MP calls for cowboy finers clampdown

DRIVERS need greater protection from “cowboy finers” doling out unfair charges in private car parks, a Tory MP has said.

Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay, called for tighter regulation of independent car parks that issue charges to drivers on breaches of contract.

MPs heard how vulnerable and elderly people are intimidated by official-looking demands from these companies, who hound drivers for payments using details obtained from the DVLA.

Some of these firms base their business model on catching people out in minor errors, Mr Foster claimed.

Leading a Westminster debate, he said: “We got rid of the cowboy clampers but I think the suspicion is that they have become the cowboy finers and the cowboy invoicers.”