DRIVERS who have been caught out by clampers should always pay by credit card so they can claim money back if the fine is disputed, a victim has advised.

Po Lee, who runs Lee’s Chinese restaurant, in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, was caught out near his restaurant, but won a county court judgment against clampers LBS Enforcement.

Mr Lee’s car was clamped in a private car park in April last year, after it crossed from his own space into a space managed by LBS.

Mr Lee said he won his first judgment to reclaim the £480 fee after filing it online, soon after the incident, but LBS failed to reply within the two-week deadline.

He is one of 19 people who have won court judgments against Southend-based LBS Enforcement, but have not been paid.

In total, the company owes £14,000 to people, with unpaid judgments dating back to April 2009, according to the Registry Trust.

Mr Lee said: “My credit card company agreed to refund the money to me, under the Consumer Credit Act.

“LBS has got no assets.

“It’s almost impossible to get hold of them.

“I sent a bailiff round to their accountants’ office in Royal Terrace, but nothing there belonged to them.

“You could try winding them up, but they may have another company ready to go in their place.

“So I knew I wouldn’t get anything from it.

“A few of my customers have got county court judgments against them, but can’t enforce it.

“I say to them, if you do get clamped, pay by credit card and take them to court to win a judgment.”

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A VICTIM of the clampers has enlisted the support of a new MP to help change the law.

Jordan Hall, 19, from Hadleigh, said his car was clamped by LBS Enforcement last month while he was still in his car and his engine was running.

He claimed LBS forced him to get out and towed his car away, and he had to pay about £500 to get it back.

Jordan said he was considering going through a small claims court, but realised he was unlikely to ever recover his money.

Instead, his mum, Julie Dowsing, wrote to Castle Point Tory MP Rebecca Harris, who said she would use Jordan’s case as an example to get the laws on wheel clamping tightened up.

Jordan said: “My first thought was to go to a solicitor.

“Then I thought: ‘What’s the point?’ “I feel sorry for the 19 people who have won their battle and haven’t been paid.

“I’m shocked the company is still operating.

“I’ve come to terms with the fact I won’t get my £500 back, but I don’t want this company to be operating any more.

“We’ve written to the local MP and she’s been keeping us updated.

“She wants to use my story in Parliament to help get the law changed.”