To think this is pretty fucking appalling

[Bearsinmotion]

We live on a small street where all the parking is on street. Last night there was a minor traffic incident, and the police arrived to sort it out. This meant a few cars on the street needed to be moved, including our neighbour's.

Unfortunately the neighbour is away, and no one could contact her, but her car HAD to be moved. So the police called for a tow truck. Fine. We thought, they will lift the car up, solve the problem and then replace the car.

But no. The towing company don't allow this. According to them, they have to impound the car. So our neighbour, who was parked legally outside her own house, will get home to find she has no car. To get it back she will need to travel to the pound, PAY to get her car back, and then reclaim the money.

She lives alone, and she is a pensioner. So she needs to find someone to take her there, or get there by public transport (~1.5 hours) and then pay out what could be £££s, which she will get back at some undefined point in the future. And depending on when she returns, she could be lacking her car for several days.

Several neighbour's (including us) have agreed we will all give her a lift if we are around, and help out financially if she will let us. But AIBU to think this is pretty fucking appalling to do to someone who has done absolutely nothing wrong?!

[TheClacksAreDown]

Who exactly is she meant to reclaim the money from?

[bumbleymummy]

That's an interesting idea wandering. How would she know what had happened if no one told her... How would the towing company justify taking her car away?

[wowfudge]

I am betting the towing company don't have an agreed fee for simply moving a vehicle so the only way they can ensure they get paid is by taking it away. Ask the towing company to give you the details of precisely why they insisted they had to impound the car.

[HawkEyeTheNoo]

Poor neighbour in haggis land there are two means of removal,owners request (after an RTC etc) or police powers. This is a clear case of police powers and as such the neighbour should get a release note from the police and the police would be billed. Don't know where you are geographically OP, but hope this can help

[RabbitRedux]

Can't she play dumb and report her vehicle stolen?

Good idea.

Upon reflection, I'm guessing there's some fine print in the law that says if you're parked on a public road you're subject to removal by police under certain circumstances.

[pictish]

How utterly stupid. Seriously...how to make a very simple thing, extremely complicated and upsetting for no real reason at all. FFS.

[BocaDeTrucha]

I agree with wandering. The first thing I would do in getting home and sing no car would be to call the police. They can then explain themselves. Surely the police should be footing the bill for the tow truck.

[Bearsinmotion]

I don't know who she reclaims from, or how long it will take, although apparently the police will help with that

What makes it worse is she is very particular about her car - if she has to park just a few meters away she will move the car as soon as the spAce is free. She'll be so upset to find it missing altogether

[Bearsinmotion]

I think you are right wowfudge.

[thornrose]

My car was stolen, abandoned and ended up in the pound. I went along with a crime number and I didn't have to pay to get it back.

If the pound can call the police and confirm it was removed on their say so she may not have to pay?

It's a massive inconvenience though, I'd be furious.

What nice neighbours you all are.

[differentnameforthis]

What if they needed to remove her car to get a fire truck/ambulance etc through?

Yes, she was legally parked, but at that point her car was causing an obstruction.

[StephanieBeacham]

Worth remembering the price will go up day by day if it's the same sort of wankerish establishment as mine was taken to.

So the sooner it can be collected the less someone will have to pay to release it.

[Bearsinmotion]

differentname, she wasn't parked in any way that would block emergency services. It was just a very unfortunate scenario that required her car to be moved. The police specifically told us she will have to pay and reclaim the release fee

[badgersandhedgehogs]

The OP is quite right.

I was stung by this years ago when my car was broken into and the police asked if they could have it to try and get fingerprints and the like. Obviously I was keen to help the police with their enquiries and then had to pay £150 to get it back from where it was impounded

[Bearsinmotion]

I do think we'll write to the county police - it seems this is a contract agreed with the towing company, which is ridiculous.

[Penfold007]

OP your neighbour claims the costs from the driver of the vehicle who caused the accident via their insurance. Police will give her the details.

[badgersandhedgehogs]

Only if they are insured and you still have to pay upfront.

[Bearsinmotion]

They will be insured, it was a commercial vehicle. But as badgers says, she will still have to pay upfront, and it may be there for a week depending on when she gets back.

[beckworth]

She may not have to pay upfront, if she contacts the relevant insurance company and makes a claim and gives them the details, they should sort it for her. Course, it may be slower that way.

[DinosaursRoar]

I feel a Daily Mail sad face coming on.... (that should at least get her the £150 back) Can you contact your neighbour now and explain what's happened? Suggest she reports it as stolen when she gets home and sees if that can avoid having to pay.