Discussion
Are the police on commission from Harpenden Recovery On Sat night my nephew had a car accident which led his car un-road worthy due to smash headlights. No one was hurt, and once the traffic police arrived my nephew said he would arrange the car to be pick up by one of our family friend who has a recovery truck !! and is only 2 mins away and could have been there in 2 mins!!! The traffic officer said no as they have already ordered a pick up UMMM why did he not ask first or ask if he was with a breakdown company ?
Now the Harpenden recovery took just over half an hour to get there, so our friend would have got there so much sooner. He received a letter today stating he has to pay £150 towing fee plus £20 a day storage fee I told him to pay up and go and collect the car A.S.A.P but to take the police to a small claims court to recover the cost ? it's not his fault and the police should have asked to see if he can get it recovered sooner nope they just got one in.
Am I right to say pay up and take Hertfordshire Constabulary to a small claims court ?? What would you do ? Oh he is only TPFT so can't claim back from the insurance company,even if he could he should not have to! if he could have his car picked up for nothing and so much sooner
Now the Harpenden recovery took just over half an hour to get there, so our friend would have got there so much sooner. He received a letter today stating he has to pay £150 towing fee plus £20 a day storage fee I told him to pay up and go and collect the car A.S.A.P but to take the police to a small claims court to recover the cost ? it's not his fault and the police should have asked to see if he can get it recovered sooner nope they just got one in.
Am I right to say pay up and take Hertfordshire Constabulary to a small claims court ?? What would you do ? Oh he is only TPFT so can't claim back from the insurance company,even if he could he should not have to! if he could have his car picked up for nothing and so much sooner
If it's like the control room in a neighbouring force, there is a list of recovery companies who have registered, and they are used in strict rotation.
Depending on where the unroadworthy vehicle is located (or possibly other relevant factors), the recovery policy tells the officer on the scene if they must request recovery immediately, or if the matter can be left for the vehicle keeper to sort.
Unless the officers acted outside the policy, it's very unlikely the constabulary will respond to a demand for payment. They probably have someone who deals with civil compensation claims - you should engage in a dialogue with them first - court action should be a last resort when other means of recovery have been unsuccessful.
Depending on where the unroadworthy vehicle is located (or possibly other relevant factors), the recovery policy tells the officer on the scene if they must request recovery immediately, or if the matter can be left for the vehicle keeper to sort.
Unless the officers acted outside the policy, it's very unlikely the constabulary will respond to a demand for payment. They probably have someone who deals with civil compensation claims - you should engage in a dialogue with them first - court action should be a last resort when other means of recovery have been unsuccessful.
At the scene, I expect that the priority is to clear the road. Since most people don't have a recovery truck on standby, it's quite reasonable for the police to arrange recovery without delay. I also expect that they have quite a few requests to 'let my mate do it' in order to escape costs, but their requirement is to clear the road without delay, so my guessing is that such requests will be ignored since many of them turn out to be a somewhat protracted process.
So; not saying plod was right, just trying to look at it from their perspective. Talk to them about your unnecessary costs they have let you in for.
So; not saying plod was right, just trying to look at it from their perspective. Talk to them about your unnecessary costs they have let you in for.
No chance mate, even if you got a judgement in your mats favour they'd never pay anyway. They would simply not defend, he'd get a judgement and they'd ignore it. I know for a fact our local force had 12 county court judgements against them unpaid at any one time. End of the day though you wouldn't win they don't owe you any money so why would you sue them, the courts would say they arranging recovery was reasonable
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