#4 Re: Unlawful vehicle clamping
on 18 Feb, 2026 09:26 in Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on)
Quote from: tincombe on 17 Feb, 2026 15:08Yes, it's part of the Notice of Enforcement which must at least include details of the creditor(presumably a council or other enforcement authority) and the details of the debt, usually the PCN number.Would you pl post correspondence and speak to your friend - as per my last post.Morning See correspondence so farFriend is currently in GanaDear MrWe appreciate for providing the supporting documentation for further review in relation to the CP85 process. We acknowledge receipt and confirm that the documents have now been carefully considered.Firstly, we would like to clarify that the payment made to secure the release of the vehicle from our control, which had been lawfully seized under a Warrant of Control, is identified as a voluntary payment. This is because the CPR85 process was not followed at the time to establish ownership of the vehicle, nor were satisfactory supporting documents provided to substantiate your claim. Please also note that our Enforcement Agent did not breach GDPR by providing the details of the named debtor , this is based on your claim of ownership of the vehicle, the agent is required to provide sufficient information to a third-party to verify the reason of the immobilisation.Following a review of the documentation you have now provided, we remain satisfied with our original decision. Your claim continues to be disputed under CPR85, and the reasons for this decision are outlined below:On the day ( 29 January 2026), the vehicle was immobilised, you were unable to confirm the name of the individual from whom the vehicle had been purchased.At that time, your son advised our Enforcement Agent that the vehicle had been purchased from a friend named N A, which did not match the name recorded by the DVLA or held on our systems as the registered keeper at the time.The documentation you have subsequently provided states that the vehicle was purchased from Mr S A. This information is inconsistent with the details previously given to our agent and does not correspond with the information held by the DVLA or referenced on the Warrant of Control.A car sale agreement and transaction payment details you have provided; however, we are unable to verify the authenticity or genuineness of these documentsThe bank statement provided shows a payment of £00000 made to Mr SA on 22 December; however, this payment cannot be linked to the registered keeper of the vehicle or verify the owner of the vehicle. Furthermore, as confirmed by you on the enforcement agent’s body worn-camera footage, it was stated that part of the purchase payment was also made in cash.The vehicle tax receipt indicates a purchase date that does not align with the insurance documents and, the V5C does not provide sufficient evidence to prove ownership of the vehicle.A valid receipt of purchase and evidence of how the vehicle was obtained, for example a copy of the advertisement still not provided.OutcomeBased on the evidence seen to date, and in light of the above discrepancies your claim is disputed under CPR 85. If you are in any doubt as to your position, you should seek independent legal advice as a matter of urgency. Any legal action taken against Newlyn PLC, our creditor or our Enforcement Agent will be taken very seriously and vigorously defended. If we are successful in defending any claim made, we will seek to recover our wasted costs of doing so through a costs order of the Court. We reserve the right to show this email to the Court in the event that you take legal proceedings against Newlyn PLC or our creditor.I would suggest once again however that you discuss this matter with the named debtor from whom you allege to have purchased the vehicle and seek recompense from them as they had no legal right to dispose of the vehicle to you in the first instance.Kind Regards,Good morningThank you for your email and for explaining the process, which was not explained to me at the time. I did not make a voluntary payment; I had no choice but to pay in order to have my car released on the day and prevent further costs, including the vehicle potentially being towed away.Since your agent has already breached data protection under GDPR by providing me with the name and address of the individual to whom the PCN related, may I kindly request that you now provide me with the PCN number and the issuing Council so that I can raise my case directly with them.In the meantime, please find enclosed the following proof of purchase:· Car insurance policy active from SeptemberA written agreement with the seller, SA, stating ownership would not be transferred until the vehicle was fully paid for, which occurred in DecemberBank statement showing two transfers made to Mr S A on 22nd DecemberReceipt for road tax purchased at the Post Office, together with Tesco Bank statement confirming payment on 22nd DecemberEmail sent on 23rd December querying the car taxI am still chasing Mr S A for a sales receipt.I trust that the enclosed documents provide sufficient proof that I purchased the vehicle last year.Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your responseDear Mr Garan Iyyanadan,I refer to the recent complaint you submitted via email on 29 January 2026, the content of which I have noted. I am very sorry that you have had cause to raise a complaint. I have now conducted a comprehensive review of your concerns which I have addressed below.Your ComplaintAs I understand it, you have raised the following concerns below.You are unhappy and have raised concerns as you believe our enforcement process was unlawful. This is due to the Warrant of Control not being in your name and the refusal by our Enforcement Agent (“EA”) to provide the PCN details. You allege that payment in full was made under duress in order to prevent the removal of your vehicle.Additionally, you believe that, as you are not making a third-party ownership claim, you are not required to provide documentation to prove ownership of the vehicle.BackgroundTo provide some clarity from the outset, Newlyn PLC are instructed by various Local Authority clients in connection with the enforcement of Warrants of Control, authorised for issue by the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court. We also recover sums due and owing in respect of Liability Orders obtained by our clients in respect of unpaid Council Tax.Your CPR 85 Claim & Enforcement ProcessDue to no contact or forthcoming payments from the named individual, the vehicle registration mark ’ was added to our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System. On 29 January 2026, our Enforcement Agent (EA) located the vehicle via our ANPR system, and the vehicle was subsequently taken into control. An immobilisation device was used to secure the vehicle, and a Warning of Immobilisation was fixed to the vehicle.To clarify, when goods are taken into control and a Third Party wishes to make a claim of ownership on those controlled goods, there is a strict legal procedure we must follow, specifically under Part 85 of the Civil Procedure Rules. As per the legislation, you would have needed to submit a claim on Controlled Goods, to which you would have received an automatic response advising you of all the necessary documentation required to satisfy the claim of ownership being made.However, once a payment was made to prevent the removal of the vehicle, the Warrant was discharged, and the vehicle was subsequently released from our control, I can confirm that no claim in respect of the control of the goods was made, prior to the payment being made.Under paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, the property of the named debtor becomes bound to them, preventing the gift, sale or disposal of those goods from the time the Warrant of Control is issued. This does not prejudice title in the goods that a person may acquire, provided they have done so in good faith, for valuable consideration and without notice of the Warrant.PaymentAfter a thorough review of the account, including our EA’s body-worn camera footage, I can confirm the following.The vehicle was immobilised on 29 January 2026 at approximately 8:10 a.m. after being located via ANPR.Following immobilisation, Mr Bailiff advised the third-party regarding the option to make a voluntary payment in order for the vehicle to be released or pursue the CPR 85 process as he is not directly responsible for handling disputes, he was unable to make any determination regarding ownership or claim validityThe EA strongly denies that payment was made under duress. The EA confirms that, after advising the third party of the CPR 85 process, the third party settled the outstanding Warrant of Control and the clamp was released.We apologise and acknowledge that the EA did not disclose information in relation to the Warrant of Control when requested. This should have been provided, and the matter has been noted, Feedback has also been given to the agent’s line manager to address this internally.For clarity, in accordance with the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, an EA may take control of goods, including immobilising a vehicle, where the agent reasonably believes the goods belong to the debtor or are under the debtor's control. This applies even where the Warrant of Control is not in the name of the person present at the time. Where ownership is disputed, the provision of supporting documentation may be requested in order to consider whether the goods are exempt from enforcement.I would suggest however that you discuss this matter with the named debtor from whom you allege to have purchased the vehicle and seek recompense from them as they had no legal right to dispose of the vehicle to you in the first instance.EvidenceFurther to the above, Newlyn PLC will endeavour to investigate all new keeper claims as we have a duty of care to our clients to ensure that all feasible steps have been carried out. Newlyn PLC have now reviewed your claim on controlled goods for and on behalf of our client, the creditor, as per our agreement with them to handle these matters and we are not satisfied that the information and documentation you have provided is sufficient. The reasons are as follows:1. A copy of the V5 Logbook issued by the DVLA. – Provided. (Please note that this alone does not prove ownership.)2. A copy of a valid Insurance Certificate for the vehicle which must be purchased on the date of purchase. – Not Provided.a. If you are in possession of motor traders insurance, the MID list showing the vehicle was added to the policy must also be providedb. In the absence of a valid insurance certificate a DVLA SORN confirmation is required3. A valid receipt for the purchase. – Not Provided.4. Evidence of the flow of money used for the purchase of the vehicle, for example a bank statement. – Not Provided.5. Evidence of how the vehicle was obtained, for example a copy of the advertisement. – Not provided.6. Evidence of the purchase of Vehicle Tax.