The controversial Dingwall Road clampers’ days are numbered thanks to an investigation by the Croydon Guardian.
The owners of the car park has promised to terminate the contract with the clamping firm at the centre of dozens of complaints after we alerted company’s directors to Park Right’s over-zealous enforcement methods.
Park Right, which charges motorists more than £300 to have their clamped and towed vehicles released, was accused of using misleading signs to catch motorists unawares.
Lawyer Christian Parker, is taking Park Right to court and suing them for breach of contract.
He paid for a 24-hour ticket at the car park on his way to play golf in New Addington on August 26. When he returned about six hours later, his car had been towed.
He said: “I am also suing the two guys who towed my car for trespass to property. They had no right to interfere with my car. It is essentially a mugging.”
Park Right is also the subject of a Consumer Direct investigation.
David Ezekiel, director of Retail Parking Solutions which owns the car park, said he had no idea what was going on until he was contacted by the Croydon Guardian.
Mr Ezekiel said he hired Park Right to enforce the car park after his company had a problem with people parking in its lot and not paying for tickets.
He said: “I am not happy, I have read through the articles.
“I have spoken to my legal team and we can terminate the contract with them. It won’t be until Monday.”
He said once the contract had been terminated Park Right would be able to work out a three-month notice period before vacating the land.
More than 20 drivers have complained to the council about Park Right.
A spokesman for Croydon’s trading standards said: “We are investigating this parking operation after complaints were referred to us from Consumer Direct, the national consumer helpline. We take this very seriously as under law businesses must not trade unfairly or mislead consumers.
“While council planners seek to stop this unauthorised operation entirely, we advise anyone leaving their car here to be 100 per cent sure they are parked in the right place – check with an attendant if possible and take photos of any signage when they arrive.
“People who get fines and feel they have been misled should phone Consumer Direct on 0845 4040 506 or go to consumerdirect.gov.uk.”
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