According to a city solicitor, there are a considerable number of people who have recently been clamped at Waterford train station that may be entitled to reclaim some, or all, of the fee charged to release their vehicle.
The Munster Express understands that between six to ten cars per day have recently been clamped at Plunkett Station, with the release fee costing €120.
Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems (NCPS) is the body responsible for the clamping at Plunkett Station, but according to the solicitor, who didn’t wish to be named, Irish Rail has shown no interest in working to resolve the matter.
One client of the solicitor initially sent a cheque for €50 as a rebate on the €120 fine issued, however this was rejected by NCPS.
After threatening to bring proceedings against NCPS and Irish Rail, the issue was eventually solved when it was appealed to the Independent Parking Appeals Service.
They found that the signs in the car park at Plunkett Station were defective and did not properly inform potential users of the consequences of not paying and displaying.
The Appeals Commissioner recommended that a full refund of the clamp release fee be paid.
Anybody seeking a refund of money can make the claim themselves, without the need to instruct a solicitor on their behalf.
i got clamped at the train station on the 14th of july and i was just wondering how i would go about claiming my money back
mary whelan
Hi Mary, if you visit http://www.ncps.ie/ipas.pdf it goes through step by step what needs to be done
I was also clamped a while ago. A friend who commutes daily by train tells me that on average five cars get clamped per day. I genuinely did not see the pay and display signs and had no idea the clamping system had been brought in as I hadn’t taken the train in a long time. I made my first appeal to N.C.P.S. the clamping company in question and this was denied. Having read this article in the Munster Express I made my second appeal to the independent parking body. A fee of €20 must accompany this second appeal but I reckon its worth it if it is successful. I believe it should be successful if it is the case that the signage at the station has been deemed inadequate. And to add insult to injury, when paying the de-clamp fee of €120, an additional €5 “administration fee” is tacked on for good measure. Exploitative, opportunistic and mean-spirited. I hope they get flooded with appeals and get their comeuppance.