Wheel clamping on private land (and towing away) is to be banned by the coalition government. We had a commitment to tackle rogue wheel clampers in the coalition agreement – and now we are able to take this forward.
It falls in my portfolio at the Home Office. Immobilisation has always had a track record of grief and misery. There cannot be an MP in the land who has not had constituents come to them who have been clamped ‘unfairly’. The complaints that have come in to the Home Office are tales of exorbitant fees, abusive behaviour, signage being invisible and so on.
In a recent adjournment debate I recall that examples were given of a disabled motorist being frog marched to a cash point in the middle of a freezing night to get cash to pay the release fee.
Of course, landowners have a right to stop people parking on their land – but no longer by clamping. In Scotland – where clamping was banned nearly twenty years ago (very successfully) landowners either protect their land by barrier methods or introduce ticketing.
Over time, everyone has tried to make this system work – but it just hasn’t. Individuals have had to be licensed – but that hasn’t stopped sharp practise. The latest thinking (before the ban) was to introduce an independent appeals authority – so that aggrieved motorist could appeal the fee etc. But that would cost £2million to set up and thereafter have to be funded by the public through the fees and just perpetuating a flawed system.
Cars that are parked dangerously on private land – for example – blocking the entrance to a hospital or such like will be towed by the police. However, the police powers are for exceptional circumstances only.
This does need legislation and so it will be brought in as part of the Freedom Bill in November hopefully – and then come into force as soon after the passage of the Bill as possible.
Lynne Featherstone 
Please release me
I bet that you disagree with speed cameras
It’s easy ban clamping and ban those from driving who abuse others parking rights. A three month driving ban and sitting a re-test should do the trick ….
From reading the above, the supporters of the ban, who are legion, have nothing to fear from the other side. A bigger crowd of nutters it would be hard to find. I’m sure Lynne comes on here when she fancies an occasional laugh but that’s about it.
Let’s face it how hard is it to park correctly and lawfully … It’s not rocket science.
I’ve held a driving licence for 30 years and not been clamped. It’s not down to luck but by using common sense.
All you need to do is look at the locale, for example if you have a pay & display car park near where you are parking what’s the likelihood that you have managed to strike oil.
If you are going to park in a residential area and visit the local shops what’s the likelihood the parking belongs to the shops. If you park in a shops car park and cross the road what’s the likelihood that the parking belongs to the other shop.
When parking in a residential or business area what’s the likelihood that no parking enforcement is in operation.
If you have received a speeding ticket or been clamped you probably deserved it.
If you don’t speed and use official pay & display car parks you won’t receive a speeding ticket or find your vehicle clamped.
I have no time for anyone who steals someone else’s parking.
Should clamping be regulated more stringently by Government, Yes.
Should the criminal be put before the victim, No
COMMON SENSE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
A clamper on Watchdog now who blocked a decoy researcher in while she is in her car. Oh dear I thought clamping was about preventing problem parking and not money making. The old tricks such as the tow truck is on the way etc. also well in evidence. Quite rightly called blackmail by the esteemed lawyer watching. Hopefully the pondlife scum at LBS Enforcement will have their collar felt before long
Yet more proof if proof were needed of the fundamental criminality and extortion on which the clamping industry is based. And why it is absolutely right that this out-of-control industry must stop and stop for good.
Lynne, in view of the many people that will be extorted in the next few months, as we saw on Watchdog, please hurry up with the ban. The previous government may not have cared about protecting the public from these criminal scum but your action to put an end to this racket has not gone unnoticed.
The Watchdog episode is on the BBC iPlayer for 7 days.
Lynne,
Until the new bill is passed; how about putting up the cost of the SIA imobilise licence up to £20,000 per operator! Lets sting the scum back!
Three cheers for Lynne and Matt!
Saw the Watchdog episode and it demonstrated why clamping is facing the chop. The clamping of the BBC woman, as with many of the other victims, was extortion and blackmail pure and simple. It had nothing to do with parking management in any way, shape or form.
Lynne, if you get a chance have a look at the Watchdog programme tonight in relation to the criminal antics of LBS Enforcement. If you needed any more evidence that your government’s actions to ban clamping are 100% right this is it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tqkxt/Watchdog_09_09_2010/
Watchdog is so right, that’s why it’s so important that the Government tackles the rogue clampers but a Salem Witch Hunt is not the answer.
