Amalgamated Car Parking Services, Auckland

This is a section of the car park at Countdown Mount Eden. I'm requesting your assistance as this place needs better signage about not parking. This private lot has predatory practices that takes advantage of people. The lots are directly within countdown lots side by side so people who don't live here wouldn't have a clue. There are posted signes up against the West end along a little wooden fence that make it clear you can't park here. There are no ground level signs on the middle lots. Only 1 sign that's up high. So anyone who doesn't know wouldn't have a clue you can't park here. Furthermore they have sensors on the spots. So the moment you park there they are notified and they send someone out. I was in coutdown for not more than 15 minutes gettings things for my baby to come out finding my car was towed! I would have appreciated a ticket and a fine. I would have appreciated even a tire boot. Nah, they towed my car withiin 15 minutes of parking there. No warning. The entire lot was empty but one other car when I walked out. It's not as if I was taking a spot away from someone else. It was a Sunday evening. When I went to pick my car up they charged me $385 to take it out. Not a problem for me, an inconveince. How many whānau can't afford that who are preyed upon by this company or person who tows cars in this spot. I'm not asking for a refund. I'm demanding that more clear signs are put in the middle lots so when you park you can see the sign right in front of you rather than having to look up. How do I go about getting the owner of this lot to be required to have better signs? If they can afford parking sensors, they can afford to put in better signs. Of course we know the real reason why there aren't better signs, how will they make money if people know not to park there? This should be illegal.

Hopefully I never have to deal with a business like yours. I had a similar car parking experience in Florence, Italy but they were thugs, in fact Mafiosa. So according to the Herald report, you fit that description. Well, congratulations on your press. Colin McGonagle

These people are the carrion of our society. They lurk in the dark recesses of life looking for an opportunity to tow your car away when there is absolutely no need to do so. I was parked in Dominion Road for 10 minutes getting a video. It was a Saturday evening and there were no other cars in the parking area. Fair cop, I parked where I was warned not too but come on - 10 minutes - and no demand for parking. Petty, feeble and pathetic. Obviously paid for cruising the neighbourhood looking for victims to generate revenue for themselves