Clamped... on own drive

Nicola Dowling

July 02, 2008

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HOUSING officer Laura Mullay was so hard up she couldn't afford to repair her car for its MoT test.

So she parked it on her drive and registered it as officially off the road while she saved up.

But the authorities decided that it wasn't off the road far enough - and clamped it because two wheels were touching the tarmac.

Now Laura, 28, is even more out of pocket . . . with a £200 bill to have her car released.

Everything was fine until Laura drove the Renault Megane convertible forward on the drive a couple of feet so that she could move the refuse bins outside her house.

But the car broke down, leaving front wheels touching the road - and Laura could not push it back up the kerb on to the drive and went to work.

When she got back home, she was furious to find the car had been clamped, leaving her to pay £200 to have it freed.

Appeal

Then when she called the clampers to complain, Laura was told she would have to appeal by letter . . . although she is a dyslexia sufferer and has difficulty with the written word.

Laura, of Midgley Avenue, Gorton, said: "I ended up having to pay the £200 because they told me if I didn't, it would go up by £17 a day and I didn't want to let it mount up.

"I had registered the car off the road about a month ago when it failed its MoT and I couldn't afford to get the work done straight away."

Tim Cowen, of NCP Services, which clamps and removes untaxed vehicles on behalf of the DVLA, said: "The car was untaxed and a long way into the public highway."

He said NCP were obliged to take action and added: "We do try to be fair and reasonable.

"Although this vehicle should not have been moved out of the driveway, we will be very happy to consider an appeal.

"In order to appeal, we will need to see evidence that the car was broken down, such as a breakdown recovery receipt or an invoice from a mechanic.

"Because of this lady's difficulties with writing, we will be happy to do this on her behalf and contact any relevant breakdown firm or mechanic.

"If it is clear the car was broken down, we will refund the clamp release fee."

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

North Bury, Bury (02/07/2008 at 07:34)

This case typifies the pathetic state this country is in.

Kalamity Karney [AKA Scrotnig], Gorton (02/07/2008 at 07:37)

Nice to see this "zero tolerance" approach to crime.

I wonder when we will see a similar "zero tolerance" approach to burglars, muggers and vandals?

Oh, I forgot - no money to be made in those crimes. It's all about profit, as usual.

polkyb (02/07/2008 at 07:59)

NCP again?

These guys need to take more water with it as they seem to be in the 'jobsworth' news every week now...

Mr Angry, Bury (02/07/2008 at 08:03)

Should have got an angle grinder and sliced it off.

Wheel clampers are just the lowest form of life, fascist scum raking in money

Tameside Blue, Tameside (02/07/2008 at 08:19)

What sort of a country do we live in when things like this happen.

There should be a law against stupidity and pettyness.

This woman has gone through all the correct procedures to enable the car to be officially off road but what bothers me is how do these people know about the car being 'Off Road' ?

Are they going round snooping on peoples private property

If I were the lady in question, I'd get some 'Mates' round to lift the car fully onto her drive in which case, the vehicle will be on 'Private' property and she can have the clamp removed by friends

Someone needs a kick up the bum for this

PW, Manchester (02/07/2008 at 08:20)

It's not the principle. It's the money! We all know that.

Goebbels would be proud of today's Britain.

better off red (02/07/2008 at 08:37)

when did the NCP do the council's work for them?
no wonder they are ultra vigilant in their parking fines these days.
the country is going to the dogs

Tezza, Tyldesley (02/07/2008 at 08:41)

If the car was on the road then she got what she deserves, I am sick of these people coming up with some sob story the rules are the rules. We only have her word that the car was just on the road it could have been fully parked on the road and why do we need to know that she a is dyslexia housing officer who has a problem with the written word surly in that job you need to be able to write a letter.. And I am sure that she could find someone to write a letter for her, but no because that would not get the publics sympathy would it. And Mr Angry, Bury wheel clampers are just doing their job if people stuck to the rules then they would soon be out of a job, I am sure that you would be the first to moan if this car damaged your car while it was supposed to be “ off the road”.

MsD, Manchester (02/07/2008 at 08:46)

Yes, it would have been the angle grinder approach for me too. I would then have got rid of the clamp and denied it was ever on my car. Unless the NCP jobsworth had filmed himself putting the clamp on, they would have had no evidence. Got to play these idiots at their own game.

Jay B, oldham (02/07/2008 at 08:47)

NCP is a business. Businesses are there to make money. so any excuse to make it they take the oppotunity.
These sorts of companys need to be monitored. they seem to be getting people for everything. i parked in a pay and display car park in oldham after 6pm. and got a ticket because i hadn't paid for the night time ticket which was just a pound. but the sign didnt clearly tell you that. got a refund in the end though.

Mr Angry, Bury (02/07/2008 at 09:00)

Herr Tezza, I was just obeying orders, which must be obeyed at all times without question...