That clamper should be dealt with severely; the Sia and Trading Standards need to be looking to see if the Clamping Company even owns a tow truck and carry the correct motor trade insurance to undertake the task to which it is noteworthy that there are only about five companies out there that are insured to remove clamped vehicles to the best of my knowledge.
The Police need to investigate if the Clamper endeavoured to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception and take appropriate action against the individual and/or his company.
Don’t tarnish all people by the actions of others.
Matt Allbright’s friend
If you are going to make a comment make a sensible one. It’s not about charging 20k to operate illegally but to deal with the rogue clampers and rogue parkers in a fair and just manner.
Watchdog was shocking but a quick glance online and in the press reveals that this kind of behaviour is far from unusual. In fact it is more or less the norm. The pretending to call a tow truck con is all over the internet, as is cases of cars being clamped when drivers have been sitting in them, doing three point turns, taking phone calls, etc. Therefore the Watchdog programme reveals the tip of the iceberg of an industry founded on bullying and blackmail.
It is for this reason that the government must be warmly applauded for finally putting an end to this scourge. Keep up the good work Lynne.
Actually I have been doing some research on this and the FACTS are quite astounding…
On average, around 50K Cars are clamped or towed away each year by Private Companies and Local Authorities and the DVLA. Of those, figures suggest that 1 in 20 Clamps are appealed and of those appeals around 40% are granted.
Then we move onto those instances that hit the press such as Watchdog and the scum we saw last night which was clearly illegal practices and as pointed out may actually be an arrestable offence of Blackmail. Those practicing such methods are the reason WHY WE NEED CLEAR LEGISLATION not a BAN. If we simply have a ban, do you think these people will disappear into thin air, NO, they will simply re-invent themselves and start a ticketing company which at this time HAS NO LEGISLATION so you are back to Square 1 again and the INNOCENT once again will be the people at the sharp end of the stick.
If correct and proper thought out legislation was introduced to LICENCE COMPANIES and THEIR CONTRACTORS and a code of practice was adopted as LEGISLATION, these scumbags would have nowhere to operate… the existing appeals procedure for parking tickets can be amended to cover appeals on clamping.
There is another more pressing issue however that may leave Lynnes plans flat on her face because she is proposing that it is banned on PRIVATE LAND. All land is owned whether it is your Freehold House, your Leasehold Flat, your Freehold or Leasehold Business Premises, the Crown, the Local Authority etc etc, so having reasearched the legal definition of private land, it is land or property on which exists no common rights (Common Land), is not deemed a Public Right of Way or a Public Highway or Footpath.
So, this means a Local Authority OWNS their Land and by putting restrictions on access to this land, in law it is deemed PRIVATE which means all Town Halls, Council Car Parks etc are PRIVATE PROPERTY and therefore they will also be banned from Clamping or Towing Away unless Government is proposing special dispensation for them to be exempt which is making a mockery out of the average tax payer.
As the DVLA will come onto YOUR land to clamp a car, this will also be illegal yes? If clamping is not permitted on Private Property, they will not be permitted to clamp?
Of course most of this will not matter to Lynne, as a Minister and MP I am quietly confident the rights of owners will be overturned and abused in a way this country has not seen in over 300 years!
Most of the contents of this advise could be written into law….
Click to access t_wheel-clamping_on_private_land.pdf
This is a link to the Citizens Advice Bureau about parking illegally on private land…
Clear, simply plain advise, oh if only some people could read or took the time to read this maybe they would not be clamped!!!!
Oh the irony of the pro-clamping band of desperadoes quoting an old Citizens Advice leaflet written before the ban was announced and neglecting to mention that Citizens Advice issued a press release saying this after the announcement:
“We are extremely pleased that the government has decided to deal with the scourge of clamping and towing on private land, as a matter of urgency. These cowboy clampers have been treating their business as a licence to print money. A straightforward ban should provide those enforcing the law with the robust tool needed to put the illegality of these practices beyond doubt.”
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_20100817
Another respected organisation mightily pleased with the ban.
Face it, you’re toast) Keep talking, someday you’ll say something intelligent!
