My car was clamped today :'(

[CinnamonStix]

I know it was my fault, I should have read the signs blah blah. It is a residential car park which I have used for the past three years when visiting Canterbury, so I didn't think to check the signage. I've not had any issues parking there until now.

I feel so bullied by this. They chain my car, force me to pay £205 (including a charge for card payment ) and are generally rude and unsympathetic. I feel robbed.

Does anyone have any experiences in dealing with their cars being clamped by a private firm? Do I have any legal rights? How do I know they're not cowboys?

I know what you meant, I find it hard to have sympathy at the injustice of you using a space that you aren't entitled to use. Therefore I cannot see the injustice of you being clamped & charged!

This is a risk if you park where you shouldn't, without a permit. The fact that you have done it for 3 years using a permit illegally really just kinda serves you right, I guess.

I wouldn't be pissed off, because I wouldn't do it. I have been the person who has to spend $$ on a parking permits & it sucks, but it is necessary to stop people parking in places that are limited & meant for residential purposes. You have had a free ride for 3yrs, suck it up! h
Hand the permit in/bin it & do what we all have to do when visiting a place, find free parking & walk, or pay your dues.

It wasn't a 'mistake' though was it? It was a deliberate flouting of the rules. And you got caught. Toughski.
No recourse/complaint to be made imo.

Plus as has been pointed out, probably still cheaper than parking legally all these years.

Go and get advice on the pepipoo forums as suggested. You've done nothing "illegal" as parking on private property is not covered by legislation but by contract law, so at worse you are unlawful, which is different. losses for breach of contract are limited to actual financial losses caused by the breach, not whatever fines they see fit. Depending on the situation (eg signage) a contract may or may not have been in place at the time - the forum will advise but you will have to provide information. If you want to do anything now it would be through the small claims court either because you are arguing there is no contract or because the fines are not limited to actual financial loss. Also you can try going after your credit card company as the payment was made under duress, though that is a very tough one.

Also there are quite specific regulations about the content of the receipt they need to give you, the notice etc so you might be able to go after them on that. Again, the forum will likely advise.

This says nothing about the morality of parking on private land when you don't have permission, which is what most people above are focussing on.

Thanks carelessdad and Quiltweight, I will definitely look into that

differentnameforthis, I think you've missed the point again. I wasn't asking for sympathy.. just legal advice.