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Car Park Clampers - Letter to Staff re Commission

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Mr Whippy	Car Park Clampers - Letter to Staff re Commission	Lead	[-]
Posts: 25 (10/07/06 16:51:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This is the original post on the subject of clamping at the privately owned Thames Avenue Car Park. Additional posts include a letter to staff from the 'parking control' company stating revised terms re commissions payable per clamping fee generated. ______________________ Yet another part of declining Windsor to be ashamed of ! I ordered a couple of tickets from our smashing Windsor Theatre, when the tickets were delivered there was a warning note, as follows.... "Patrons are advised the owners of the Castle Car Park directly behind the Theatre are actively pursuing a Wheel clamping policy. The on the spot release fee is 120.00" How can this be allowed what dumbo in authority lets this sort of thing happen !!"> "> Last Edited By: thamesweb 05/01/08 02:16:17. Edited 2 times.
thamesweb	Re: Car Park Crooks of Windsor	#1	[-]
Posts: 1321 (10/08/06 12:22:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This was in the news a little while back when a lady was late back to her car and was particularly upset by the clamping. It can happen of course because the car park is privately owned and there is little that the borough can do. The simple answer is not to use the car park.
Mr Whippy	Car Park Crooks of Windsor	#2	[-]
Posts: 25 (12/04/06 18:11:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	More of them !! Windsor Arts Theatre in St Leonard's Road, warns that the car park behind tha Arts Centre clamps and charges 300.00 to release you! Last Edited By: thamesweb 05/01/08 02:17:55. Edited 1 times.
the jiffle king	Re: Car Park Crooks of Windsor	#3	[-]
Posts: 83 (12/13/06 09:43:56) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	If your car is clamped, make sure that you ask to see their identification and that all individuals have the right photo ID. They have to be certified and they are not allowed to borrow badges, or not have them displayed. Also be aware that they are not allowed to damage your property in any way shape or form (Nor you to damage theirs) Signage must be appropriate and available at the time of parking, and you can dispute any ticket and the theory says that you can give them an address to invoice if the clamping is in dispute. (It's easier to say than do!) All the best and hope no-one gets caught
the jiffle king	Re: Car Park Crooks of Windsor	#4	[-]
Posts: 83 (12/19/06 06:10:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Be careful if you park on Russell Street (the Campsie Spaces), there is active clamping going on despite the fact the land is owned by 4 parties and there is only one sign. Last night they refused to unclamp someone who had the right sticker on their car as they could not see it (It was clearly visible) We should all rebel against the cowboy bullies who are clampers!!
thamesweb	Curtains for Clamping until an Hour after the Show	#5	[-]
Posts: 1321 (04/06/07 08:29:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	RBWM Press Release dated 4th April 07 Its curtain up on a better deal for theatre-goers in Windsor, many of whom have faced an unwelcome final act to their evening out by finding their cars clamped in the privately-owned Castle car park. Following a meeting with the car park managers, the Royal Borough has been notified of a new saving grace period after the end of each performance which means Theatre Royal audiences will be given an hour to get their vehicles out of the car park before the clampers take action. David Lunn, council chief executive, said ongoing public complaints about the over zealous and inflexible approach to clamping taken by the car park operators, had prompted the council to take up the cudgels on their behalf. He said: Many theatre goers have had their evenings ruined by finding their cars clamped after performances. The general feeling was that the clamping company was over zealous and unmoving in its approach and there are countless stories of people being left stranded or having to fork out huge sums of money to get their vehicles freed just because they were late getting out of the theatre. This is not the welcoming image for Windsor we want to present to the public so the council organised a meeting with the owners to get their co-operation for a more flexible system that gives people a short period of grace after the curtain comes down in the nearby theatre. In a letter to the council, the car park managers said it had been agreed with the Theatre Royal: not to clamp - or alternatively release without charge - theatre goers with valid theatre tickets provided they return to their cars by 11.30pm on the night of the performance or one hour after the end of a matine. An additional benefit for all parkers is a 15-minute grace period after the end of their displayed parking time before being clamped. David Lunn added: This is a welcome demonstration of flexibility and it will be much appreciated by people using the Castle car park.
