got clamped today, whilst going for a parking ticket

[grasmere]

Yup thats right, you read it correctly, got clamped today, whilst going for a parking ticket.

I stopped in what I know now to be the notorious private car park in Haworth near Keighley. I was stopped for about a minute or so and getting change ready. Got out the car and was walking to the machine about 35 yds away across the car park when I heard a loud clanking of metal. Naturally I turned round to see a guy at the side of my car though I couldnt see what he was doing.

I walked back to the car and he had the clamp on already !!

The next 6 minutes were about me called him all the names under the sun but he just stood there and stated, no ticket on display!!!

No witnesses either. I had to cough up £50 and he wrote on the ticket clapmped at 1348, released at 1354.

I was * * * * * * ing mad

I mentioned it to a lady at my next appointment and she told me (briefly) of the history of the family. Been on tv etc etc about all this etc etc.

I just dont know what to do apart from ***** him whilst hes sitting in his crappy old escort (deleted that in case its used in evidence )

Any ideas . . .

 

[pammy]

Ian - that obsolutely stinks. I'm sure that can't be legal. You have to be able to buy the ticket surely!! Don't know what to suggest - just hope you can do something about it.

 

[drifting]

But what time was on your ticket? Surely if it said a time prior to his clamping time, the I would have thought you would have a case?

I just fought and won a similiar one in central London, but that was with the local council. Why not have a word with one of the many solicitors who offer a free consultation?

Regards Paul.

 

[grasmere]

But what time was on your ticket?

This is what is so incredible - I was on my way TO the ticket machine when I heard the noise and turned to see the guy at my car. I walked back to see what was going on only to see he'd put a clamp on in those few seconds

Hes clearly very good at getting a clamp on asap !

 

[drifting]

That will teach me, I really must read all the posts...
Good grief, not sure what to say, I assume then that this was private land? I would still have a word with a solicitor, and perhaps the police. The way I look at it, they must have had quite a few complaints, and hopefully would strengthen your case.

 

[andy_k]

if the ticket time is after you were clamped then you are going to be on dodgy ground as they can say (not unreasonably) that you only bought the ticket to get out of paying the clamping fine.

Now, that doesn't mean you are entirely powerless to get a refund

1, can you prove you were somewhere else immediately before you parked? They have to give you a resonable time to purchase a ticket - a credit card slip for petrol maybe from a station just down the road?

2, check the area and see if there any CCTV cameras - If you think your parking manouevre may be on tape ask for a copy - these are invariably time stamped. we had a similar experience in Hastings where the warden wrote a ticket within 12 seconds of me parking and like you walking to buy a ticket. On appeal we used video footage from an amusement arcade's CCTV system as proof.

3, go and hire/buy a clamp and do it to his van whilst he is clamping somebody else - very childish but very funny and if you are quick enough he's kind of stuck Explain to him that his unreasonable parking has obstructed you so you have taken positive action and you will not remove the clamp until he pays you a ridiculous fee - if you are going down that road may I suggest you take a few friends with you as back up and if these guys are the scourge of the neighbourhood like you suggest get the local paper involved

Andy

 

[glojo]

Hi grasmere,
I've had my medication so forgive me for appearing a bit thick.

Are you saying that whilst you were walking to the ticket machine which was just 35 yards away a 'clamper' arrived, looked over your car to make sure you never had a valid ticket. Then whilst you were still on route to get your ticket, the clamper went back to his vehicle to get the clamp, returned to your car before you had accomplished the 35 yard walk and whilst you were still going to get your ticket you heard the clanking of this varmit applying the clamp?

Got out the car and was walking to the machine about 35 yds away across the car park when I heard a loud clanking of metal. Naturally I turned round to see a guy at the side of my car though I couldnt see what he was doing.

I walked back to the car and he had the clamp on already !!

I reckon that clamper must really have had it in for you and moved with a speed I can only dream of. Good luck with any appeal,

Regards,
John

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Sorry to hear this Ian. It sucks.

 

[grasmere]

Are you saying that whilst . . . .

Thanks all for your sympathy folks, I hope I sleep tonight whilst I am still so incensed.

Glojo - I know my original post seems a little unbelievable hence your suspicions but to clarify:

I found out at my subsequent appointments that this is a private car park that is owned by the git who clamped me and his father. It is a notorious spot and has been subject in courts etc and also on TV programs inc watchdog. It is often featured in the local newspaper by way of letters from visitors who vow never to return to Haworth and so on. They have clamped all manner of folk disabled, women with baby etc with no feelings etc etc and its always in the paper apparently.

