Towing Charges

[Androme]

I'm just wondering if there any gift of the gabbers out there who happen to know how to avoid paying the ridiculous towing charges that councils and private companies when they tow your vehicle away, EVEN if you have parked perfectly fine?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

[Achilles]

I imagine this will vary greatly depending on your country of residence but I can lay out the situation for you as it exists in Ireland. Unfortunately it's not good news. If you want the car back immediately you have no choice but to pay the fine, which can be any amount up to €160. You are entitled to appeal the decision to your local authority but this procedure will take upwards of 1 month.

It would, however, be against the provisions of the relevant act for your car to be towed unless it was causing a serious obstruction (buslane, clearway, disabled space, middle of the road) or was parked on private property (act would not apply). Were this not to be the case, as you suggest, then you may well have a cause of action against the tow company involved though you would have to be able to prove legitimate damages as a direct result of not having your car. You could consult your Citizen's Advice Bureau for advice on pursuing a claim in small claims court if you wished.

Good luck.

[lokken]

I'd collect evidence for a start. Take photos of where you parked, what the signs said etc etc.

[Mistwraith]

Yes agreed with lokken .. theres a case somewhere where someone parked .. they then painted double yellow lines on the road and a traffic warden came along and ticketed the car, the car owner took a photo of the gap in the lines where his car had been and produced it in court when he went because he didnt pay the fine.