This excel mob seem to be endearing themselves
Excel!
Excel again!
MP asked to investigate as 40 clamp victims come forward
'They must have been watching...'
MP PHYLLIS Starkey has been asked to investigate Excel Security, the clampers who have been targeting Bletchley shoppers.
Our report last week prompted Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council to contact Dr Starkey – and the British Parking Association – to look into the alleged unlawful clamping on the former Co-op loading bay.
Following the article, the Citizen heard from more than 40 people who had been clamped and charged £150 for the release of their car – and at least six of them said they had parked in the loading bay before returning to discover their car clamped.
Attempts to find out which company had authorised Excel Security to operate at Stephenson House proved impossible. At the time of going to print, no company could confirm it had authorised the clampers.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) – which regulates and licences vehicle immobilisation companies – said it could only investigate the clampers if it received enough complaints from individuals, while the British Parking Association confirmed Birmingham-based Excel Security was not one of its members and therefore were not obliged to follow its code of practice.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Co-operative Group said: "We are currently investigating this situation with our managing agents."
Those clamped included a severely disabled woman who displayed her disabled parking permit, the manager of a children's charity who was buying presents for the youngsters, and a man who had been made redundant and was visiting the job centre.
Other people who were affected include:
>> Taxi driver Ali Sayed, of Heelands, parked at Stephenson House to nip into the public toilets there.
"I was gone two minutes and came back and was clamped. There are no signs as you drive in.
"It was an expensive trip to the loo," he said.
>> An older lady popped into Bletchley to get car insurance.
"I usually park by Stephenson House. I came back and was clamped. I handed over £150 – my Christmas money. One of the guys was laughing as I handed it over and the other one put it under the passenger's seat.
"There was a lot of money there, fivers, tenners and twenties."
>> Julie Moy, of Leighton Buzzard, went for a haircut on Friday. "I came back and a white van pulled up. I did not see any signs – most had been pulled down.
"I had to hand over £150 – an expensive haircut!"
>> Tracey Hill, of Walnut Tree, was clamped just before Christmas. "I am on benefits and I begged them to take the clamp off. I even offered to pay in instalments but they said the tow truck was on its way."
>> Dawn Ahmed, of Peartree Bridge, popped to the bank and left her kids in the car.
"I was gone 15 minutes and was clamped. I was in shock."
>> Amanda Miller, of Milton Keynes went to Wilkinson for soap powder. "I was clamped. I cried my eyes out. They must have been watching me."
>> Susan O'Reilly, of New Bradwell handed over her Christmas money.
"They told me six out of 10 people get their money back on appeal. I wrote to Excel Security – but have heard nothing."
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