There's your clamp back

Lord Nikon

Close to wear I live a car got clamped, a Renault Megane. I think for almost two days the car was sitting with the front wheel off and the clamp dangling off it, in the same place it was parked.

What I know of the story, is that the guy went to take the clamp off, and NCPS came along and told him to stop or whatever, then the Gardai showed up and took a few pictures.

A day later...

CALLY0412

neuromancer wrote: »

Close to wear I live a car got clamped, a Renault Megane. I think for almost two days the car was sitting with the front wheel off and the clamp dangling off it, in the same place it was parked.

What I know of the story, is that the guy went to take the clamp off, and NCPS came along and told him to stop or whatever, then the Gardai showed up and took a few pictures.

A day later...

brilliant.....
Think we Irish need to go down the same route as the french and start super glueing locks..
Maybe the cost of all those new clamps clampers are having to buy will encourage them to get out of the business.. fingers crossed:D;)

Max_Damage

A hero to the people!

Atlantic Dawn

Great to see and great that NCPS will not bring any action against anyone messing with their clamps as it will end their business should it end up in the courts

ottostreet

I don't get it, is that two seperate clamps? and is he not gonna be done, since the Gardai came along and took pics?


fair play to him for having the balls to do it though

Turner

Surely its not an offence to take off a clamp as long as you dont damage it?

The clamping company obviously called the Gardai to have them witness if any damage was caused to the clamp with it being removed by the "clampee"

In my opinion you are perfectly entitled to take a clamp off your car as long as you dont damage it.

If you do damage it, offer to pay the clamping company the cost of repairing it.

darragh o meara

Were they cut? I can't really see. Hate them clampers with a passion even though I've only ever been done once and it wasn't on properly so came off quiet easily.

Good to see people starting to rise against them. The French had the right idea but some of us Irish just believe in sitting back and taking it. For example look at the protests they've organised in the past when they shut down the ports with blockades. I was caught in one a few years back and them lads don't sit back and take the Sh*t that's dished out.

Atlantic Dawn

From my point of view they are illegally immobilising my vehicle with a clamp of which they have no license or regulation within this state to do so, it's the same in my eyes as someone walking up to me on the street and putting a set of hand cuffs on me. I wouldn't have any fear of cutting one off and actually leaving it in a state where it is destroyed.

Turner

Ok it is an offence to damage somebodys property even if they stick it on your car and immobilise it.

But id love to see the legislation that allows them to do it.

And as far as im aware there is no offence for removing it (without damaging it).

Atlantic Dawn

Chief--- wrote: »

Ok it is an offence to damage somebodys property even if they stick it on your car and immobilise it.

I understand the offence to damage property, however going by this logic someone could come to your front door of your house and place a new lock on it and then charge you €500 to leave your own house. There has to be priority to a persons free movement over the rights of property.

mondeo

I would have kept them and made two nice little dinner trays out of them.
Or turned them into mini coffee tables. Would have been lovely.

Turner

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I understand the offence to damage property, however going by this logic someone could come to your front door of your house and place a new lock on it and then charge you €500 to leave your own house. There has to be priority to a persons free movement over the rights of property.

Oh i agree.

I understand there is legislation governing councils and traffic wardens.... but private companies??

I dont know of the legislation that cover these, if any.

Sheeps

I long to be able to do this.

Del2005

Sheeps wrote: »

I long to be able to do this.

It's easy.

1st you need to get clamped, make sure it's not a main road too ensure it's not legal clampers!

Then play.

OutlawPete

Few weeks back I was woken at 4am to the sound of what was obviously an angle grinder and on looking out the window seen two lads removing a car clamp from a woman's car, she seemed happy.

Mint Sauce

Reminds me of this video. Removing a clamp, legally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHwKLhIpa94

Mongarra

Thanks for the video. Hard to see exactly what they did to release it but by the foul-mouthed comments of the clampers and their lying about the damage, it was obvoius they were frustrated.

Result!

