I can't believe this happened

[Cal]

On the way back from a drive,M wanted to go to trading estate to look for this small tyre company recommended to him by next door. We drove round the trading estate twice so M decided to park and ask directions. He parked outside a row of terraced units and left me in the car. He had hardly got out of sight when this woman starts banging on the unit window and making "move the car" signs. So I opened my door and said to her (from the car to her, through her open window)"why are you shouting at me? I am not the driver". so she started pulling smirky faces and saying" its £60 to free you, and we are here till 6pm". Then I realised a bloke (in his sixties I think)has driven a van from down the side and parked it across the back of my car. So I thought "sh*t" or words to that effect and thought I had better try and move it - bear in mind its M's car that I won't drive. So I start trying to get it in gear and I had barely moved it when the same bloke ran and got another van from the side of the building (out of view from me) and blocked me in at the side. There was already a car on the left so I was boxed in. All this within 2 minutes of M going to get directions. Then M arrived back and he and the van driver had words and the van driver announced he had seen me before - I had been there driving the same car and parked there before!! Well of course M knew that was rubbish as I never drive his car - that is why we bought me one I was more comfortable with. So... we rang the Police and told them what had happened and we were being held against our will. They arrived and were very nice to us - went in and within minutes the van driver came out red with rage and yelled "you're bloody liars" and marched to the van blocking the back of us and moved it. Of course M got fired up and went over to him and the bloke said "I know that woman - she's always up here parking that car in the wrong place". A blatant lie - I have been to that trading estate twice if that in my life - with M and as a passenger. Then the 2nd policeman came out and said we ought to go.

I shook all the way home and couldn't stop crying. I can't believe it happened to us. (This was on Tuesday last week) The next morning I had a very nice phonecall from a police woman to check we were ok. She said the van driver would have had a hard time from the police as it is illegal to hold people against their will. Also you just can't go round doing that. I might add there were no "No parking" signs anywhere in the area. Anyway she did we did the right thing in ringing the police.

And we never did find the tyre place!!

[Ally]

((((((Cal))))))

Hope you're both ok. xx

[saundra]

think you need a hug the monster
good job you called the police

[tonicha]

Bluddy hell Cal

No wonder you were shaking.

Glad it all turned out okay in the end though xx

[JoM]

Oh blimey Cal - how awful!
I wonder if it was a genuine case of mistaken identity or whether they were trying to extort £60 out of you?

Hope you're feeling better now xx

[TheOstrich]

<<<Cal and M>>> ..... that is just unbelievable - I sincerely hope the police give them a VERY hard time. And thank goodness you'd got a phone with you and you could call the police ....

[Cal]

I was glad I was with M - he never has a mobile phone, since he retired he refuses to use one!!

[Workingman]

The stunts some people pull are truly incredible at times.

I am so glad that you and M ar OK Cal, and that you had the presence of mind to call the police.

[Kaz]

Good grief Cal, that sounds really frightening and upsetting, no wonder you were shaking! That is attempted extortion, pure and simple, and I'm glad the police were on the ball about it!

Sending another ((((((((((((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))))))))))))))) xx

[meriad]

OMG!!! thank goodness you called the police. I wonder if these people have done this before and managed to get the money out of people. If anything it's time someone actually laid charges against them for harassment and illegally holding people against their will.

I am quite astounded the police weren't firmer with them.

Glad you and M are OK