I popped into Lidl for just one minute & came out to find my car CLAMPED… I have to pay £1,000 to get it taken off
A MAN claims he popped into Lidl for just one minute and came out to find his car had annoyingly been clamped.
The driver says he was then left facing a fine of £1,000 to get his motor back on the road.
The man took to TikTok to share the drama, which he says unfolded outside a Lidl supermarket.
In the video he says: “I’ve been in the shop for one minute, yeah, and my car’s clamped – a fine of up to £1,000.”
The clip shows a blue hatchback with a bright yellow DVLA clamp on the tyre.
The windscreen also has a massive sticker on it.
Meanwhile, another man has told of how his neighbour clamped his car – and how he got it off for free.
The video was uploaded to Facebook by @TheRyan AndAmberShow and viewers were shocked.
It comes as car clamping is said to be on the rise in the UK.
The zero-tolerance approach means that no vehicle is safe, from ambulances to police cars – the rules apply to all.
What happens if my car is clamped?
Cars are clamped usually because they are parked improperly on public parking land, or they are untaxed and on a public road.
But if you have been clamped in a privately owned car park, you have been illegally targeted.
Clamping on private land was outlawed in 2012, although residents may alert you to the error of your ways.
In this situation, demand the clamp is removed — even if you have parked improperly, but you may still have to pay a penalty.
However, if you have made an error with your car parked in an area governed by a local council, it can legally clamp the car.
The DVLA uses automatic number plate readers to recognise untaxed cars on our streets.
If you have been clamped legally, follow the instructions attached to the vehicle.
You may be asked to pay on the spot or instead within a short time-frame of around 14 days.
It’s advisable not to attempt to forcibly remove the clamp yourself as this can amount to criminal damage, for which you may be prosecuted.
Driving in this country is a costly hobby within itself, without adding more expense.
If your car is clamped, you should follow the instructions on the note left.
It will most likely see you faced with a hefty fine to get the device removed.
What to do if you car is clamped
Citizen’s Advice says if your car is clamped, don’t try to remove a wheel clamp yourself. You could be taken to court for damaging the clamp and prosecuted for theft if you keep it.
You should contact the number you have and ask for a release.
If you think you’ve been clamped unfairly, take pictures as evidence to dispute this later – for example, if you turn up before the clamping has finished and the local council continues to clamp your car and charges a fee to release it. You’ll still need to pay the penalty notice.
Check who the clampers are. It’s illegal for a private company to clamp your car on private land in Scotland. If a private company tries to do this, you should call the police.