thamesweb	Car Park Clampers on Commission - so no leeway!!!	#6	[-]
Posts: 1038 (04/28/08 06:49:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We have in our possession a letter from the 'Parking Control Company' contracted to look after the privately run car park in Thames Avenue - NOT to be confused with the Borough Car Park in River Street. The letter states that a number of inadequate sets of photos have been taken by the clamping operatives whenever vehicles are clamped. 'Blue Notices' (presumably some sort of staff information sheet) 'have been issued in the last month notifying teams when photo sets were not complete.' As a result of the above, the letter states that the company has implemented a new procedure as follows (the company's capitalisation and bold text): IF THERE ARE ANY SHORTFALLS IN PHOTOS TAKEN, IN ADDITION TO THE BLUE NOTICES BEING ISSUED, NO COMMISSION WILL BE PAYABLE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE TEAM FOR THAT VEHICLE. IF THERE IS A COURT CASE AND WE LOSE DUE TO INADEQUATE PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE, THE TEAM OF OPERATIVES WHO IMMOBILISED THE VEHICLE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE WHOLE FINE/REFUND/COSTS. No wonder that visitors to Windsor are clamped and are so understandably aggrieved. Last time I walked by the car park there was a white van parked in the middle with two operatives, complete with sheafs of notes about vehicles parked, so that as a the clock ticked by they could pounce and qualify for their commission. The white van in which two operatives watch over parked cars and clamp any vehicles overstaying their paid time If people chose to make their living this way, it is in my view very sad. What is worse is the image it portrays to visitors who are, for one reason or another, caught by the clampers. We have already seen in the local papers a number of reports of disabled drivers being clamped, tourists, or theatre goers who have been delayed perhaps by a show over-running, or for whatever other reason, yet this company, and the owners of the car park, seem to care little and will grab their £120 within seconds of a so-called 'offence' being committed. As I say, it is not the way that I would like to make a living. For the record, the parking control company has a contract with the car park owners who pay them nothing for their services. The clamping company makes its income solely from clamping release fees. The employees make a significant amount (perhaps all) of their income from a percentage of the release fees yet are liable if any clamped victim wins a claim against the company in the courts. Although the Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd claims to fully train their staff, no training can overcome the problems that a commission-based pay system will generate. I think the owners of the car park should cancel their contract straightaway and take on a more human face in the running of their business. They might claim that they must enforce their parking rules strictly, (and in fairness their large sign does state 'NO FREE PARKING') in case motorists abuse these rules and deliberately try to park for free, but the truth is that the vast majority of the parking public are law abiding and reasonable and will return to their cars and drive away within their purchased time. And what about all those motorists who pay for an amount of time, yet vacate their place way before their time is up. Refund?? No chance!!! I would like the RBWM to investigate the operation of this car park and see what can be done to halt this profiteering from the public. Last Edited By: thamesweb 04/28/08 07:50:47. Edited 3 times.
Pat Larkin	Parking question	#7	[-]
Posts: 94 (04/29/08 00:08:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Where would you suggest we park on our next Windsor visit, please? Somewhere quite close to Peascod Street and somewhere we WON'T be clamped... my husband says we should drive to our friend's home in Dedworth, leave the car there, then bus into town now that we've got these new improved bus passes that cover the whole country, well, England. Thanks for any suggestions.
thamesweb	Parking in Windsor	#8	[-]
Posts: 1043 (04/29/08 00:46:27) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	King Edward Car Park off Arthur Road is fine I guess, and close to Peascod Street. I am not aware that they use clamps! Parking in Windsor Parking in Dedworth then getting the bus into town is fine if you have the time. Personally I hate public transport, even if it is free! Much prefer to walk, but as I should be getting MY free bus pass too soon, I might change my mind!
Pat Larkin	Parking in Windsor	#9	[-]
Posts: 96 (04/29/08 06:46:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks, thamesweb. I clicked on the link you gave, saw all the colours and the 'key', thought I understood it.....only to read, further down, that some of these facilities may have been changed....We really don't mind walking or climbing steps/inclines, so perhaps the Old Gasworks area might be the best option, which is where you've suggested I think...King Edward Car Park. We've had bus passes for 'several' years now, but have used them, as a couple, once......it's not that we're anti-public transport, it's mainly the standing and waiting that gets to us. Patience grows thin, with age!!!!! I saw on the link, a parking meter in a street and got the feeling that this might be Albert Street, I could be wrong. It just looked familiar. I hope you've got your photo ready for when you apply for your bus pass....I don't recognise 'me' on my pass, I'm sure it's someone else!