Have you been a victim of clamp 'cowboys'?

3:22 PM Sunday Feb 20, 2011

Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Disgruntled drivers are being encouraged to take legal action after being hit with fines of up to $300 by a "cowboy" clamping company in Auckland.

About 30 people have complained to police about the tactics of Katoas & Clamps in a private carpark in Onehunga.

Have you been a victim of clamp 'cowboys'? Here is the latest selection of your views.

me (Auckland Central) | 07:13PM Sunday, 20 Feb 2011

I haven't but I know which bar I'll never EVER visit.

Gandalf (St Heliers) | 09:45AM Monday, 21 Feb 2011

No, but if I ever am and they put one finger even slightly wrong they will be getting letters from about three lawyers, plus I'll email every consumer affairs show going.

Kanga In Aussie (Queensland) | 09:45AM Monday, 21 Feb 2011

Shouldn't this be a form of unauthorised detention. It is only a parking fine for goodness sake. People can commit murder and get bail to be in the community. I know of towing firms in Australia where this operates where they lounge in the carpark and watch people pull up in the tow away spots.

They won't approach the people and warn them, they wait until they are safely out of sight then go and tow the vehicle. Then the tow operators run down to the Police Station to tell the cops that they have towed the vehicle.

The poor old car owner walks out and finds the car missing, runs down to the cop shop to reports the car stolen only to find it has been towed and a big recovery fee to get it back. If they want this, and these car spaces are so precious, make it mandatory that the towing firm has to forewarn the offender as they walk away.

Log books for the stating the time they are in the car park and vehicles spotted and action taken should be mandatory supported by video evidence.