Pete (02/07/2008 at 09:03)

Look at the photo. Is there no pavement in front of the drive? It looks like there is and the car is parked fully on it with the bumper over hanging the road! If this is the case then it should be clamped - its forcing pedestrians, of all varieties, onto the road. A better picture informing us of how much over the drive the car is would be useful - a little bit as claimed by the owner or substantially as claimed by NCP. Would that extra bit of info and more accurate reporting made this a non-story?

Tezza, Tyldesley (02/07/2008 at 09:07)

Jay B, Oldham, Yes NCP is a business and they are there to make money, so what’s the problem if people park correctly then they don’t get tickets, these companies are regulated, you say that you got a ticket for not paying the night rate which was “Just a Pound” where do we draw the line? If you don’t pay you get a ticket, and if you get your money back then all well and good but I bet you won’t do it again.

I can’t understand why people think that parking attendants are the “scum of the earth” they are there to do a job and keep the traffic moving and car parks clear so that rest of us can park properly. And no before anybody says it I AM NOT A PARKING ATTENDENT I just think that lots of people don’t give a dam about anybody else when they park it just the “I’m alright Jack mentality”

The Voice of Reason, Manchester (02/07/2008 at 09:25)

I think the story as supplied by the car owner lacks credibility, where's the photographs of its position with the clamps in situ? Surely, its the next natural thing to take a photo of an injustice like this!
The DVLA have been quite open and honest in that the vehicle was some considerable distance into the public highway, which to them would infer current use. Furthermore, a simple pro forma written notification (tick box system) is required, to avoid problems like this. Its well within the capabilities of everyone, considering they even send you the form, fault clearly lies with the owner/driver.
Its time to tighten up on people who don't pay or won't pay, sorry, but no sympathy whatsoever!

Mark,Radcliffe. (02/07/2008 at 10:35)

The tarmac has been laid incorrectly..angle grind it.

Dave (02/07/2008 at 10:59)

Bit of a pointless article if we're not told how far onto the road it was!

mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (02/07/2008 at 11:09)

In fairness to NCP - they are a lot more sensible than the previous contractors.

At one point you'd regularly hear stories of buses being clamped at bus stops etc but NCP do try and be reasonable in the city centre.

I also think that proper traffic wardens are an important part of the city. It really bugs me when people stick their hazards on and think that means its ok to park on double-yellows, blocking the traffic behind them.

This is a bit over zealous though - if the car was declared as SORN (off road) then they could have checked with the DVLA.

It just needs a bit of common sense - as long as the car wasn't seriously obstructing pedestrians on the pavement then they should have let it go.

I think that traffic wardens should be fined £10 everytime they fail to use common sense in trivial matters - some just go power crazy.

But be glad we don't live in the capital!!!

Pete (02/07/2008 at 11:20)

Look at the picture. Is the car just off the drive or right over the pavement? We will all have to guess because the photo is more concerned with the clamp and the owner and not the context.

AlexisV (02/07/2008 at 11:23)

NCP are a terrible company. Bearing in mind the amount of income they make issuing penalty tickets which have no basis in law.

" If the car was on the road then she got what she deserves, I am sick of these people coming up with some sob story the rules are the rules. We only have her word that the car was just on the road it could have been fully parked on the road"

Well the photo is there, and she is on the pavement ie. the highway. Your attitude is one of intolerance though. Rules are rules, but that's assuming all rules are right. No doubt you won't be complaining about the 10p tax abolition or congestion charge because oh yes, rules are rules!

Davey, Middleton (02/07/2008 at 11:40)

If she's so hard up then she should sell her Megane convertable and buy a cheaper car, leaving her with enough money to pay for her Tax and Mot

Frostee, Oldham (02/07/2008 at 11:45)

Doesn't it make you proud and happy to live in such a miserable country as this.

Bigfish (02/07/2008 at 12:01)

Is there another picture we can see? To me, this looks like she IS obstructing the pavement/road! In which case... clamp her!

sallyg, Lancs (02/07/2008 at 12:02)

Tezza - private parking companies are regulated? By whom? If you think it's the BPA, think again. It's just a trade association.

And if CEOs just want to keep traffic moving, why don't they tell people to move on, instead of hiding in doorways and issuing tickets?

As for this lady, I'm a little sceptical about her story about moving the car a few feet just to get her bins out.

ace, manchester (02/07/2008 at 12:07)

Im sorry but if the car is on the pavements its dangerous? and if its on the pavements its not off the road technically,if you give this woman the benefit that her car is only a inch on the pavements what happens when another car is four foot on the pavement? its all in the point of law,its either off the road or its not..Sorry but its the law ,and i dont know why they printed that she is a housing officer?? what has this got to do with a car illegally parked.Thats life pay your fine and keep quiet.

ace, manchester (02/07/2008 at 12:11)

Mr Angry, Bury
SAY THAT NEXT TIME A CAR BLOCKS YOU IN BECAUSE IT ILLEGALLY PARKED.These laws are made to help the general public.if we didnt have these laws we would have a terrible parking problem "ZERO TOLLERANCE" And when the penny drops the public will start to think about others in our community."Blue badge parking comes to mind! nobody gives a toss unless it costs them personally.

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