A story of dishonesty, daylight robbery, disgust and deceit.

[Dizeee]

I would like to share with you a lovely story.

It typifies the state of the UK and the way things are today. There is no hope from my story, just gloom, and another victim to the unregulated UK clamping operators who have robbed me.

Nice sunny day, July 4th. Saturday. I attend my local Argos. At the rear of the store are a couple of parking spaces, Argos's spaces, clearly signed and labelled as "Argos Customer Collection Point" with the blue logo signs, 2 of them. The car park is small and also has other spaces dotted around for residents of flats there. Generally you need a permit to park there for long periods, but the two Argos spaces are clearly labelled as their customer collection points and sit right outside their back roller shutter *whereby goods are bought out).

So, park there for 10 minutes in which time I enter the store from the front entrance, order a flat screen TV and return to the rear to collect it. And my car has been clamped. Call up the number, along they come having been waiting around the corner and charge me £150 to remove the clamp. Don't care about why I was parked there, drive off and sit at the bottom of the road again to catch another innocent victim.

I obtain a letter from the manager of Argos stating I was there to collect goods and had parked there as instructed to by their signage, he types one out and gives it to me being very apologetic, but it's not "down to them". I type a short appeal letter along the lines of the above. Receive a letter back this morning stating no, I won't get my money back.

It doesn't matter what is said, or done, or how it is perceived, the simple fact of the matter is I was clamped UNLAWFULLY and have been charged monies for NOTHING. I know how and why they get away with it, but having now been a victim of it myself, I find myself pacing around the house tamping mad., I just cannot and will not accept this - who do they think they are? If I had taken the piss in some way or tried it on, fair enough, but, I have parked in a signposted, allocated bay for a store in which I have entered as a genuine paying customer, to come out ten minutes later to collect the goods and find myself impounded and owing money to company I have never heard of? Even Argos themselves backed me up, typing a headed letter proclaiming my right to park there.

I just don't know what to do. Their letter back seems to blaze and confident, teasing me to go to court if I wish, as they rigorously defend all their claims etc etc

The UK = fked.

[Dizeee]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to explore the moneyclaim avenue, had never heard of it.

Going back to the day in question, I really lost it with them and did kick up a stink, but, just as when your car is hoisted by a removals truck, form the moment on you are powerless - there is nothing you can do. Don't pay and your car is removed, the cost rising everyday, kick off and they will call police who will deem it a civil dispute, and unless your calm you risk being arrested for public order etc. Your powerless, I had to pay the fee there and then, I knew it, clamper knew it and there is diddly squat anyone can do about it.

[Dizeee]

900TR and everyone else, the police have never had, don't have, and will ever have any durisdiction or interest over these issues, trust me, it's a civil dispute pure and simple.

[Dizeee]

But thats just it, they are wise to this and that sort of attitude just gets you nowhere. It is always a civil dispute, never theft or criminal damage. It is up to you to "write a letter" and go through the appeals process, if you try and take the law into your own hands then you WILL be arrested for something, be it obstruction, assault, criminal damage. The police aren't spineless git's it's the system, it's the way the system works. The reason these things happen is because the system allows it.

This money claim site is irritating, keep getting the following error :

"Claim Particulars: This information is required and must be no more than 24 lines or 1080 characters. The following characters cannot be used < > & " "

But there is no fking characters in there!

[Dizeee]

Claim now submitted. What happens now then, is it really any good?

[Dizeee]

RacerMDR said:

ok - I have questions

1. Is an Argos Angle Grinder man enough to cut the clamp off?
2. Would Bolt cutters get it off?
3. What would be the legality in simply winching YOUR car onto a trailer and driving it away?

I'm assuming ape clamp scum are waiting on site to steal your cash anyway - making all of these options difficult?

Clamper not initially present, but all of the above is criminal damage Im afraid, and theft in number 3 of the clamp, or at least grounds to suspect it in the first instance.

