Clamped since November

[workshy]

Declared the vehicle SORN in October when the tax ran out and left the car on my drive until I sold it, early November. The buyer paid me and and I gave him the paperwork. He said he'd pick it up after he'd got it taxed in the following couple of days.

 

This is where I was silly enough to leave the car on the road outside my house as I needed the space on my drive. Next day - Clamped!

 

The buyer had found out about the clamp before he'd taxed the car and, after a few choice words were exchanged, the money was refunded and the car became mine again.

 

I got a letter a few weeks later saying pay up or the car will be towed/crushed. I explained that when the car was actually clamped it didn't belong to me and I gave them the name/address of the 'then' owner. I've heard nothing at all back and the car's been sat outside the house, still clamped for over four months now.

 

Also it's now become a magnet for vandals who obviously think it's been dumped - Every panel has been kicked and scratched making a £3,000 car pretty much worthless.

 

Any advice?

[workshy]

Ok, Sorry to bump this, but maybe it was a bit long winded the first time round (?)

Basically I'm trying to find out:

 

How long can my car be clamped without me having had any contact from clampers/DVLA?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Britainsworstdriver]

I am, not sure about length of time for clamping. However, as you refunded teh buyer the car is now yours again and thus your responsibility.

 

With hindsight, you would have been better to pay the clamp and let the car go all the same. Now you still have to dispose of the car again.

 

On the point of who the owner was at the time, YOU parked it on the road without the owners concent. technically you have driven the car on the road presumably uninsured and without the owners permission you have technically put yourself in hot water. Pay the fine, get the car taken away and be done is my advise. I am sure someone will differ in my opinion and I hope there is a get-out clause, I suspect not though.

[workshy]

I've written again to the DVLA (twice since my first posting here), the last time around 7 weeks ago. Again, I've heard nothing back from them... And of course, the car's still clamped outside my house. That's more than nine months now with no solution in sight.

 

The incompetence of these people would be laughable if they didn't have the power to penalise people so harshly.

 

Good look to anyone who has to deal with these clowns.

[havinastella]

I've written again to the DVLA (twice since my first posting here), the last time around 7 weeks ago. Again, I've heard nothing back from them... And of course, the car's still clamped outside my house. That's more than nine months now with no solution in sight.

 

The incompetence of these people would be laughable if they didn't have the power to penalise people so harshly.

 

Good look to anyone who has to deal with these clowns.

 

Without trying to upset you, surely you was the incompetent one for putting an untaxed vechile on the public highway!

 

JOgs

[workshy]

Without trying to upset you, surely you was the incompetent one for putting an untaxed vechile on the public highway!

JOgs

 

Yep, me and hundred's of thousands other vehicle owners, some of whom use these forums for advice - Thanks for your valuble input

[merlin100]

cut the clamp off

 

Agreed! After all, how will they know its you? If you still sell the car on, you would simply say that you got up one morning and the clamp was gone. You therefore assumed that those responsible for the original clamping had removed it.

[workshy]

Thing is I'm in the last stages of becoming a driving instructor so can do without getting caught removing it and being slapped with criminal damage charges (any criminal record will wreck my new career!)

 

The car's more or less scrap value now after the clamp atracted the attention of the local idiot kids - All in all the clamp's lost me around three grand and I could even get stung with back tax/fine.

This despite me doing the right thing writing to them to ask what the situation is. God knows why I've not had a reply.

 

Anyone with any legal knowledge know if I can sue the DVLA for my loss?

[Conniff]

The car's more or less scrap value now after the clamp atracted the attention of the local idiot kids

 

In that case report it to the council as abandoned. They will slap a 7 day notice on it and then take it away for scrap.

[Conniff]

God knows why I've not had a reply

 

I do. Only letters containing cheques reach the DVLA, all others are lost by Royal Mail.

[MARTIN3030]

Posts that condone illegal activities will be removed-its not what CAG is about.

[Sweeney Todd]

This despite me doing the right thing writing to them to ask what the situation is. God knows why I've not had a reply.

Perhaps your letter is in the same pile as my 'change of owner' notification.

 

I love the competence of DVLA...