Motorists warned over ‘cowboy clampers’
Car bulb customers should be vigilant this weekend, with unscrupulous clamping firms likely to take advantage of those heading to tourist hotspots.
According to the RAC, 1.2 million drivers have already been clamped on private land and with millions of motorists taking to the roads this weekend, that figure is set to rise.
Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC, said that while most private parking companies are reputable, some are not.
"The RAC Foundation regularly hears from people who are at their wit’s end after they have had their cars clamped and removed, and then been charged an extortionate fee to get them back. Our research just proves the scale of the problem," he added.
At present there is no independent appeals procedure in place for those who are clamped on private land.
The RAC is urging motorists to pay attention to signs and ensure they are aware of the penalties of parking in a prohibited area.
Meanwhile, it was reported by the Mirror earlier this week that tradesmen in the London area have recently been conned out of hundreds of pounds after being lured to a flat and then clamped by a private company.
I just can’t stand car clampers and I wonder why are they allowed to operate as they do without any intervention from the government.
Last week on BBC1′s watchdog there was a clamping company in London who towed away someones car from his own land. 3 times clamped and once towed away – just imagine that – and you own that land and they still do it.
It’s all very well saying be careful where you park, but these cowboy clampers seem to be above the law at the moment, so this is no protection. The law really needs to clamp down on this industry – I’m really surprised they’re being allowed to get away with this kind of behaviour.