Vehical Control Services - Sheff
Vehical Control Services - Sheff
Author
Discussion

crazylegs

Original Poster:

482 posts

273 months

Saturday 7th May 2005
quotequote all
Has anybody had a ticket from Vehical Control Services in Sheffield? My mate's just told me that he got a ticket for parking around one of the halls (no double yellows, IIRC) and had a parking notice attached to his windscreen.

They're asking him for £70 (!) which will go up to £110 if he doesn't pay in 7 days. Along with that, they're making it difficult for him to pay - apparently he can only pay by ringing a premium rate number or putting his credit card details in the post.

It all sounds mighty unfair and extortionate to me, but is this a legal and acceptable practice? Does he have any hope of contesting it or should he just take this one on the chin?

TIA.

hornet

6,333 posts

280 months

Saturday 7th May 2005
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By the power of Google...

www.wheel-clamping.co.uk/

Natty URL eh?

They are sister company to Excel Parking, who proudly boast Here that they try to avoid clamping as it can lead to "unnecessary aggression and confrontation". That's nice of them. Shame their sister company has "Captain Clampit" as their corporate identity.



And from the horse's mouth...

"A solution that will not only deter unauthorised vehicles from abusing your parking spaces, it will also dramatically increase onsite security and it can even generate revenue." (my emphasis)

Interestingly, the "fine payment" link on their website appears not to work.

crazylegs

Original Poster:

482 posts

273 months

Sunday 8th May 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for digging that out Hornet... how proud they must be of the wonderful public service they provide.

If their sources are to be trusted, "The second point is that the penalty to be paid must not be extortionate. In this particular case the Court of Appeal regarded the fee of £110 as reasonable."

£110 reasonable!? If you're on minimum wage and take away a third for tax, that's 36 hours! Just shy of a week's work for a parking fine isn't extortionate!?

Not to mention that this guy is a student and had parked in university halls, so most of the people they grip must be students. Bs.

Looks like he's going to have to cough up though.



CRAYVEN

59 posts

268 months

Sunday 8th May 2005
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That ` captain clampit ` looks to be very much like the character owned by marvel comics known as `superman` ...........hmmmm, i wonder if they would have anything to say about this matter?

CB-Dave

1,002 posts

290 months

Sunday 8th May 2005
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not worth asking to see their SIA credentials before he pays?

docjan

140 posts

262 months

Sunday 8th May 2005
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What proof do they have the car was there?