IGNORANCE CAN BE CURED. STUPID IS FOREVER.
Banning clamping is not the answer … the Government needs to deal unsympathetically with the rogue clampers and rogue parkers
Send a clear message prosecute the rogue clampers
@ Val Resnick –
“On average, around 50K Cars are clamped or towed away each year by Private Companies and Local Authorities and the DVLA. Of those, figures suggest that 1 in 20 Clamps are appealed and of those appeals around 40% are granted.”
Can you provide a source for this information?
Those figures are pure bunkum, a figment of an overactive imagination. Perhaps some appeals are allowed by councils and DVLA, which I see you have lumped into the figures no doubt to give a fig leaf of credibility, as they have a statutory duty to consider appeals in an independent manner but I would hazard a guess that clampers never allow any appeals. Certainly I have never heard of it. Most of them never even pay back the money when ordered to by a court, as witness the stars of the show yesterday LBS having 19 outstanding CCJs. Why do clampers routinely hide behind post office boxes, accommodation addresses etc? These are not the actions of a legitimate industry.
But then legitimate and clamper should never be used in the same sentence.
(L)ynne’s
(A)cquaint
(M)etaphor
(E)valuation
(D)eduction
(U)sing
(C)omical
(K)nowhow
The policy known as [LAMEDUCK].
What is [LAMEDUCK]? It is a policy that takes away the rights of the landowner and homeowner. It’s a national compulsory scheme in which you provide free parking for other road users.
If you don’t think that the scheme works for you can install a gate, barrier, retractable post or employ a ticketing company.
You should also check with your local council or write to your local Member of Parliament who will be able to provide you with the details of the nearest pay & display car parks to you whilst you await upon the return of the selfish motorist parked in your space.
Please Note: if you annoy the motorist parked in your space you are the aggressor and as such you may find yourself in the cells and having your DNA taken.
THE LIB DEM’S PUTTING THE VICTIM SECOND…..
More criminal behaviour by clamping scum:
http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/8381168.___Rogue_fines_at_town_car_park___/
Roll on the ban. Nobody could control these con merchants which is why they will soon cease to exist. Good job Lynne.
The proposed legislation will cause havoc and give more problems for the police as ticketing fails to prevent trespass on private land. Local Trading Standard Office will confirm this. Aggrieved motorists should consider why they trespassed in the first place and then if they consider themselves badly treated proceed against the landowner. It is the landowner who imposes the clamping fee, not the clamper. Read the Seagar court case and you will see that the clamp fee is in fact paid to the landowner, the clamper then charges him a fee for patrolling and releasing the clamp and for collecting his trespass damages for him. The simple answer is a law that only permits a landowner to permit a licensed clamping firm to collect his damages. Its cheap and easy.
Who was consulted? Nobody seems to know, is this yet another lie from our politicians? Publish the consultation in full so we can all see it and possibly agree
@Peter Howarth,
So you want to continue to allow scum to bully pregnent young mothers do you? If you feel damages are due; then take the offenders to the small claims court.
Did you watch Watchdog?
All private clamping companies are scum!
LBS Enforcement are just the tip of the iceberg!
Anybody reading the countless stories in the press and on consumer forums will have long realised that clamping was and is effectively a criminal racket. As such it had to go. The industry was nothing to do with managing unauthorised parking but making as much money as possible by means of bullying and extortion. Hence the stories of clamping people in vehicles, people doing 3 point turns, people an inch over white lies, people who could show they had a valid permit, etc. Then there are the hidden or non existent signs to entrap motorists, the intimidating thuggery, marching to the cashpoint, pretending a tow truck was called to increase the fee, etc. The list goes on and on, including as we have seen above for companies that claim to be better than the rest.
The consultation last year showed that the second most popular option, just behind the useless solution of tighter regulation favoured by the useless then government, was an outright ban, despite this option not even being on the consultation paper. Surveys have consistently shown that 90% or more of the public support a total ban. All of the disbelief from clampers and their cronies packing out this site is just so much self pity and special pleading. These gangsters did not give a second thought to the millions of people that they extorted and bullied over the years and now they expect the public to have any sympathy for them. Fat chance.
