VIDEO: Clampdown on the Clampers
Our investigation exposes 'dodgy' clamping
Over-zealous car clampers have been operating a 'dodgy' private practice opposite Bletchley Leisure Centre – on the say-so of a hairdresser.
Secret Citizen cameras captured a Universal Parking worker clamping a car belonging to a church minister, despite not having permission from the land owner.
Our reporter stepped in to confront the clamper and make sure a 150 fine was returned to the minister, who had been delivering bibles nearby.
Now Universal Parking has promised to pull all clampers from the controversial area.
The undercover investigation was part of our ongoing Clampdown on Clampers campaign and came in the same week the Government introduced new legislation to help people contest clamping charges.
Sunday's drama happened at the back of a row of shops, including Sunats Kebab shop and Powercuts hair salon – all of which are owned by landlord Felice Befilippo.
He said: "I have given no-one permission to clamp on my land."
But Universal Parking claimed it had been given permission to clamp by tenant Mandy Thomas, a hairdresser who works at Powercuts.
Ms Thomas said: "People kept blocking our car park so we got the clampers in... I didn't actually discuss it with the landlord, but I'm sure he's aware of it."
She admitted: "I'm not 100 per cent sure it is our land, but we've always used it."
But trespass law only gives the actual land owner the right to commission clampers.
Mr Befilippo added: "It is not right for any tenant to give Universal the right to clamp."
After pocketing his refund, Ecclesiastical church minister Corbet Meek said: "I feel brilliant. Justice has been done."
Workers at nearby businesses welcomed the news.
Sunats owner Tariq said: "It was dodgy...what right had a hairdresser got to call in the clampers?"
Birmingham based Universal boss Mike Penchon admitted the situation was a 'grey area.'
He said: "As soon as we heard about the confusion we decided we would no longer clamp there.
"We were only doing our job, working for someone who commissioned us. We do not operate on land without written permission.
"If Bletchley had more public long stay car parking people would not call us in to clamp wrongly parked cars."
Universal Parking took over clamping contracts in Bletchley from notorious Excel Security last September.
The company said it has been doing its best to smooth over the ill-feeling left behind by Excel's activities, which allegedly included moving parking signs and marching pensioners to cashpoints.
Mr Penchon said: "Universal Parking would like to point out to the motorists of Milton Keynes that it has no connection with Excel Security and never has done.
"This has been verified by Milton Keynes Trading Standards and the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
"We have an adequate appeals procedure."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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