THE legislation covering the clamping and towing of vehicles parked on private property is vague at best, the only legal requirements for operators being a Security Industry Association licence and a receipt being issued.
Paul Coleman, an ad rep for Newsquest, the Ealing Times parent company, went to visit a friend on December 1 and parked in the car park of the Coach and Horses pub in London Road, Hounslow.
He returned to find the car gone, so reported it stolen to police.
However, more than two weeks later he received a call from police telling him they had found his car in a compound - having been towed by a private company called Regional Clamping Services, which operates in the car park.
The car had been at the compound for 23 days, and the release fee was £1,140, made up of a £300 towing fee and £35-a-day storage.
I went with Paul to the compound on a remote industrial complex in wasteland near Iver, Middlesex, and waited for more than an hour for the operators to arrive.
When they did arrive there were six clampers who had two more vehicles in tow. They became agitated and aggressive at the site of a reporter and photographer.
At one point one of them approached me and demanded I delete all footage we had taken or he would not release the car.
When challenged over the legal grounds of this statement he simply walked away.
When I approached him to ask him why again, his colleagues crowded round me and started asking me if I was a shirt-lifter and threatening to clamp the car our photographer was sitting in.
One of them asked if the car was registered at my house, insinuating he was going to trace my address, even though the company had made no effort to find the owners of the cars they had clamped previously.
Eventually the cash-only payment was made and the car was released from the compound, but as we drove away stones and bolts were hurled at our car by the employees.
The whole visit was intimidating, from the remote, secluded, setting to the attitude of the employees of the company and the long wait we had to endure.
However, as long as legislation remains lax, events like this will occur on a daily basis to people across the capital.
What treatment have you received at the hands of car clampers? Send us your stories, and sign our online petition.
12:54pm Thursday 27th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Brent, London on 5:16pm Thu 27 Dec 07
Finally, some proper investigative journalism - well done the Ealing Times!
Finally, some proper investigative journalism - well done the Ealing Times!
Posted by: michael, Northolt Ex Pat on 3:16pm Fri 28 Dec 07
What we all need to do is to boycott the establishments that use these thugs.
I wonder how the Landlord of the Coach and Horses pub in London Road, Hounslow, will feel when he goes bankrupt because he has lost his Clients.
FIGHT THE THUGS BOYCOTT THE COACH AND HORSES IN HOUNSLOW.
What we all need to do is to boycott the establishments that use these thugs.
I wonder how the Landlord of the Coach and Horses pub in London Road, Hounslow, will feel when he goes bankrupt because he has lost his Clients.
FIGHT THE THUGS BOYCOTT THE COACH AND HORSES IN HOUNSLOW.
Posted by: Stevey, Northolt on 6:43pm Sat 29 Dec 07
Although the clamp was probably justified. The reaction of these cowboys wasnt. This should go beyond the Times and needs national recognition.
Plus surely the police should be involved.
Although the clamp was probably justified. The reaction of these cowboys wasnt. This should go beyond the Times and needs national recognition.
Plus surely the police should be involved.
Posted by: woman, Brent on 4:40pm Thu 3 Jan 08
Same happened to me in the same pub,same men, same clamping company. Daylight robbery and I had even been for a drink in the pub so was legally parked. Total criminals.
Same happened to me in the same pub,same men, same clamping company. Daylight robbery and I had even been for a drink in the pub so was legally parked. Total criminals.
Posted by: j south, Northolt on 2:57pm Tue 15 Jan 08
We have these thugs patrol our road in northolt employed by Dominion Housing, we was against it & when we was told we had to have something to sort the problem out we put forward a professional company but dominion decided they would have regional, someone at dominion must be getting a back hander from the boss who looks like a squashed fat bull dog!! i'm not against clampers just the dodgy cowboy ones, if there wasnt people who parked illegally we wouldnt need clampers simple really!!!
We have these thugs patrol our road in northolt employed by Dominion Housing, we was against it & when we was told we had to have something to sort the problem out we put forward a professional company but dominion decided they would have regional, someone at dominion must be getting a back hander from the boss who looks like a squashed fat bull dog!! i'm not against clampers just the dodgy cowboy ones, if there wasnt people who parked illegally we wouldnt need clampers simple really!!!
Posted by: paul solbridge, uxbridge on 3:01pm Tue 15 Jan 08
Have the journalists contact the SIA and had all the clampers checked for sia licences I wonder? Like to see the outcome of further investigations comething has to be done Now!!! b4 these guy over take the place. I dont illegally park on private or yellow lines so I wouldnt never get caught, but bullys should be stopped
Have the journalists contact the SIA and had all the clampers checked for sia licences I wonder? Like to see the outcome of further investigations comething has to be done Now!!! b4 these guy over take the place. I dont illegally park on private or yellow lines so I wouldnt never get caught, but bullys should be stopped
Posted by: Anon, uxbridge on 5:35pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Regional Clamping is owned and operated by Lee Peacock, who trades under false name of Paul Taylor. ( He is shown in your audio slide clips opening the gate with the keys in his hands). Peacock was taken to court by the Met Police for trading as Met Parking services and was forced to change the name to another which was Regional Parking Services, which was again taken to Harrow Crown Court by Brent trading services. Peacock was found guilty of breaching trading standards and declared himself bankcrupt. He has once again retraded as Regional Clamping and is once again coming to regular notice. He has been the subject of BBC Watchdog programne, where despite being followed all day at work, denied being Lee Peacock or involved in clamping. I suggest all complaints re him and his company get forwarded onto Watchdog, the SIA who regulate clamping companies and more importantly the Inland Revenue, to ensure they pay their taxes on each amount charged !!!. Regardless of the clamping fee, he will always say that a tow truck has been called and therefore a higher amount is charged. The Manor House, were peacock is registered to, is also used by All Counties Parking Control. Park Direct all of whom are mates with Peacock.
