Clamped in Bristol
Discussion
Hey All,
My missus got clamped in our old road in Bristol last night, where we lived for over six months without ever being clamped. Now in transpires they seem to be a little more on the case. She went to visit a friend last night and got clamped while parked there (Royal York Villas if anyone from the south west is listening).
At the end of the day - it's a fair cop - the signs were there, just not very visible. Anyhoo, she phoned me last night about this while I was at home and shot over to get there with her while the guy at the end of the mobile telephone number attended to remove the clamp.
Knowing that these guys now have to follow various rules etc to adhere to the SIA licensing, I knew that I wanted to see his license, identification and I was to have a receipt for the £75 release fee, and was going to check for damage.
When I spoke to him on the phone, he seemed a bit arsey at the fact that I was requesting these and started getting a bit funny.
He arrived, (BIG black guy - stood my ground - eek) and produced two laminated BTEC certificates for the SIA license ('look at the hologram mate, the hologram!'),seeing as I wouldn't know an SIA license if it hit me in the face, I wanted to see identification.
"Why?"
"Surely you know why? I want to verify you are who you say you are!"
"No mate I haven't got any ID, and I don't have to show you any ID" to which he decided that as the conversation seemed to not go his way, he was going to leave.
I need to add at this point I had £75 in my pocket, and if he had just shown me this he'd be on his way - but no.
"I'm off, if you are going to argue, I'm going and your car will be towed"
To which point my now histerical girlfriend jumps out of the car and cries to him to release her car as she is a Vet (on call) and needs it.
"Nah love, if your boyfirnd is going to be like that I' m off"
Off he goes.
Seems like he was only too happy to get the car towed (apparantly they have a spotter in one of the flats opposite and they tow many cars a day) - and he was going to the same.
My girlfriend was desparate for her car back so she asked me to sit around the corner so she could grovel to get him back and release the car (to my disapproval - but needs must). He back ten minutes later and did so.
MY question is:
1. I believe (from checking last night) that the guy MUST show ID as per the SIA rules if he is the recipient of a release charge - is this right?
2. He turned up in civvies, and a red VW Bora - again by the SIA it says that he must be in Uniform, and a marked vehicle?
3. What should we do about his company - I'm worried if I complain he'll try and 'intimidate' me - after all his company says it's from St. Pauls - a very dodgy area - what can I do - my girlfriend nigh on shat herself when he turned up. Whats the best plan of action?
Cheers All,
Neil
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 31st May 09:56
My missus got clamped in our old road in Bristol last night, where we lived for over six months without ever being clamped. Now in transpires they seem to be a little more on the case. She went to visit a friend last night and got clamped while parked there (Royal York Villas if anyone from the south west is listening).
At the end of the day - it's a fair cop - the signs were there, just not very visible. Anyhoo, she phoned me last night about this while I was at home and shot over to get there with her while the guy at the end of the mobile telephone number attended to remove the clamp.
Knowing that these guys now have to follow various rules etc to adhere to the SIA licensing, I knew that I wanted to see his license, identification and I was to have a receipt for the £75 release fee, and was going to check for damage.
When I spoke to him on the phone, he seemed a bit arsey at the fact that I was requesting these and started getting a bit funny.
He arrived, (BIG black guy - stood my ground - eek) and produced two laminated BTEC certificates for the SIA license ('look at the hologram mate, the hologram!'),seeing as I wouldn't know an SIA license if it hit me in the face, I wanted to see identification.
"Why?"
"Surely you know why? I want to verify you are who you say you are!"
"No mate I haven't got any ID, and I don't have to show you any ID" to which he decided that as the conversation seemed to not go his way, he was going to leave.
I need to add at this point I had £75 in my pocket, and if he had just shown me this he'd be on his way - but no.
"I'm off, if you are going to argue, I'm going and your car will be towed"
To which point my now histerical girlfriend jumps out of the car and cries to him to release her car as she is a Vet (on call) and needs it.
"Nah love, if your boyfirnd is going to be like that I' m off"
Off he goes.
Seems like he was only too happy to get the car towed (apparantly they have a spotter in one of the flats opposite and they tow many cars a day) - and he was going to the same.
My girlfriend was desparate for her car back so she asked me to sit around the corner so she could grovel to get him back and release the car (to my disapproval - but needs must). He back ten minutes later and did so.
MY question is:
1. I believe (from checking last night) that the guy MUST show ID as per the SIA rules if he is the recipient of a release charge - is this right?
2. He turned up in civvies, and a red VW Bora - again by the SIA it says that he must be in Uniform, and a marked vehicle?
3. What should we do about his company - I'm worried if I complain he'll try and 'intimidate' me - after all his company says it's from St. Pauls - a very dodgy area - what can I do - my girlfriend nigh on shat herself when he turned up. Whats the best plan of action?
Cheers All,
Neil
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 31st May 09:56
silverback mike said:
Leave it with me neil, I'm on nights tonight and will see what I can unearth...
I have had run ins with these private parking companies in the past.