Then the ludicruous stories from clamping diehards about the ensuing parking chaos. Nothing happened in Scotland as anyone familiar with that ban there will tell you. Ah but they say towing was not outlawed in scotland. Just as well that it is also being outlawed here then.
Time to get real clampers. Prepare for a new profession and hopefully one this time that does not involve a parasitic living off your hard working fellow man.
OK. OK. OK. Death to all private clampers. Enough already. Stop bickering. Please just allow local councils to be able to do any necessary clamping required. That will surely satisfy ALL parties on whichever side; except of course the private/rogue clampers?
Nobody owes the clamping industry a lifeline. They have brought this on themselves by their disgusting behaviour. Landowners will have to take steps to secure their property, as they did without problem in Scotland. Its a non issue perpetuated by an increasingly desperate bunch of goons, who face the end of their parasitic activities, not a real likelihood of any parking management issues.
Public Voice & Goodriddance
Thinking isn’t your strong suit, is it
This is one of the most stupid things I have ever heard I pay 2500 per year for my parking space, because they are going to ban wheel clamping any mug can park in my space, do you really think a £30 parking ticket is going to stop somebody parking illiegally in mine and other peoples car parking space? Thi is just gonna cause havoc, we need to get rid of the rogue clampers but
not ban clamping. Banning wheel clamping is just a crowd pleaser which in due course is gonna back fire in mrs featherstones face of that I am sure. We need to get rid of the cowboys and imply new clamping rules, ticketing is not the way forward, nobody is gonna pay the tickets an it’s hard working people like me who are going to be the ones this affects thanks alot mrs featherstone you have lost my vote and in the near future you will lose alot more votes!!
@Rik Taylor
If you can afford £2500 for a parking space; then you can afford a post and paddock for it. Start living in the real world. The clamper scum you employ could did the hole for the post!
The reason we employ the clamping firm is because every Tom dick and Harry was parking on our privately owned carpark and going to the train station directly across the road, putting a barrier up is not an option cause hgv lorrys need to use loading bays within our carpark, what’s gonna stop people parking in them spaces A parking ticket? Did you no there is no legal requirement to pay parking tickets given from private companies and most people no this unless they change the law which means they do have to pay parking tickets buisnesses are gonna suffer. I admit something has to be done to stop these rogue clampers I just done think a permanent ban is the answer
For years landowners have turned a blind eye to the crimes committed by clampers they employed. That will now stop, as it rightly should albeit about 20 years too late, and landowners will have to take responsibility for securing their property. As they should and as they did in Scotland without any issues.
Whining on about clamping being the only option will convince no-one now that the decision to ban it has been taken. Far better to explore the various alternative methods if indeed the parking problem is a real problem at all and not a convenient story to perputate this heinous practice. It is interesting that every “landowner” who posts on here aleady knows that the various other methods to deter unauthorised parking will not work in their special situation. It doesn’t matter what is suggested, it is a non starter. Except the retention of clamping of course – that would work these “landowners” say. Its almost as if these clamping desperadoes think that by saying clamping is the answer enough times that Lynne or any one else in parliament will take notice and say oh, how wrong we were, clamping must stay after all. Good luck with that plan.
Time for the clamping industry, which is a bit slow on the uptake at the best of times given the combined IQs of the knuckle dragging throwbacks working in it, to get the message and plan for their future. This could be a life changing event for many of them in that they will be able to make a living other than off the backs of their hard working fellow citizens.
THIS IS MY POST TO LYNNE FEATHERSTONE
What chance we got getting an illegally parked vehicle removed by the Government when we cannot even get a reply from a reasonable request letter.
living in the real world says:
7 September 2010 at 11:10 am
Q. For Lynne direct
Have you abandoned us like and illegally parked vehicle or is it that you find the questions unpalatable.
If you have not abandoned us please reply to the following:
1 September 2010 at 10:40 pm
2 September 2010 at 10:53 am
For: Face it, you’re toast
12 September 2010 at 11:59 pm
I certainly hope you are sterile
Here are a list of the CCJs (County Court Judgements) against Mark Stone and Matthew Boosey of rogue clampers LBS. I have also found out their home addresses and that Mark Stone also has a seroius criminal record. Under the the Labour Government the manderians would have just made what this do legal and we would just have to pay another Blair/Brown, political correct croney £250,000 plus that they are trying to stop rogue clamping! With Lynne’s decisive action the problem is wiped away! We need more politicians like Lynne Featherstone!
Here are the list of CCJ’s
26 Aug 2010 County Court Judgement £533 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT86621
12 Aug 2010 County Court Judgement £593 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT24811
29 Jul 2010 County Court Judgement £479 BASILDON 0BQ10973
21 Jul 2010 County Court Judgement £318 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT72722
21 Jul 2010 County Court Judgement £474 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT71720
06 Jul 2010 County Court Judgement £305 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT54060
16 Jun 2010 County Court Judgement £745 ROMFORD 0RM00578
05 May 2010 County Court Judgement £168 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QZ44227
05 May 2010 County Court Judgement £518 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT42048
04 May 2010 County Court Judgement £240 ILFORD 0IG00505
23 Apr 2010 County Court Judgement £232 BASILDON 0QT14830
19 Apr 2010 County Court Judgement £445 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT28718
14 Apr 2010 County Court Judgement £311 SOUTHEND 0SS00334
29 Mar 2010 County Court Judgement £395 NORWICH 0NR00547
17 Mar 2010 County Court Judgement £311 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT23406
02 Mar 2010 County Court Judgement £617 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT15881
23 Feb 2010 County Court Judgement £317 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT12206
16 Feb 2010 County Court Judgement £311 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 0QT01161
18 Jan 2010 County Court Judgement £865 SOUTHEND 9SS04098
23 Dec 2009 County Court Judgement £196 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QZ58937
17 Nov 2009 County Court Judgement £1,223 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QZ38512
12 Nov 2009 County Court Judgement £168 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QZ39879
27 Oct 2009 County Court Judgement £2,010 CHELTENHAM 9QT54476
03 Sep 2009 County Court Judgement £605 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QZ13806
17 Jul 2009 County Court Judgement £605 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QT79363
30 Jun 2009 County Court Judgement £600 CHELMSFORD 9CM02027
06 May 2009 County Court Judgement £518 NORTHAMPTON CCBC 9QT47851
27 Apr 2009 County Court Judgement £4,014 SOUTHEND 9SS00306
And here are the home addresses of where to send the bailiffs:
removed personal details from blog post / moderator
ALL DIRECTORS OF LBS
Their so-called security compound is at Camper Road, Southend on Sea. Go well prepared and take a few friends from the Rugby club.
Has anybody seen my medication?
@living in the real world
Are you clamper scum? If so the kind man from the mental hospital will sort out some pills for you.
😉
@ Matt Allwrights’s friend
Hear, hear! Lynne should be very proud of being the person with the courage to put an end to these robbers and charlatans. The information on the list of LBS judgements and allegedly serious criminal record of its boss sums up the situation and the need for the ban perfectly. The clampers answered to no authority, court or regulator. Again and again they showed contempt for the role of law and a total lack of decency and morality. This is an absolute poster case to show that regulation could and never would have worked in this industry, where not just a minority but from publicly available reports the vast majority (if not all) are rogues. As such the ban was inevitable if we had a government with the credibility and confidence to implement it. We must be very thankful that we now have such a government.
The scum that works for LBS answers the following mobile phone removed personal details here / mioderator
Please ensure that this imformation is used in a correct way! 😉
We would not like to them get abuse; would we?
The government may have promised to ban clamping companies from operating on private land in England and Wales. But it says that law won’t come in till next year. So until then those companies are free to …. carry on clamping.
(Do you have something to say about this story? Tell us what you think by emailing us here. Don’t forget to include ‘Clamping’ in the subject line. Watchdog will publish a selection of viewers’ comments underneath each story, both throughout and after the programme is on air. Please remember to include your name as you would like to see it published).
LBS Enforcement has taken full advantage of that. They’re based in the south east and have earned a reputation as one of the most aggressive operators around.
We went to Rayleigh in Essex to meet a group of people who all have something in common. They’ve paid big fees to be released from clamps fitted by LBS Enforcement Ltd – run by Matthew Boosey and fellow director Mark Stone.
Len Sales was travelling home to Kent when he parked up to pop and see a mate – in the time it took to find out he wasn’t in LBS had clamped him. The LBS employee informed Mr Sales that the he would have to pay £150 for the clamp to be released and a further £300 for the tow truck. Even though a tow truck wasn’t necessary, as Mr Sales was willing to pay the clamp release fee, LBS said that he would still have to pay for the tow truck because it had been called. Mr Sales was finally forced to pay £434.75 before he could drive away.
Paul White pulled up outside his sister’s flat to help her move furniture and was blocked in by an LBS van whilst still by his car. Even though Mr White’s sister had a valid parking permit and he had a legitimate reason to be in the car park LBS still demanded that he pay a tow truck fee £410.38.
Another victim of LBS, Jenny King, doesn’t deny she parked in the wrong place but she’s one of several people we’ve spoken to who made to feel frightened by the LBS clamper. She also paid £434.75 before she could drive away, money that was going to pay for a holiday.
We’ve spoken to lots of people with complaints about the massive charges they paid to LBS clampers. Many of them say they were in the car when the clamp was fitted. Would they have been happy to move? -You betcha! But an LBS van was blocking them in.
We decided to see for ourselves the way LBS Enforcement has been upsetting motorists all over the south-east with their aggressive tactics and huge release fees.
We sent our researcher Hannah, to a car park in Chadwell Heath, Essex to see what would happen. LBS have been known, on occasion, to ask people to leave. How would they treat Hannah?
When we arrived an LBS employee, called Ben Collins, was already parked in an unmarked red van at the back of the car park. Our researcher, Hannah was posing as a lost motorist using the car park to turn around and check her directions.
The Clamper waited 5 minutes and 23 seconds from the moment she entered the car park before he used his van to block her in. Hannah had neither switched of her engine nor left her car when she was blocked in and clamped.
Our researcher was initially informed that the cost of having her clamp released was £146. The clamper advised Hannah that he would give her five minutes to work out how she would pay the clamp release fee. But only three minutes and forty one seconds later the clamper returned to tell her that a tow truck had been called and the price of freedom was now £434.75.
We showed the footage to solicitor Tim Cary. Mr Cary believes that Hannah should have been allowed to go and was effectively imprisoned on land where she did not want to be.
He believes that by demanding this amount of money in this way the clamper was blackmailing our researcher. This isn’t the first time a clamper has faced that accusation. In 2005 Darren Havell and Gordon Miller – from a different clamping company – were convicted of blackmail. Bristol Crown Court heard how they’d trapped motorists by blocking them in with a van and then demanding driver pay up to £300 to be released. Sound familiar?
We decided to that it was time to give Rogue Clampers LBS Enforcement Ltd the Rogue Traders treatment. We invited company director Matthew Boosey to a very nice boozer in the Essex countryside. He thought he was coming to talk about providing clamping in the car park.
When Matthew Boosey arrived he went into the pub to speak to our actor, posing as the landlord. With Boosey safely tucked away in the pub we arrive to clamp his car. Once Matthew Boosey had explained LBS’s operating procedure he left the pub to discover us waiting for him.
Not wanting to wait around for a taxi Mr Boosey decided to walk home. We followed him to ask him some pertinent questions about blocking motorists into car parks and extorting money from them. He denied this. We’re all about exposing Rogues – not extorting money from them so we gave Matthew Boosey a key to release the clamp and he drove off.
Clamping is still legal in England in Wales – so until the law changes, watch out.
Please join the Facebook titled ‘Stop Wheel Clamping’
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14495913545
Lynne
I certainly do not support the actions of LBS to which I believe that Watchdog should be passing its evidence onto the Police and Trading Standards.
Further; I do not support the conduct of the person going by the pseudonym of Matt Allwright’s friend 13 September 2010 at 11:14 am on the grounds that it encourages vengeance and not natural justice.
It only takes one idiot to take the law into their own hands to which an innocent party could be caught in the crossfire. LBS need punishing by the law and not retribution from the likes of bloggers.
LBS need dealing with swiftly and this is your opportunity to send a clear signal that the Government will not tolerate illegal practices be it clamping, builders and even politicians in your own backyard.
(Matt Allwright’s friend) You may find yourself in serious trouble rather than LBS. These matters are for the Police and Trading Standards to deal with.