Regional Clamping is owned and operated by Lee Peacock, who trades under false name of Paul Taylor. ( He is shown in your audio slide clips opening the gate with the keys in his hands). Peacock was taken to court by the Met Police for trading as Met Parking services and was forced to change the name to another which was Regional Parking Services, which was again taken to Harrow Crown Court by Brent trading services. Peacock was found guilty of breaching trading standards and declared himself bankcrupt. He has once again retraded as Regional Clamping and is once again coming to regular notice. He has been the subject of BBC Watchdog programne, where despite being followed all day at work, denied being Lee Peacock or involved in clamping. I suggest all complaints re him and his company get forwarded onto Watchdog, the SIA who regulate clamping companies and more importantly the Inland Revenue, to ensure they pay their taxes on each amount charged !!!. Regardless of the clamping fee, he will always say that a tow truck has been called and therefore a higher amount is charged. The Manor House, were peacock is registered to, is also used by All Counties Parking Control. Park Direct all of whom are mates with Peacock.
Posted by: Robert, North London on 11:58am Sat 29 Mar 08
Just last week, I fell victim to the cowboys that are 'park direct' for parking in the Victory pub for an hour! - although I admit clear fault for not reading the signs, I don't know how a charge of £404.00 can be justified by the company as well as the southall council!
Just last week, I fell victim to the cowboys that are 'park direct' for parking in the Victory pub for an hour! - although I admit clear fault for not reading the signs, I don't know how a charge of £404.00 can be justified by the company as well as the southall council!
Posted by: victoria, watford on 2:07pm Sat 17 May 08
A friend of mine parked in an open space intended for parking in apsley lock herts where he was visiting a friend who lived there[bold]bold[/bold] , for an evening. when he returned to his car at 1.30am it was gone! And they later found out that it had been taken 30-45min drive away to regional clampers the cost to get it back was £425.00, and they only would take cash! this seems dodgy to me! My father phoned them and told them what he thought of the whole thing...from this phone call they reduced the fine to £325.00 so people at least you should complain it helps...if only a little. I think its just terribal that people are treating others like this! I mean it doesnt seem in any way professional when there are a bunch of skin heads accompanied by several pit bulls making you give them cash, to top it all off now his car wont start and they need to get a new battery!
Turns out it wasnt even the battery so I am suer these guys have dont something to the car so it stays on their property longer hence more £££
A friend of mine parked in an open space intended for parking in apsley lock herts where he was visiting a friend who lived there , for an evening. when he returned to his car at 1.30am it was gone! And they later found out that it had been taken 30-45min drive away to regional clampers the cost to get it back was £425.00, and they only would take cash! this seems dodgy to me! My father phoned them and told them what he thought of the whole thing...from this phone call they reduced the fine to £325.00 so people at least you should complain it helps...if only a little. I think its just terribal that people are treating others like this! I mean it doesnt seem in any way professional when there are a bunch of skin heads accompanied by several pit bulls making you give them cash, to top it all off now his car wont start and they need to get a new battery!
Turns out it wasnt even the battery so I am suer these guys have dont something to the car so it stays on their property longer hence more £££
Posted by: victoria, watford on 2:10pm Sat 17 May 08
Oh forgot to say they are still there now, the aa have been called so they can find out whats happened to the car, they went there at 10:00 this morning!!!![bold]bold[/bold]
Oh forgot to say they are still there now, the aa have been called so they can find out whats happened to the car, they went there at 10:00 this morning!!!!
Posted by: Jimmy, London on 9:50am Mon 26 May 08
Penalty charges like these mentioned above are unlawful, you can sue them for all the money plus costs and interest. Firstly make sure they have a SIA badge, if not call police to arrest them. Secondly get receipts and paperwork so it's easier to track them down to issue a court warrant! Any further help needed -email me at jimmylesaint@live.co
.uk
Penalty charges like these mentioned above are unlawful, you can sue them for all the money plus costs and interest. Firstly make sure they have a SIA badge, if not call police to arrest them. Secondly get receipts and paperwork so it's easier to track them down to issue a court warrant! Any further help needed -email me at jimmylesaint@live.co
.uk
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Reporter Alex Hayes went to a car compound near Iver to collect a car which had been towed away by a clamping company.