Mike
Thanks Mike, really appreciate it!
Like I said above, we were bang to rights in theory but if I'm going to fork out £75, I want my moneys worth...
I have a witness too - apparantly they make a fair few towaways a day there - by all accounts they have a resident mad irish guys who lives there - I know I've seen him - and he texts the company when he see's a car that shouldn't be there - BASTARD!
p.s. Did you know that they cannot clamp you if you leave your car running and you are present, but only for up to 15 minutes! I love reading rules!
In the meantime Neil have a look at
www.sia-org.uk/home
On the top bar click Licensing. This gives an example of what your clamper should have produced (ID with photo)
The go to Licensing on bottom of left hand side dialoge box and open. If you have any details of the guy check on line if he is licensed. If not offence.
Note there is a proceedure for reporting unlicensed clampers.
DVD
www.sia-org.uk/home
On the top bar click Licensing. This gives an example of what your clamper should have produced (ID with photo)
The go to Licensing on bottom of left hand side dialoge box and open. If you have any details of the guy check on line if he is licensed. If not offence.
Note there is a proceedure for reporting unlicensed clampers.
DVD
Dwight VanDriver said:
In the meantime Neil have a look at
<a href="www.sia-org.uk/home">www.sia-org.uk/home</a>
On the top bar click Licensing. This gives an example of what your clamper should have produced (ID with photo)
The go to Licensing on bottom of left hand side dialoge box and open. If you have any details of the guy check on line if he is licensed. If not offence.
Note there is a proceedure for reporting unlicensed clampers.
DVD
I did have a look at the guidelines, but I didn't see that! Cheers DVD!
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 31st May 15:48
just clicked the link and it didn't work but google turned up with this one...
www.the-sia.org.uk/home
www.the-sia.org.uk/home
Had a look - the guidelines say this:
2. If you were parked on private land, was the vehicle immobiliser licensed?
All vehicle immobilisers must wear their SIA licence when they are working. The licence features their name, licence number, and photograph. If the immobiliser is not licensed please report them to the SIA - details of how to do this are provided below.
You should not have to pay a release fee if the vehicle immobiliser is unlicensed. If they will not release your vehicle you should call the police.
He certainly did not show identification, and was very upset when pressed to do so - I definitly didn't see the badge they showed on the SIA site - he only produced a BTEC certification nothing else!
I can't wait to see what Silverback Mike comes up with.
The only thing I am worried, is that if I kick up a fuss, he may seek 'recrimination' he certainly looked the sort, and without performing a sweepin generalisation of clampers, I suspect many of them are lifes 'hardend' ones...
2. If you were parked on private land, was the vehicle immobiliser licensed?
All vehicle immobilisers must wear their SIA licence when they are working. The licence features their name, licence number, and photograph. If the immobiliser is not licensed please report them to the SIA - details of how to do this are provided below.
You should not have to pay a release fee if the vehicle immobiliser is unlicensed. If they will not release your vehicle you should call the police.
He certainly did not show identification, and was very upset when pressed to do so - I definitly didn't see the badge they showed on the SIA site - he only produced a BTEC certification nothing else!
I can't wait to see what Silverback Mike comes up with.
The only thing I am worried, is that if I kick up a fuss, he may seek 'recrimination' he certainly looked the sort, and without performing a sweepin generalisation of clampers, I suspect many of them are lifes 'hardend' ones...
puggit said:
Royal York Villas if anyone from the south west is listening
Posh git
5 happy years at Brizzle Uni (sigh)
Sneyd Park now
with lots of PRIVATE PARKING!!! NO CLAMPERS!!! My missus and I now do NOT begrudge the extra we pay to have lots of parking spaces off road
neil_cardiff said:
Hey All,
My missus got clamped in our old road in Bristol last night, where we lived for over six months without ever being clamped. Now in transpires they seem to be a little more on the case. She went to visit a friend last night and got clamped while parked there (Royal York Villas if anyone from the south west is listening).
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 31st May 09:56
I used to live in Royal York Villas!!
At number 2 (I think), a couple of years ago. There was a guy with a Merc E36 AMG Estate in that gated-off garages area at the end, very rare.
They never used to clamp us there but they put the signs up while I lived there.
Have you had the person put computer-printed signs on your rubbish if you put it out for collection more than a few hours before collection is due? Probably the same person who has gets you clamped. Well I comfort myself with the knowledge that these types of people are NEVER happy, and happyness is more important than money, or parking spaces, even rubbish bags.
Clamping people is OK (I guess), but you've gotta do it absolutely by the book. If these guys don't even know the rules they work by you have to question their practices. Report them, it's probably anonymous anyway?
Good Luck.
Russ
docjan said:
hmm, what would one need to cut a bunch of clamps off, they usually use chains right?
An anglegrinder with a thin disc, or, maybe, a club hammer and a chisel against the lock! If you do this, though, it might be wise to take the entire clamp away, repair it the next day with a new lock, and return it fully repaired to the clamping company. Then, before they can report you for Criminal Damage, there just ain't any evidence of damage done.
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