BeanFlicker

Fair play to him can't stand the clampers.

Can someone clear this up for me please, does the owner suffer any repercussion from removing the clamp without it being damaged? I've been clamped twice & paid twice but will try my hand at diy next time

Del2005

BeanFlicker wrote: »

Fair play to him can't stand the clampers.

Can someone clear this up for me please, does the owner suffer any repercussion from removing the clamp without it being damaged? I've been clamped twice & paid twice but will try my hand at diy next time

If it's a private clamp and you remove it without damage they'll threaten you with court, but they never follow through.

If it's a private clamp and you damage it while removing it they can take you to court for criminal damage. If you do damage it take it with you and play dumb;)

If it's council approved clamp you can't do anything.

newkidonblock

We were clamped by a private clamper on Sunday morning.
The only phone number supplied was an automated number to allow payment by credit card. There were no operators answering the phones on a Sunday, only a voice mail service, which didnt even say there was noone on duty till the Monday.
Eventually I found a number for the Management company and when ringing it late on Sunday got a simple p*** off and pay the fee, when I asked waht legal right they had to interfere with my property I got no answer.
A quick visit to the local Garda station followed, and after an interesting discussion they said they had no interest and would not intervene if I cut the clamp.
On the Monday I got talking to someone who said that the management company had given them the permission to interfere with our property. I asked them to provide me with the legislation that allowed them 1 - interfere with my car and 2 -demand money they could not do so.
I left several voice messages since and no response so the end result is to be seen above
I did leave them a voice mail letting them know there clamp was still where they left it, and yet again they have not returned my call.

mondeo

Good for you. I'm looking forward to getting clamped so I can grind the bugger off!

johnos1984

Same guy as above and the Police feature in this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QkM-dWAXOs

MagicSean

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

From my point of view they are illegally immobilising my vehicle with a clamp of which they have no license or regulation within this state to do so, it's the same in my eyes as someone walking up to me on the street and putting a set of hand cuffs on me. I wouldn't have any fear of cutting one off and actually leaving it in a state where it is destroyed.

Your analogy is incomplete. Clamping isn't random. It would be more like you walking into a hotel and sleeping in one of their rooms and refusing to pay and then being handcuffed by their security.

maglite

^^ actually its more like paying for a hotel room then sitting a chair in the lobby while waiting for a taxi and finding someone has chained your leg to the chair demanding €200 you release you.

mdebets

maglite wrote: »

^^ actually its more like paying for a hotel room then sitting a chair in the lobby while waiting for a taxi and finding someone has chained your leg to the chair demanding €200 you release you.

actually its more like paying for a hotel room and signing a contract that states that you are only allowed to sit on the red chair in the lobby and then sitting on the green chair in the lobby while waiting for a taxi and finding someone has chained your leg to the chair demanding €200 you release you.

pa990

johnos1984 wrote: »

Same guy as above and the Police feature in this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QkM-dWAXOs

how long did it take him.. it was daylight when he started, and night by the time he finshed

MagicSean

pa990 wrote: »

how long did it take him.. it was daylight when he started, and night by the time he finshed

If the clamper was in any way smart he would have just put a clamp on the other side while the guy was working.

Just out of curiosity, what do the anti-clampers think should replace the clamping system?

KamiKazi

Del2005 wrote: »

If it's a private clamp and you damage it while removing it they can take you to court for criminal damage. If you do damage it take it with you and play dumb;)

Worked for me

CarMuppet

k_mac wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what do the anti-clampers think should replace the clamping system?

More free parking available...

Del2005

k_mac wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what do the anti-clampers think should replace the clamping system?

I've nothing against clamping.

It's the cowboy intimidating thug clampers with no appeals process I object to.

When clearly signed and with a legitimate appeals process it unfortunately serves a purpose and can be quite easily avoided.

Cookie_Monster

k_mac wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what do the anti-clampers think should replace the clamping system?

making developer provide the correct (legal minimum+) amount of spaces in apt blocks would be a good start.

