receipt that ‘tow truck on site’ hence the further £250.
After the incident, I dialled 999 straight away and spoke to the police. Police logged my call and asked me to seek a legal advice. The legal advice given to me that at first I should write direct to Securak which I did and explain what happened just in case if their employees are miss conducting their services. I called them several times, email my complaint and send a letter in post but there was absolutely no response from Securak not even an acknowledgement to say that the heard my side of the story and decided oppose it.

When I had no joy I was advised that I should make an application to my local county court. So I did. I put my claim in Ilford County Court in Buckingham Road, IG1. This cost me another £35 to put a money claim on line. The claim didn’t get anywhere as Securak defended it. The court wrote to me stating that Securak defending the claim so I can ask for a court hearing to be held where both parties can be present. I paid another £50 court hearing fee.

I was given 19th Feb 2010 for my court hearing date. I was there representing myself with ally my evidence but no one turned up from Securak. The judge luckily ruled in my favour and send a court charge (attached) to Securak which is a legal demand to pay the money within ten days. No response from Securak to that letter either.

So now I am left with this bill of £435 in total, I did everything as I should following all the rules and legal system and yet I am the one who got ripped off. And Securak are still free doing their business as normal as if the court or legal system matters nothing.

The message given by such private companies like Securak to costumers like me is clear that you can rip anyone off and you don’t have to be accountable. It is shocking to know that Securak is regulated by SIA and yet are free to do what they like and SIA can let such companies held licences when they are clearly breaking the estate law and order by ignoring the court charge. This is definitely a criminal activity

Yes this would work if they are signed up to google adwords and pay although I'm quite certain this isn't the case for the smaller companies.. But who would need to have this when they have people like you putting there names about all over the internet its free marketing for them you fools!

After reading ur story I am thinking whether to apply to court or not.The same thing happened to me with Securak cow boy clampers. They were laughing at me and quite intimidating. Even if the court ordered to pay me back the money it is a wase of applying to court I think

As my husband wakled back to his car at around 6.30pm, he noticed two men standing in front of it. He asked them to move and one of them headbutted him. My husband was totally in shock,and ran back out of the alley way to the pizza shop he had left 30 seconds earlier.

The manager called 999 and within moments two police officers arrived. After interviewing my husband and the clampers the PC informed us that if we wanted to press charges for assult, ALL PARTIES would be arrested as the clampers were claiming my husband had assulted them. Please picture the scene. My husband is 5'6", was carrying pizza boxes and has within the past 6 weeks had a heart attack. He as allegedly walked up to two strangers, both over 6" and built like brick **** houses, taken wild punches at them (whilst holding the pizza boxes) and head butted them. So, the clampers are injury free whilst my husband is standing with blood pouring out of his nose.

Under intimidation and duress, I was backed into a corner and had to pay £400 to get his car back. Absolute daylight robbery.

The following day my husband contacted our local newspaper who will be running this story - the clampers sit in an unmarked white van and wait for anyone to drive down the side road (which is not a private road). We have now heard cases of people trying to do a "u turn" and having their car blocked an clamped.

What will it take for these rogues to be stopped. If my husband suffers another heart attack from the stress brought on by the clampers who will stand my corner. The police are not interested. Help!

I was very optimistic to go for an appeal with Securak before reading this. But now I feel like wasting my time as in this case they haven't paid any attention to a legal notice issued by a court of this country and still nothing happened.

My car was blocked by an unmarked white van while I was trying to reverse and get out of car park, which is a breach of BPA Operator Scheme Code of Practice clause 8.1. This clause clearly states that “Any vehicles you (company) use to undertake enforcement must be marked clearly with your livery (identification mark) or with your business name.

While my car was against a wall, it was blocked from behind with an unmarked white van. At that time I was still on driving seat, my three children on back seat and engine was running. This is completely a case of entrapment as I could not move my car out of the car park and was forced to be clamped and pay a hefty amount of £498.75.

When I came out of my car to ask the reason of blocking, rear wheel of my car was clamped. I was asked by K. Stokes (SIA No.0230014255024402) if I could pay but I did not have any cash or card on me to pay. Immediately another clamp was put on the front wheel and a mobile phone was handed over to me by K. Stokes. On the other side of the phone was the supervisor who gave me the shocking news of I’m being charged £475. I tried to explain to the supervisor that I was not informed regarding the private parking conditions and/or clamping by K. Stokes. I was also not informed by K. Stokes regarding initial £100 charges and subsequent £375 charges and 5% admin fee if I do not make immediate payment.

I had to wait for my wife to come and provide a card for payment. I strongly believe that it’s a case of tricking and entrapping me into a forced payment of £498.75.