Man forced to pay £80 after scammers clamp his car in Darenth Wood Road near Darent Valley Hospital
12:11, 16 August 2019
updated: 12:43, 16 August 2019
A man who was visiting his wife in hospital was forced to fork out £80 after having his car clamped by scammers.
Colin Gardiner parked his BMW in Darenth Wood Road, near Darent Valley Hospital, in Dartford, yesterday before heading in to see his wife.
He returned at around 4pm after being told his partner was being discharged and found the clamp on his front wheel that had "no parking" and "DA2CLAMPS" scrawled on it alongside a mobile number.
The 63-year-old rang the number and was told by a man that the clamp could be removed for £80 that day, or he would have to pay £120 the following day.
In a rush and stressed about trying to get the car and collect his wife Mr Gardiner walked back to the hospital, withdrew the money and headed back to his car.
The semi-retired chartered surveyor rang the number again and within seconds two men appeared in a "beaten up old car" asking for the money.
Mr Gardiner reluctantly handed over the £80 and asked for a receipt or any paperwork, but was told they didn't have any available and instead gave him an email that doesn't exist.
The Dartford resident was told by police that as it's a civil matter they can't do anything, but he now wants to make people aware of the scammers after being told a similar incident happened in Swanscombe.
"I know I won't get my money back now but just want people to be aware of this sort of scam" - Colin Gardiner
He said: "I want to help make residents, visitors and even police aware of what's happening, because I don't want people to be scammed like I was.
"I've parked down that road, which is close to the travellers site, a lot of the time and never had a problem.
"I had seen some children from the site running around and looking at my car, and I'm sure I saw the car that the men arrived in the same road.
"In hindsight I should have rang 999 and called the police, but it was such a rush and I was in a stressful position."
Hours before being clamped Mr Gardiner, with the help of security from the hospital, had helped a tangled horse on an embankment.
He added: "I did a good deed that day and then get clamped.
"I know I won't get my money back now but just want people to be aware of this sort of scam.
"I'm lucky that I was in a position that I can afford to pay the £80, but some others won't be able to afford it and will be stuck.
Mr Gardiner has filed a crime report with the police for illegal clamping.
Police and the number for 'DA2CLAMPS' have been approached for comment.
Latest news
‘I was fined £500 for leaving neatly folded donations by clothes bank - this isn’t fly-tipping’
Family of schoolgirl disabled in bus crash tell how their lives turned upside down
Emergency cordon at museum while radioactive object removed
