car clamping , can anyone help ?

[mollymandy]

3.20 parked car next to two guys
3.23 advised by friend that car was being clamped
3.25 spoke to guy asked them if they had seen anything they said they did it ! and i should phone the number on the sticker .
3.29 advised by phone to pay the guys 90 cash only
3.33 rang husband , he came to site
3.40 husband went to mini bank , when he left guys advised me that release fee had gone upto 155 , 90 was not enough , husband went back to bank
3.44 rang clamping company to complain
3.46 rang police advised not an emergency call and try to speak to landowners / landowners not answering door .
3.54 rang clamping company they said they would get a supervisor to ring me back
3.58 payed 155 left an answer phone messsage to complain to clamping firm
4.00 tried to contact land owers by telephone no reply

[Ethel]

There is a phone number for advice towards the bottom of this link:

http://www.racfoundation.org/index.php?option= com_content&task=view&id=292&Itemid=35

You will be asked:
Was there a sign prominently warning of clamping?

Were you given a proper receipt by the clampers?

Did you ask to see their licence, or were you shown the licence?

[AniaSM]

Maybe the landowners weren't there because it was Sunday? There should have been clearly visible signs telling you that you coulden't park there. If there were none you may have a case. Fight!

[R2Driver]

This sounds like a scam to me. Are you in the UK? If in Scotland, private clamping is illegal as per case of BLACK v CARMICHAEL 1992 which provided that unless a statutory body has clamped you, it would amount to extortion.

In England I don't know, but see this link:
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/hillingdon/ cons9.htm

Certainly contact trading standards to check that the firm is legit. Revisit the site to see if there are signs around (the bogus clampers will often only erect signs for the period of their working the area).

But by the sounds of it, the price going up and only accepting cash would indicate a scam.

It's unfortunate on this occasion if this is the case, however in future, always wait for the police to arrive before paying, and if you can remove the clamp from your car without damaging the clamp, you should do so and then drive away.