Parking Tickets and Clamping - Advice sought

[Ryann]

Hi All,

The garage I took the car to temporarily parked the car on the road and it got clamped. They said it was because the previous owner had a lot of tickets from Westminster Council. The garage literally cut through the clamp. I wasn't there, but they told me this.

I am trying to find out what's the easiest way to find out if a car has parking tickets etc outstanding against it. Is there one place you can go to get all the information in terms of which boroughs or county councils it has tickets with? I don't want to have to phone every council.

I have been told that it could get clamped again, even if it is genuinely parked because clampers go around looking for cars with outstanding tickets. I don't know if this is true or not.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Just to make things worse, either the garage or the clampers put a small scratch on a spotless car. :sad:

 

[Xtractorfan]

There was a site mentioned on here about six weeks ago and it dealt with all those issues have a search on here and then on google .. Im sure the DVA will give you this information..and also cancel all tickets as you are now the new owner..The clampers are total BRATSADS and will defo clamp the car if they can.. tHIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE ON THIS SITE AND INDEED EVERY MOTORIST SHOULD BE CAMPAINGING ABOUT.. THE CLAMPERS, THEY ARE A LAW ONTO THEMSELVES..

 

[stumpy]

Unregulated clampers are a problem, but councils do employ legit firms (bailifs) to look for cars owing money and seize them. Westminster are by far the worst when it comes to parking. Their towaway trucks loiter around just looking for prey. In my experience with them appealing is useless, but in the OPs case if he can prove change of ownership took place after said tickets then I reckon he should be ok. As for how he deals with the damage to his car - good luck with that. I don't see the garage taking responsibility, but I would be rightly miffed that they had cut a clamp off without my knowledge.

 

[Ryann]

Hi Stumpy,

Two points:

The clamp today did not happen in Westminster, it was in another borough where the garage was based. I am wondering how the garage could know that the car had tickets from Westminster and that this was the reason for the car getting clamped?

Secondly, the clamper today, will probably blame me or try and charge me for cutting the clamp. I don't know if I should contact the local borough council and tell them it was not me - and whether that will make a difference or not?

Things like this stopped me buying a decent car for two years. The alternative is to move out of London - but I can't stand the commute.

 

[stumpy]

I would call westminster and see if the garage story stacks up. If it does, then you can put them straight about ownership. Then call the borough where it happened and see what they say. The garage may just be trying to sidestep responsibility for getting the car clamped. I'd like to know where it was when it was clamped. Were they 'roadtesting it' and got it clamped somewhere they shouldn't been. I hope not, but I did once get a speeding ticket for my car when it was in the care of a dealer.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I would seriously consider keeping the car well out of harms way until you get this matter sorted.. then a disclaimer to from the relevant councils to negate your responsibility.. also consider a cheapie private plate to get a number change..

 

[Ryann]

Thanks for all your advice.

I will look at number plate change and I will contact both councils and see if DVLA can help.

 

[Ryann]

Hi Guys,

An update. I contacted Westminster Council this morning. Aparantly they don't do an clamping or vehicle removals any more. That's what they told me.

However, with regards to my car, they do have tickets for the previous owner. They were quite helpful and said to write in and it should sort out.

 

[stumpy]

Thanks for the update. Any news from the borough where the garage got a ticket?

 

[Lambo]

Best thing to do is carry an angle grinder in your car if you get clamped remove the *ucker then weigh it in for scrap, simple as..........

 

[Ryann]

wish life was so simple.