- Not ProvidedBased on the evidence seen to date, your claim is disputed under CPR 85. As the Warrant of Control has been fully discharged and we no longer have control of any goods, we are unable to take any further enforcement action in respect of the vehicle.Nevertheless, and without any admission of liability, we have reviewed the documentation you have subsequently provided in support of your position. Having done so, we are not satisfied that the evidence produced establishes ownership of the vehicle at the relevant time. The documentation provided lacks credibility and does not, on the balance of probabilities, support your claim.Based on the evidence seen to date, your claim is disputed under CPR 85. If you are in any doubt as to your position, you should seek independent legal advice as a matter of urgency. Any legal action taken against Newlyn PLC, our creditor or our Enforcement Agent will be taken very seriously and vigorously defended. If we are successful in defending any claim made, we will seek to recover our wasted costs of doing so through a costs order of the Court. We reserve the right to show this email to the Court in the event that you take legal proceedings against Newlyn PLC or our creditor.Next StepsUnfortunately, we cannot refund you the sum of £560.00 as requested as you have not provided us with satisfactory evidence to support your claim under CPR 85. However, we are open to further reviewing the matter should you be able to supply further evidence.Please provide this information at your earliest convenience so we can assist you further.I appreciate that this may not be the response you were hoping for, but I am satisfied that we have acted lawfully and appropriately at all times and reasonably given the circumstances.Dear Sir/Madam,I am writing to submit a formal complaint regarding serious procedural failures and unlawful enforcement carried out by your enforcement agent during the visit on 29/01/26. The conduct falls below the standards required by law and renders the enforcement invalid.This complaint seeks:Full refund of all money takenInternal investigationConfirmation that enforcement has been withdrawnAssurance that corrective measures will be takenCompensation for stress cause (paid with credit card causing more financial pressure)The actions taken by your agent breached multiple areas of law, as set out below.1. Enforcement was taken against the WRONG PERSONYour bailiff enforced a warrant not issued in my name.The receipt issued by your agent shows the previous keeper’s name and address, confirming the warrant was issued against someone else.I was NOT the debtor.Under Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, enforcement may ONLY be carried out against:“the person against whom the warrant is issued.”Enforcing against a third party is unlawful.2. I was not the registered keeper at the time of the PCNMy V5C logbook shows I became the registered keeper on:1 September 2025 (attached)This is after the date of the alleged PCN.Under Regulation 3 – Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (General Provisions) Regulations 2022, all statutory notices must be served on the person who was the keeper at the time of the contravention.Notices were correctly sent to the previous owner.I never received:PCNNotice to OwnerCharge CertificateOrder for RecoveryYour enforcement action therefore targeted a person who never received any statutory notices and who was not liable.3. Bailiff refused to provide the PCN number (serious procedural breach)Your agent refused to provide the PCN number, even when specifically requested.This breaches:Regulation 7 – Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014A Notice of Enforcement must include:Sufficient details to identify the debtThe PCN numberCreditor detailsYour agent’s refusal obstructed my right to:Make representationsObtain case detailsFile statutory formsVerify the debtThis is a material procedural impropriety.4. Payment was taken UNLAWFULLY and under duressYour agent clamped my vehicle without warning and demanded payment in full.I only became aware of the alleged debt when he clamped the vehicle outside my home. I paid under duress in order to regain the use of my vehicle.A payment taken from a person not named on the warrant, and taken under pressure, is not lawful.5. Failure to follow the National Standards for Enforcement AgentsYour agent breached multiple paragraphs of the Ministry of Justice National Standards (2014), including:3.2 – Enforcement agents must act within the law at all times.Your agent enforced a warrant not in my name.3.4 – Enforcement agents must provide clear and full information.The PCN number was withheld.3.7 – Enforcement agents must not misrepresent their powers.Clamping a vehicle belonging to a person not named on the warrant is misrepresentation.6.1 – Agents must treat debtors fairly and not take disproportionate action.Clamping a third party vehicle is both unfair and disproportionate.6. Enforcement should have been immediately suspendedUpon discovering:I am NOT the debtorThe receipt bore the name of the previous ownerYour agent should have:Stopped enforcementRemoved the clampReferred the case back to the councilInstead, your agent wrongly insisted on payment.7. Required outcomeGiven the unlawful nature of the enforcement, I require:A. FULL REFUND of all money takenAmount paid: £ 560B. Written confirmation that enforcement is permanently withdrawnC. Confirmation the case has been returned to the councilD. Confirmation that internal disciplinary review will take placeE. A copy of the case file and body‑worn camera footage under my rights to information8. Escalation if unresolvedIf this complaint is not resolved within 14 days, I will escalate to:· The Local Government OmbudsmanThe Council’s Monitoring OfficerThe Traffic Enforcement CentreThe Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA)The Ministry of Justice Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB)I expect written confirmation of receipt of this complaint and a full response within 14 days.Yours faithfully,