AN electrician working at a South Essex bookmakers found himself a very sore loser when he had to pay £616 after his vehicle was clamped – in the parking bay designated for the bookies’ use.
Roger Lucking, 68, an electrical contractor from Hastingwood was hit with the mammoth fine after parking up without a permit on display while working at Billericay bookies Joe Jennings on Sunday morning.
He fell foul of parking company LBS Enforcement Ltd commissioned by the property’s owners - who don’t get a penny themselves from the clampers – while the bookies themselves are furious that their business is being blighted.
However, they are being blamed by the clampers for the problems.
The victim is luckless Mr Lucking who told The Enquirer: “I had to pop into the shop to do a little job so turned up around 11am, dropped my tools off, came back out and I had been clamped.
“I argued with the guy and pointed out I was working there and had permission but it had no sway and then when I heard the price I was just so angry!
“I’m usually pretty laid back and would have put up with £80 just to get on my way but over £600 for parking in the bookies’ own bay, really?”
The fine was levied by Southend-based clamping firm LBS Enforcement who boast on their website: “Our services can be provided completely FREE of charge…the only people that pay for the service are the people that commit the parking offence.”
They explain Mr Lucking was charged: £180+VAT for clamping of a commercial vehicle and then an additional £345+VAT for removal of a commercial vehicle totalling £616.75 - even though Mr Lucking’s vehicle was not towed away and there was only a ten minute interval between the ticket being written and the release of the car.
LBS Enforcement told The Enquirer that ‘removal’ charges come into affect at the point a tow-truck is called.
Dave Oldershaw, Manager of the Billericay branch of Joe Jennings (pictured above) says he is at his wit’s end about the parking problem.
“The guy who used to work for them used to come in the shop and ask ‘Is that your car?’ but since a new geezer’s come along he just can’t wait to put a clamp on,” said Mr Oldershaw, who alleges the company is piling on the cost by rushing to call out a tow truck.
“We had a cleaner last year who they charged £400 at 5.30 in the morning and she had to quit her job.
“They did my co-worker Dean for £125 and that was them doing it on the cheap because they knew he worked here – they’d called for a tow-truck within seven minutes.
“We’ve been told it’s supposed to be 45 minutes from the time the ticket comes out so it’s a joke!
“We’ve had enough of it - £125 for Dean, £600 for Roger, £400 for our cleaner so they’ve had over a grand off us now for parking in OUR own bay!
“They say you should have a permit on display but we haven’t been given enough and even if we did, one guy got caught while he was visiting the shop to get his permit!”
A spokesman for LBS Enforcement Clamping answered the criticism saying: “The cost reflects the large price of a tow-truck needed to retrieve the van.
“We have to call the truck from Southend which can take about 40 minutes so the clamper was correct to call for the truck immediately.
“Joe Jennings were handed permits three weeks ago and have continued to flout parking rules since then.”
Iles & Co Estate Agents, who own the car park, were contacted but declined to comment on the case.
Have you had problems with clamping fees? Email phil@theenquirer.co.uk with your clamping nightmares or comment below.