just called at stockton DVLA to drop paperwork in for inspection (next monday!), and came out of the building to find my car had been clamped! although the carpark is outside the building, not all the spaces are for DVLA customers. consequently it cost me £125 to have the clamp removed. it had only been on 10mins! after mr turpin had relieved me of £125 and released my car, a guy came over and said 'if you paid by card, ring yoiur bank and cancel the payment; there's nowt they can do about it'. i'm a bit sceptical of this, knowing my luck, they'd come on to me for twice as much! any comments on this?

Strictly speaking, I'd think he's correct...

The charge isnt' a fine (they don't have the right to fine you), it's to release your car from the clamp. If you stop the payment, how are they going to re-clamp your car?

Just be careful they don't try and track you down and knacker your car for you or something....

keep a petol disk saw in the boot for those things

Is the car park clearly signed to say the clampers operate?? What proof do they have that your car was actually parked illegally besides seeing it - any idea??

"The reason our payment terms are cash only is to prevent claims that under the consumer credit act 1974, card payments can be stopped, cheques can be stopped so cash is the safest form of payment to protect our business interests, this has been agreed by Birmingham city council trading standards department.”

from here

Seems these companies dont want card payments stopped - wonder why that is!! I'd do it - as said what can they do besides take you to court where the onus is on them to prove your car was illegally parked surely

[Edited on 9/3/09 by Paul TigerB6]

Unlucky Martian!! At least you managed to find the feckin car park!! I had to drive over some garden to get in there!
I would certainly cancel the payment. If it turns nasty, just say you'd forgotten what the charge was for so you cancelled it. You thought it was some evil scam (which it was!) and that you'll pay again. Then forget that too.....

Dont pay them!! Its just a release fee, they have already released you, so why do they need your monies!!

stop the payment!!

I was clamped once. Assumed that the station car park would be free after 6pm (like 99% of other car parks round here are) so didn't check the signs.

I paid cash, wish I'd thought of the card thing I'd have paid with that!

It was unfortunate that it was November/December, freezing and I had a very under-dressed girlfriend with me. So I just wanted to get out of there.

These days I'd have gone home, got some tools and dismantled enough of the suspension to get the clamp off. There's a principle at stake!!!

I would never damage the clamp though, that's a quick way to getting in trouble IMO!

Cheers,
James

See if anything on this site is of help;

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/70730-do-you-have-pay-8.html

quote:

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Originally posted by James
It was unfortunate that it was November/December, freezing and I had a very under-dressed girlfriend with me. So I just wanted to get out of there.

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I feel your pain, I got clamped at uni a week or two ago, don't know if that credit card thing works but if I get clamped again Im using it. Clampers are the scum of the earth. Of note to anyone that gets clamped though, check the guy unlocking you has an sia badge clearly visible, if you can't see it ask him to show it to you, if he hasn't got one ask for his managers number and explain that operating without it is illegal and carries a standard fine of £5k for both the operator and another £5k for the company for which they are working, suggest to them that if you were released free of charge you might forget to call the authorities.