And for all other circumstances the companies need to be properly regulated, follow set procedures and have max limits and a proper complaints and appeals section setup. Including invoicing rather than cash on demand

newkidonblock

k_mac wrote: »

If the clamper was in any way smart he would have just put a clamp on the other side while the guy was working.

Just out of curiosity, what do the anti-clampers think should replace the clamping system?

It is not anti clamping as much as the attitude of clamping companies.

No-one to answer the phone at night.

A voice mail that tells you they will return your call, but no-one does, nor do they tell you that the voice mail wont be picked up till Monday morning.

An operator who lies to you stating they have a license to clamp, and when challenged to produce evidence insists its on their web site even though it isnt, and then says they have applied for one...total lies.

No-one to explain what right they have to break the law, but you don't..

I would have no problem with licnesed clamping where a 24 hour phone service was provided for queries / complaints etc and an independent appeals process was in place with no input from the clamping company bar providing their evidence of why a vehicle was clamped.

An independent appeals process would have to be available 24/7 and could order the immediate removal of a clamp and award compsensation to persons wrongly clamped.

Stark

k_mac wrote: »

Your analogy is incomplete. Clamping isn't random. It would be more like you walking into a hotel and sleeping in one of their rooms and refusing to pay and then being handcuffed by their security.

Random clamping is quasi-legal in Ireland. I came out my front door one morning to find my car which was sitting in my privately owned driveway had a yellow boot on it and a note on the windscreen with a number to call saying €90 to release it. Immediately rang the Gardaí. Their response? "Well you must have done something wrong for your car to be clamped". The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

CarMuppet

Stark wrote: »

Random clamping is quasi-legal in Ireland. I came out my front door one morning to find my car which was sitting in my privately owned driveway had a yellow boot on it and a note on the windscreen with a number to call saying €90 to release it. Immediately rang the Gardaí. Their response? "Well you must have done something wrong for your car to be clamped". The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

That's crazy.. what happened afterwards? Did you have to pay or cut?

Stark

Had to pay as no angle grinder to hand and needed the car. No appeals process either.

CarMuppet

Stark wrote: »

Had to pay as no angle grinder to hand and needed the car. No appeals process either.

nasty stuff... sorry to hear that....

mgbgt1978

Stark wrote: »

The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

Yes, the UK have outlawed a lot of private clamping. But most clamping will now be replaced with the "tow-and-impound" scam (sorry, system).
This is usually more expensive and operated by even worse scum.

Victor Meldrew

Stark wrote: »

Had to pay as no angle grinder to hand and needed the car. No appeals process either.

There has to be more to this? Parked in your own driveway?? were they paramilitaries using extortion?

What town do you live in? Did you contact a local representative?

Reloc8

Stark wrote: »

Random clamping is quasi-legal in Ireland. I came out my front door one morning to find my car which was sitting in my privately owned driveway had a yellow boot on it and a note on the windscreen with a number to call saying €90 to release it. Immediately rang the Gardaí. Their response? "Well you must have done something wrong for your car to be clamped". The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

????

In your own driveway ???? And you told the gardai this and they wouldn't attend ?

Seriously...why didn't you get some name & id details from whoever released it at least ? Did you take and keep a picture of the clamped car in situ ?

Stark

Took pictures, got letter from landlord explaining ownership of the house and our right to park there. It was APCOA who clamped the car, they simply replied with "we received a phone call asking for the car to be clamped". There was a Senator from Galway on Oireachtas report the other week furious over a similar incident with the same company and demanding they be investigated but unfortunately the old Irish attitude of "sure it must be your fault" prevailed and he was shot down.

Grumpypants

Stark wrote: »

Random clamping is quasi-legal in Ireland. I came out my front door one morning to find my car which was sitting in my privately owned driveway had a yellow boot on it and a note on the windscreen with a number to call saying €90 to release it. Immediately rang the Gardaí. Their response? "Well you must have done something wrong for your car to be clamped". The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

If they left a clamp on your property you should issue them with a illegal dumping fine of €1500.

