funny question about laws on recovery firms

[lewisdale]

hi guys, this is not bike related for a start,
however im a bit stumped so i though id ask to see if anyone can help or give me advice,
now, last week i managed to roll my car and it ended up in the middle of the road on its roof, police turned up blah blah blah and ended up getting it recovered, recovery fees alone are coming to over £400 and thats before storage fees,
anyway, i went down the compound the other day to get my things back out of the car and they wouldnt let me have them untill i pay the fees, why would i pay 400 quid to get a car back that wasnt worth that before the crash let alone after!!! so i was going to sign it over to them and take my stuff and forget about it without claiming on insurance etc,
now im stumped and very pissed off,
how can i get my stuff back without paying ridiculous fees?
im sure that by law they have to give me my belongings?
any help would be appreciated,
tanks

[bendog66]

i would say by avoiding rolling your car in the middle of the road for a start...

[lewisdale]

thanks mate, great help,

[bendog66]

no worries

[Jamz]

Who's holding the car? Police?

I wouldn't have thought they have any entitlement to the contents of the car unless it's related to crime, so if it's not Police call them and report it as theft.

If it is Police then go to the associated nick and be very nice as you ask to be able to recover the contents.

[lewisdale]

nah its a independant recovery firm that work side by side with the police, nothing to do with any crime
the police got them to recover the car thats all as i couldnt sort out anything at the time

[arkell]

The property belongs to you and you have the right to instant access to it. Technically its not 'theft' as that involves dishonetly taking anothers property with the intention of permanantly depriving the other of it. But they have no right to keep your belongings from you. I'd speak to the local nick if I were you or speak to the firm and threaten to call the rozzers

[masterofinsanity]

i would say by avoiding rolling your car in the middle of the road for a start...

[zimm]

lost out to this myself a few years back .. some kind chap stole my austin metro (it was cheap ok ... its not like I was proud of it!).. was recovered somehow .. police informed me .. went down to see what was what .. they wanted £380 or thereabouts .. so i told them to keep the car as it only cost £50 and asked to take my stuff out of the boot (locked metal tool box welded and bolted to the boot floor, bristol eh ?!) ..

they wouldnt have it, I lost the argument, the car and £150's worth of kit.

apparently, it boils down to a pedantic understanding of precisely what they have billed you for .. its recovery of your posessions, not the car per se, and their contract entitles them to hold onto recovered items and charge storage for said items untill they have been paid for their services

why should they let you have some of it back for free ? they recovered it all, and thats what you owe them for.

not saying its fair .. its not.. and i wish you better luck than i had.

[Jamz]

lost out to this myself a few years back .. some kind chap stole my austin metro (it was cheap ok ... its not like I was proud of it!).. was recovered somehow .. police informed me .. went down to see what was what .. they wanted £380 or thereabouts .. so i told them to keep the car as it only cost £50 and asked to take my stuff out of the boot (locked metal tool box welded and bolted to the boot floor, bristol eh ?!) ..

they wouldnt have it, I lost the argument, the car and £150's worth of kit.

apparently, it boils down to a pedantic understanding of precisely what they have billed you for .. its recovery of your posessions, not the car per se, and their contract entitles them to hold onto recovered items and charge storage for said items untill they have been paid for their services

why should they let you have some of it back for free ? they recovered it all, and thats what you owe them for.

not saying its fair .. its not.. and i wish you better luck than i had.

Sneaky fkrs!

It makes sense, though! Watching all the Police Chase type TV programs the Police usually let people get their stuff out of their car before it's towed away, so at least they give them a chance...

[lewisdale]

i know mate, tossers, i dunno what to do, spoke to the old bill, they didnt give me any straight answers so im even more pissed off,
considering jumping the fence and just taking my stuff, theres not really anything of great value in the car but its just the principle, and who do they think they are saying no you cant have youre stuff!! wtf!!

[Dolts]

I work for a recovery firm, we also have a contract with the local police, the pricing is set by the government and we have to adhere to it. The basic recovery fee for a car on its roof but accessable (ie on the road still) would be at least £250 depending on the sitiation, but could be up to £300, dont know why it was £400, and storage is £20 per day, with the 1st day free, there is no VAT on police jobs.

As for your belongings, they should let you get them as long as you have proof of ID and ownership of the vehicle, and as was said before, it was not used in crime.

Hope this helps
Gareth

[Dolts]

Taken from the governments website: