The number of complaints about private car clamping firms has soared by more than 50 per cent in the last three years.
Inadequate signage, unfair additional charges and a lack of an appeal process were the main reasons for complaint.
The number of clamping related issues tackled by the Citizens Advice bureau rose from 8,514 to 12,910 between April 2006 to March 2009. Evidence suggested that the penalties were disproportionate to the problems caused by parking, said the organisation.
One example of bad behavior was an elderly lady in Gloucestershire whose car was clamped before she left the car park.
"There is a serious imbalance of power between car owners and private parking companies," said David Harker, the Citizens Advice chief executive.
"The objective of those who demand payment seems to be to make money, not to ensure fair parking. Furthermore, there is currently no right for consumers to appeal fines or seek redress."
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Re: Clamping complaints soar
I was unfairly clamped after being given false information on parking permits by the Putney Parking Shop and I was all but unable to get anyone to accept responsibility and of the course the man in the shop denied giving me the info at all to save his back.
Having just bought a flat on a small estate in Putney I went to the Putney Parking Shop to ask what I needed to do to be able to park on the estate. After confirming at length exactly where the car was to be parked and the fact I was a new homeowner I was told I had to buy £10/day permits. After an hour of being parked outside the flat I found a clamp which cost £100 to have removed and the friendly woman who removed the clamp informed me I was entitled to a free permit and insisted I should get my money back.
Unfortunately I was unable to get anywhere with the case and lost £100 as a result of incorrect advise from the one place that I had hoped would have saved me from this. There was no clear way of getting the money back...a needle in a haystack!
The whole experience made me feel very angry and frustrated that these companies do as they wish without any restriction.