Clamp Release Fee Charged Above the Legal Maximum
The National Transport Authority (NTA) sets a maximum fee that a private clamping operator may charge you to release your vehicle at a non-statutory clamping place (i.e. private land such as a car park, not a public road). That maximum is €100. If the operator charged you more than €100 in total — including any amount labelled as an 'admin fee', 'attendance charge', or any other add-on — the excess is unlawful and the operator is in breach of the rules.
Legal basis
Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 s.15; NTA Vehicle Clamping (Non-Statutory Clamping Places) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 480/2017).
How to identify this in your case
Compare receipted release fee to current NTA maximum. Includes any 'admin fee', 'release fee', 'attendance charge' lumped on top.
Sample appeal wording
To: [Operator] Re: Clamping at [LOCATION] on [DATE] The release fee charged was EUR [AMOUNT]. The NTA maximum under S.I. 480/2017 (made under s.15 VCA 2015) is EUR 100 for clamp release at a non-statutory clamping place. The excess of EUR [X] is unlawfully charged and recoverable. Refund the excess within 14 days. Failure will lead to: (a) Complaint to NTA under s.18 VCA 2015; (b) Small claim in District Court for restitution of the excess; (c) Complaint to CCPC for misleading commercial practice. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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