General Discussion

For those of you who are interested, it becomes illegal to clamp on private land tomorrow 1st October 2012.

But will the alternative be worse. I understand the clamping companies will ask permission from the landowners to install ticket machines.

So if that particular private land is used by enough motorists then it will be worthwhile for the clampers to install machines. At least this won't be as inconvenient for motorists but could be more expensive.

Landowners are entitled to charge for people to park on their land and apparently a charge of up to £150 is legally enforcable.

By the meaning of land owners I am thinking of IE; supermarkets etc. they may well install the kind of ticket machines that give a ticket upon entry and payment if you overstay the time limit when exiting, but it is still supposed to be a contract between you and the enforcing agency, and they may keep the barriers down until you pay whatever they charge they are asking for, even though its a civil matter it will cause inconvenience for the cars behind you.

Will supermarkets allow them to do that we will see, I guess they could offer a percentage of the take.

The BPA (british parking assc) have 26 committee members 13 of which own private parking enforcement companies, so what does that tell you.

One company has said it will increase its charges to make up for the clamping revenue loss.

" £150 is legally enforcable." No it is not enforceable as you have not signed a contract with them, should they decide to take you to small claims they can only claim what they can prove they have lost monetarily

This law is long overdue. At least now clampers will have to go to court and prove you owe them the money rather than hold your car hostage to get money out of you, unless you are foolish enough to pay up first. Hopefully most will give up now and get a real job. Remember if you get one of these fake parking notices, just throw it in the bin.

Out of interest, won't the clampers, such as Premier Parking Ltd, Valley Enforcement Ltd and Sapphire Security, have to go around the UK now and take down all their signs? After all, these signs now clearly state that these companies intend to break the law given the opportunity, which in itself cannot be legal can it?

Paul, Most of them had changed their signs a few months ago in readiness for the new law. 

Thanks User4549. A small positive for the economy as Clampers only hinder people as they get on with their daily jobs.

Paul. 

In The Mews Dawlish the signs put up by Premier Parking Services still say 'Blue badge holder and disabled dirvers would be clamped and towed, it also uses the words 'Fine' Offence' all that was illegal, they have now added to it that Parking Charge Fee (ticket) the whole thing is illegal.

They also told me that they have taken many drivers to court and WON. The lies they tell just to instill the fear factor into drivers.

The following is a reply to my FOI request to the Ministry of Justice.

I have conducted a thorough search of the county courts administration computer system and did not identify any records of claims (or subsequent proceedings) associated with Premier Parking Services (ALYSON MARIE HUCKER/Colin Hedges). The search included identifying cases using the claimant name exactly as specified (Premier Parking Services) along with particular keywords in the company name such as Premier Parking without the Ltd.

User 4549

The big supermarkets should be ashamed at using these illegal clamping firms. Especially to punish the Diabled should they forget to display there badges?

If you get a ticket in a supermarket just ignore it, do NOT respond to any mail of any sort even that made up solicitors letter, after a few weeks they stop contacting you, it would cost them more to take you to the small claims court (£75 to register and £100 to receive a court date) then they can only ask for compensation of any loss which they may have incurred, amounts to £2.

It's one of the reasons I stopped using Co-op years ago.  I went shopping after work, got in the car, drove out of the car park and then realised I'd forgotten something.  I turned round, went back in the car park, tried to re park and the guy on the kiosk came up to me and told me I'd get ticketed if I stopped again.  Ridiculous.  Last time I used Co-op in Dawlish.

The second word to him should have been OFF but I guess if you are a lady its not appropriate