Clamping

Enfield · 5 Jan 2007 at 17:37

Hi there,

I work at a large firm in the centre of Basingstoke which has a large car park for which I do not have a permit for.

So I park in another car park just down the road (it's part of some club) which doesn't have anything to do with the company that I work for. But my company have bought some permits so that it's employees can park there which is all well and good but I don't have a permit.

The car park is never ever full and there are at least 10 out of 20 spaces or so free every day! I am on the waiting list - have been for ages. Have been parking there for ages too, but today I get a little post-it note on my windscreen telling me that I will be clamped and that it will cost me £50 to be released.

There is no reason for me not to have a permit, in fact one of my colleages recently got one and she just lives down the road from where we were, where as I do not...

Now there are no noticed at all in this place stating that you will be clamped etc, nothing at all, and like I said, Im not causing any trouble there and there are always spaces so I don't want to hear any of you saying that I shouldn't be parking there. I know I shouldn't really but there is no where else to park at all, other than the pay and display - no thanks.

My question is, can they legally clamp me in that car park even though it's not their car park (the company), or are they just trying to scare me?

[TW]Fox · 5 Jan 2007 at 17:39

Unless the sign was put on your car by someone acting as or on behalf of the owner of the land, they are scaring you.

You need a license to clamp, and clear signs stating you will be clamped, and what the release fee will be.

Enfield · 5 Jan 2007 at 17:44

The people who put the post-it note on my windscreen are from Facilities Management at my place of work.

My work can apparently clamp people...they have signs up in the car park and all that. But does that mean they can clamp me even though im parked in a car park that has nothing to do with them other than they "bought" some permits for a private car park down the road?

[TW]Fox · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:10

Do they own the land? Do you have proof they dont?

Enfield · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:23

[TW]Fox said:
Do they own the land? Do you have proof they dont?

They definitely don't own the land.

BenST · 5 Jan 2007 at 19:23

Heh, do what I done. The clampers looked dodgy as hell so I paid with my CC (£300) and cancelled it as soon as I got home. That was over a month ago

wasc · 5 Jan 2007 at 21:21

splitz said:
Heh, do what I done. The clampers looked dodgy as hell so I paid with my CC (£300) and cancelled it as soon as I got home. That was over a month ago

That sounds like a bloomin good idea that one. Never thought of that. What did you do to cancel it? Report your card stolen or persuaded your card company to do a chargeback???

I suppose technically you could say someone stole the card as they wouldn't have any proof you were the owner of the card.