[Dizeee]

sleep envy said:

Dizeee said:

Clamper not initially present, but all of the above is criminal damage Im afraid, and theft in number 3 of the clamp, or at least grounds to suspect it in the first instance.

even if they had unlawfully clamped the car?

It's still their property and the question as to whether it is unlawful or not would not come out until after a long protracted appeals process. Cops aren't judges. The system allows it.

[Dizeee]

I just went back to Argos to collect more copies of their letter, they have ben so good, stating they gave me permission to park there, were aware I was there, was only there for a few minutes, was on CCTV and that they could not give permits to everyone etc etc

However I spotted the clampers van parked at the end of a long driveway of cars, rear windows blacked out and facing the car park. Noted the reg.

[Dizeee]

I have now also emailed the manager of the firm.

I am really struggling to deal with my anger over this. My anger has not dwelled all day, I just cannot understand how people get away with it. I knew it went on, but it now having happened to me, I just can't take it.

I dare type the idea's that are going through my head at the moment.

[Dizeee]

To clarify, the Argos in question has no bearing or working with these guys. They are a seperate outfit employed, one presumes, by some of the residents who also park there. This is a small back door drop off point bheind the shop accpompanied with around other bays. Permits are required to park there, but the rear entrance is signposted "customer collection point" and Argos direct customers there to collect.

VH is probably right and this is the reponse I am awaiting, however, I argue that the signage does not indicate specifics about how long and where must one be etc - it says collection point, and I was collecting, simple as.


I was parked where the red dot is. My route is indicated in blue. A marks Argos, the front of the shop is above it and points out to the pedestrian highstreet.

[Dizeee]

The company are PCM who are highly legit, apparently.


http://www.pcm-uk.co.uk/

[Dizeee]

Your probably right. But it all comes down to the circs I guess. I am hoping this is just too much of a biscuit take for even the courts to see sense with.

[Dizeee]

Von, Argos have no control, persuasion or anything to do with the clamping company. It is not their car park nor do they employ the clampers. I don't know who the car park belongs to, but Argos don't have any bearing over them at all.

[Dizeee]

Apparently not, the area outside their rear shutter is not spaced, just open gravel, spaces exist just to the right and left of this area whereby it is implied the collection points are by virtue of the signage.

Like most things, its disgusting and I don't expect I will get my money back, but I will continue to throw money at it via the coourt system out of principle. Beggars belief.

[Dizeee]

Thing is this is happening now and will continue to happen. Sya's a lot about human nature and regard for your fellow being. I will continue with this court claim thing but now the weekend has passed, (and I have been paid), I wonder in the grand scheme of things how much I can be bothered to pursue it.

I have now been clamped once in my life and I know it will never ever happen again, as I simply shall just not park anywhere where clamping operates.

Once is enough for me, but I feel sorry for all the other buggers who are gong to be clamped in the future...

[Dizeee]

For anyone not up to date, a claim has been lodged and I await an update.

Landshark YHM


For your reference, I am uploading a piccy of the signage (some it anyway) in question. I will post in a bit once uploaded.

[Dizeee]

[Dizeee]

I think if it gets as far as me actually going to court it will all boil down to the interpretation of 1) Collection Point (i.e how far does that extend as should one stay with the vehicle) and 2) What right Argos have to give permission to park there. Argos claim that they have no right over the land, however based on the fact that there is a metal shutter there for deliveries and also allocated bays outside their building I would argue the opposite.

[Dizeee]

And it would surely be point 4 above that would be the most debated in a small claims court, in addition to the complications over who ultimatley controls the land and how much control Argos have over it...

[Dizeee]

I spoke to the moneyclaim helpline this morning, they state that they have contacted the company and received no reply, and that they have 14 days from the 25 July to respond, by which point if they do not respond I can claim by default...

She was also on about a warrant in the last instance if they fail to appear at court and then further fail to repay monies owed... I just can't see bailiffs attending a clamping HQ with a warrant somehow...