It would seem that their aim is not to collect money from parking tickets but to clamp people and get £50 a time.

In my case the guys escort car was already parked about 15 feet to the right of mine. I only realised that car was his when he put the clamp back in it after its removal. It would seem that as soon as I left my car he took his clamp straight across and that was the noise I heard of metal etc whilst he urgently slammed the clamp on my car thats when I turned round wondering what was going on.

I asked what the hell he was doing and all he kept repeating was 'no ticket' as calm as you like for about 6 minutes in fact !

So in summary, the clamper didnt arrive, he was already there. He didnt need to check for a ticket because he knew I didnt have one. Its a large piece of ground and I parked where I would be walking across the road to the shops. I saw where the machine was when I got out of my car and the car park had only about 5 or 6 other cars parked. There was no one else about that I could ask to verify how little time this all took. Unbelievable? I think so too and I'm £50 out of pocket . . .

BTY I'm not mad at being clamped - its the organised, planned extortion that I am disgusted with . . .

 

[stwat]

Thats just sick Is there no law that sais they have to wait a certain amount of time before they can clamp you, just to make sure weather you are going to get a ticket or not????

Sounds like the lowlife just sits there and clamps people as soon as they leave their cars!! Its just "leagal" extortion in my view.


Stu

 

[fuzzer]

pay by cheque? stop it ..

 

[glojo]

Thanks all for your sympathy folks, I hope I sleep tonight whilst I am still so incensed.

BTY I'm not mad at being clamped - its the organised, planned extortion that I am disgusted with . . .

Hi again grasmere,
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. If we write down every last detail of our thoughts then each message would be several pages in length.

Your reply has really crossed the tees and dotted the eyes (I'm laughing at my misspelling)

I feel your anger and disgust. This appears extortion rather than law compliance. How unfortunate that there was no CCTV camera's nearby.

What a low life character, it sounds like this is the sort of person that is well suited to their job, and they represent everything that is wrong with the practice of clamping.

Take care,
John

 

[grasmere]

Thanks John, I am still gutted but I'll get over it.

bbc link about haworth clampers

this is a link I found that reiterates all I mentioned, what bunch of &*&*$ gits.

 

[fuzzer]

ive often wondered what happens if you cut the clamp off?

 

[andy_k]

I did that once when I got clamped on a private estate whilst visiting a friend and left the clamp on the doorstep of the address to which I was supposed to send payment.

I got a nasty letter through the post threatening all sorts of court action unless I paid up which I chose to ignore.

At the end of the day it would be a civil matter (private car park and private clamper)and from the sounds of these pople I doubt they'd get much sympathy off anybody - just make sure you don't get caught or have some back up with you in case it turns nasty

Andy

 

[glojo]

ive often wondered what happens if you cut the clamp off?

I believe there is a 'clamp crusader' that actually does this. If you get caught though and the clamp was applied legally it is criminal damage or theft if you take it away.

The 'clamp crusader' denies any knowledge of knowing or seeing what happened.

Is wheel clamping still legal in Scotland?

Regards,
John

 

[Spinal]

ive often wondered what happens if you cut the clamp off?

You will be required to pay any damages to the clamp. Thats why when you cut (actually grinding is faster... a nice petrol grinding machine from b&q for 130£ is a good investment for you boot-toolkit). Now, if they never FIND the clamp, there are no damages.

If they send you a letter, just say you never found a clamp on your car and some "little bugger" must have come around, cut it off and stolen it. Woops

Michele

 

[DITTRICH]

3, go and hire/buy a clamp and do it to his van whilst he is clamping somebody else - very childish but very funny and if you are quick enough he's kind of stuck Explain to him that his unreasonable parking has obstructed you so you have taken positive action and you will not remove the clamp until he pays you a ridiculous fee - if you are going down that road may I suggest you take a few friends with you as back up and if these guys are the scourge of the neighbourhood like you suggest get the local paper involved

Childish maybe, but potentially immensely satisfying
Les

 

[DITTRICH]

I believe there is a 'clamp crusader' that actually does this.
John

AngleGrinderMan! see the Favorites forum "Help with pesky wheel clamps"!!
Les

 

[fuzzer]

Is wheel clamping still legal in Scotland?

Regards,
John

hi John ,i don't believe that clamping has never been legal in scotland.