It would be prudent for you to remove people’s personal data and for you and others to bring LBS to justice thought the proper channels open to us all rather than entice a different form of criminal activity.
I will leave you a thought; someone reads the material that you have promulgated and decides to take the law into their own hands, they make a home visit to Matthew Boosey and throw a petrol bomb through his window, as a result a young child who lives next door loses their life.
TO ALL OF YOU VIGILANTES
Whatever is eating you – must be suffering horribly, but you are no better than LBS if you think that taking the law into your own hands is correct.
Lynne holds the statute on her books to deal with LBS and the Courts have the powers to imprison and fine them if they are found guilty of an offence(s).
Do not interfere with natural justice; there are several possible offences here which carry custodial sentencing; blackmail, extortion and obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception if they did not have a tow truck to remove the vehicle in the first place.
Fight for justice not retribution.
@ Matt Allwrights Friend
It is more likely that you sit indoors watching TV all night rather than actually be a friend of Matt Allwright because if you were really his friend, any ‘sting’ could have been carried out by Watchdog under the correct legislation and remit of the BBC.
You have actually committed more offences in the contents of your blog than the ‘rogue clampers’ you claim to be against, there is a clear Breach of the Data Protection Act 1984, 1988 & the revisions of 2003, you UNLAWFULLY applied a clamp without having the licence to undertake the same and then committed what appears to be a MOB to harass another member of the public…
With people like you on Lynnes side, the BILL has NO HOPE of getting thru, you are an idiot and it may be if those people wish to take action, they could get this forum and Lynnes site shut down – what a pratt you are!
Are you going to provide the source of information you were asked for several days ago now Val?
Ha, ha, the pro clamping desperadoes are just so concerned about the fate of their esteemed industry colleagues at LBS. Breach of the Data Protection Act? One has to laugh, nothing about the countless far more serious offences clampers have committed over many years. In any event if any of these tiny brainers actually cared to take a look they would see that the information posted appears already to be in the public domain and publication therefore would not seem to be a breach of anything.
Of course anyone not connected can see that it is all a rather pathetic ploy to divert attention from the many excesses of this disgusting but soon to be defunct business. Roll on the ban, says the general public. Please save us, whimper the handful of vested interests.
@Phil,
Sorry I must have missed your request.
The information is easier to obtain than I first realised, we wrote to all security companies that offer a clamping service (as a potential client) and then by asking the correct questions, compiled the data from those that replied.
We also contacted the CAB for information under the FOI Act to find out how many instances had been reported to them about issues over clamping and they also responded with some very detailed information. (not as many reports to them as some parts of the media would have us believe).
Now some of the companies that replied admitted they did not really have an appeals procedure per se, but if people complained and had a valid reason for not being charged or having a refund, each case was taken on merit and figures were supplied about claims refused and claims refunded.
When you look at the Court records of companies taken to court and winning against the company, the same few names come up time and time again whereas most have none at all or one or two.
It is very clear if Lynne and the Government want to check data, the information is out there and there are more reputable clampers and companies than we are led to believe.
In relation to the issue on the ownership of land, it is written in law under various pieces of legislation from the law of property act 1925 and others since….
Considering the war that successive Governments have taken against motorists I am shocked that Lynne and other can consider this action against private land owners when simple but effective legislation already exists and can be extended to deal with the idiots in the industry instead of punishing the people that will be greatly disadvantaged by the ban.
Val Resnick, you must be having some kind of laugh. Your data for suggesting that many appeals are allowed is that clamping companies have told you so (I’ll bet they had a bit of a laugh themselves as they wrote out these fantasies). What a joke. You cannot be expected to be taken seriously if you come out with claptrap like this.
Regards Citizens Advice, they are well known to be next to useless and very few would complain to them anyway. If you check the consumer forums however (Pepipoo, MSE and CAG) you will see from the countless horror stories that sham clamping appeals are never granted.
Regards court, because of the hassle factor many people do not follow up on it. That does not mean they have not been thoroughly ripped off by lawless thugs. Even where people do take these scammers to court and win, in practically all cases the judgements are not paid and the clampers go to amazing lengths to avoid paying. On the whole clampers have absolutely no respect for the rule of law, which is why tighter regulation was and is a complete non-starter. Hence the total ban is the right and indeed the only option.