Council removing my legally parked vehicle?
Discussion
I'm thoroughly annoyed with Croydon council. I have a van which is taxed, mot'd and insured. It's legally parked on the road in a designated parking bay. I don't drive the van much, and it's been sat for at least 6 months.
The van is parked on a side road to my house, and I don't check on it that often. I walked past the van this evening to find a notice of removal sticker placed on the window telling me that they're going to remove it unless I contact them within 7 days (it's been 6 days since the sticker was placed on it). Ok it looks filthy. But how is it legal to remove a legally parked vehicle? Isn't this harassment?
The notice says that if my vehicle is taken, claims may be subject to removal and storage fees, or destroyed if the value of it is less than the cost of removal.
Obviously I'm going to contact them and give them a few choice words, but what recourse do I have if I hadn't spotted this in time and they'd scrapped my vehicle?
The van is parked on a side road to my house, and I don't check on it that often. I walked past the van this evening to find a notice of removal sticker placed on the window telling me that they're going to remove it unless I contact them within 7 days (it's been 6 days since the sticker was placed on it). Ok it looks filthy. But how is it legal to remove a legally parked vehicle? Isn't this harassment?
The notice says that if my vehicle is taken, claims may be subject to removal and storage fees, or destroyed if the value of it is less than the cost of removal.
Obviously I'm going to contact them and give them a few choice words, but what recourse do I have if I hadn't spotted this in time and they'd scrapped my vehicle?
Edited by fasimew on Thursday 15th February 03:47
If it's been sat in the same spot for 6 months & never moved, I'm sure most would consider it dumped.
Why not just run it round the block & park it somewhere else rather than waste time arguing with the council.
You can sometimes be perfectly in the right, but theres no point arguing your valid point of principal after its been removed & is clocking up storage fees or been crushed.
Why not just run it round the block & park it somewhere else rather than waste time arguing with the council.
You can sometimes be perfectly in the right, but theres no point arguing your valid point of principal after its been removed & is clocking up storage fees or been crushed.
Maybe controversial to some, but it sounds like the council were doing the right thing here, by trying to move an eyesore that was taking up a valuable space.
Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
MikeM6 said:
Maybe controversial to some, but it sounds like the council were doing the right thing here, by trying to move an eyesore that was taking up a valuable space.
Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
Agree completely.Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
OP while it may be your right, you also sound a bit of an arse.
MikeM6 said:
Maybe controversial to some, but it sounds like the council were doing the right thing here, by trying to move an eyesore that was taking up a valuable space.
Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
Yeah after a few months most people would be asking what it’s still doing there. Move it on if you don’t need it. Why have a van and not move it in 6 months? If you don't need the van, move it along and let someone else park there. Try to reduce the negative impact on others.
I would also say that instead of throwing your toys out of the pram and complaining loudly to everyone (copying in others just to escalate), just ask them politely as a starting point. It comes across less confrontational, and may mean you get a less defensive response.
I deal with far too many angry people who just needed to stop, think, and ask instead of shout and be an arse.
And no it is absolutely not harassment.
Some years ago a friend had his car impounded because it was a resident parking street. Thing is he was a resident and had a permit. Went to the pound curiously and showed them there and then that it had fallen off the screen and was sitting in the footwell. No, they insisted he must pay the fine plus costs of towing because it must be on display. Odd that they didn’t actually check ownership etc before taking it.
It was a bit of a shed anyway that he was thinking of getting rid of soon so didn’t pay and went home to make some calls. This went on for some weeks. He finally received a letter that the car would be scrapped on (let’s say) June 2nd unless everything paid, plus additional costs which had now been added.
A few days before June 2nd he was near the pound and popped in. They gleefully told him it been scrapped and was he there to pay? With a smile he told them no.
Council dropped all costs with a written apology and a cheque which probably was a little more than the shed car value.
It was a bit of a shed anyway that he was thinking of getting rid of soon so didn’t pay and went home to make some calls. This went on for some weeks. He finally received a letter that the car would be scrapped on (let’s say) June 2nd unless everything paid, plus additional costs which had now been added.
A few days before June 2nd he was near the pound and popped in. They gleefully told him it been scrapped and was he there to pay? With a smile he told them no.
Council dropped all costs with a written apology and a cheque which probably was a little more than the shed car value.
T1547 said:
Yes, why not just move it somewhere else and give it a good clean at the same time. There is a space on the road outside my house - if someone parked their dirty van there and left it for 6 months I’d be complaining to the council too.
Try and think from other people’s perspective.
So, because someone is feeling an ickle bit put out, a perfectly legally parked vehicle has to be moved and the cost absorbed by the owner? Try and think from other people’s perspective.
T1547 said:
Yes, why not just move it somewhere else and give it a good clean at the same time. There is a space on the road outside my house - if someone parked their dirty van there and left it for 6 months I’d be complaining to the council too.
Try and think from other people’s perspective.
Why should he move it and clean it? Surely if it's taxed/MOT'd/insured and legally entitled to park there, there's no grounds for complaint.Try and think from other people’s perspective.
Maybe it's you that needs to have a think.
jhonn said:
Why should he move it and clean it? Surely if it's taxed/MOT'd/insured and legally entitled to park there, there's no grounds for complaint.
Maybe it's you that needs to have a think.
Any question that starts with "why should I.....?" is the sign of someone who has not considered others and may lack social awareness. It's a red flag that signals a weak argument may follow.Maybe it's you that needs to have a think.
Doesn't matter if it's legal, it's thoughtless and we could do with less thoughtless behaviour. Honestly, it's disappointing that it needs spelling out.
I agree with most here, it would irritate me having an eyesore parked presumably in front of or in close proximity to my house for 6 months. Ultimately just because you “can” do something, doesn’t mean you should. Notwithstanding the inconsideration of taking up a parking space (presumably two if you have another daily) for effectively no reason. Theres a term in the military called “screwing the nut”. It sort of loosely translates into don’t be a dic*. I’d say abandoning a vehicle on a street for 6 months and then complaining someone wants it moved falls firmly into the don’t be a dic* category.
It might be legal but I doubt it's road worthy after being dumped,sorry parked,for 6 months.
The brakes are likely to be stuck on for a start,tyres might be flat as could be the battery.
Even if you don't use it much it's worth starting it up and driving round the block every once in a while
The brakes are likely to be stuck on for a start,tyres might be flat as could be the battery.
Even if you don't use it much it's worth starting it up and driving round the block every once in a while
The presumption in a free society should be that, absent a prohibition, you can do the things you want to without state interference. For example, park your taxed and insured van in a place for as long as you want.
Someone might have reported the van as 'dumped' which, if they know no better, is fair enough. You would hope the local authority would then take appropriate steps to understand if it was in fact dumped, or just parked there by someone entitled to.
What'd be unreasonable and unfair, would be for the OP to lose utility of his vehicle and be charged for the pleasure, due to the heinous crime of going about his lawful business.
Someone might have reported the van as 'dumped' which, if they know no better, is fair enough. You would hope the local authority would then take appropriate steps to understand if it was in fact dumped, or just parked there by someone entitled to.
What'd be unreasonable and unfair, would be for the OP to lose utility of his vehicle and be charged for the pleasure, due to the heinous crime of going about his lawful business.
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