Originally Posted By Cicerone
Originally Posted By Plus4
Originally Posted By Cicerone
Quote:
When the nice boys in blue arrange recovery you pay a statutory charge. If you had contacted the Recovery Contractor yourself the price would probably have been considerably lower.


It is not a statutory charge at all and the police do not see any monies. The police use contractors for just about everything as it is easier for budgetary reasons. People are advised to use their own recovery company in relation to roadside assistance, glaziers for boarding up windows, so on and so forth.

Glad the OP is all right, sounds like too much excitement for me...


I suggest you take a look here or here which confirms that uvk33n is correct about it being a statutory charge.


Those are for lifted vehicles (stolen/no insurance etc.) or those otherwise immovable/causing a hazard following an accident, not simply 'safely' broken down (which is the impression I got from the OP, as he has chosen to request to use the recovery company the police use). I know that's pedantic but it's not simply a case of the police wanting to see people out of pocket, which I felt was hinted at in the previous post.


I think you inferred too much from uvk33n's reply. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is out of harm's way, properly taxed, insured and otherwise road legal: if the police arrange the uplift you will be charged the statutory charge applicable to the condition of the vehicle.

The fact that the OP wasn't advised of this would suggest the nice policeman didn't care that he would be out of pocket.