But i have a feeling there is more to the story.

Victor Meldrew

Stark wrote: »

It was APCOA who clamped the car, they simply replied with "we received a phone call asking for the car to be clamped".

Not buying this. http://www.apcoa.ie/ not a two bit operation of knuckle draggers...

Smelling shennigans here. Joe Duffy time, or small claims court. (cheap and satisfying)

Stark

Could have been a neighbour with a grudge maybe. If we had some sort of regulation and indepdent appeals process in this country, I could simply have sent in an appeal and have my money back. They admitted it was their **** up after I explained the situation but "you have to understand, we were told to clamp your car so we can't refund your money". Too late for Joe Duffy/small claims court now, that was over a year ago.

Victor Meldrew

Stark wrote: »

Could have been a neighbour with a grudge maybe. If we had some sort of regulation and indepdent appeals process in this country, I could simply have sent in an appeal and have my money back. They admitted it was their **** up after I explained the situation but "you have to understand, we were told to clamp your car so we can't refund your money". Too late for Joe Duffy/small claims court now, that was over a year ago.

I'd stir it a bit more...
Indigent letters to directors of the company are always worth a punt. CC the min for transport and a few people in Veoila (run the Luas, use APCOA for pay & display) that might not want the PR headache.

They will pay you to shut you up and you will have cost them a fortune in terms of Senior Managers time.

Viper_JB

Stark wrote: »

Could have been a neighbour with a grudge maybe. If we had some sort of regulation and indepdent appeals process in this country, I could simply have sent in an appeal and have my money back. They admitted it was their **** up after I explained the situation but "you have to understand, we were told to clamp your car so we can't refund your money". Too late for Joe Duffy/small claims court now, that was over a year ago.

If you want people to do something about this you could try ringing them up and see how many of your neighbours you can get clamped while they're parked in their own driveway, one sure fire way of getting your neighbours to possibly stop them from using them company.

MagicSean

Stark wrote: »

Random clamping is quasi-legal in Ireland. I came out my front door one morning to find my car which was sitting in my privately owned driveway had a yellow boot on it and a note on the windscreen with a number to call saying €90 to release it. Immediately rang the Gardaí. Their response? "Well you must have done something wrong for your car to be clamped". The UK outlawed such thuggery. The sooner Ireland follows suit the better.

That was a poor Garda response to be honest. If it was your privately owned property it should have been investigated, assuming that's the full story.

plonk

In my apartment block today there were two cars clamped for not being in correct spaces. This car park is behind secure gates and there was 40+ free spaces available as there always is.

Where do these people stand. Ridiculous IMO, was talking to one of the guys and it turned out he was visiting one of his mates who has a parking space that was free but some1 else was in it, so he parked in another space. Come 11am this morning and he was clamped.

Where does he stand. 100 euro to remove the clamp aswell where as the sign only says 80

johnos1984

plonk wrote: »

Where does he stand. 100 euro to remove the clamp aswell where as the sign only says 80

Beside the car paying the clampers or beside the car cutting it off

Max Power1

johnos1984 wrote: »

Beside the car not paying the clampers and instead cutting it off

fyp

plonk

The reason I'm asking is that I have mates over at times and they park inside the complex. Outside the complex is property of the docks so there is nowhere they can park for free.

As I said there are loads of free(unused) spaces. Is taking a clamp off without damaging in this situation legal and legally do they have to provide spaces for visitors.

hmmm

plonk wrote: »

In my apartment block today there were two cars clamped for not being in correct spaces. This car park is behind secure gates and there was 40+ free spaces available as there always is.

Where do these people stand. Ridiculous IMO, was talking to one of the guys and it turned out he was visiting one of his mates who has a parking space that was free but some1 else was in it, so he parked in another space. Come 11am this morning and he was clamped.

I often get people parking in my apartment space. Just because it is free at the time, and may often be free, does not mean I want people parking in it as they see fit.