SOME of you may have read my letter last week about the guys (Global Parking) who clamped my husband and mum while they were arranging my surprise birthday bash at the Auberge (Clampers' horrid birthday gift to me, Letters, March 3).

Well, there is hope for some of you if you found yourselves in the same situation!

After writing to the Gazette - and also speaking to a friend who happens to be a lawyer as I thought we were going to have a large fight on our hands - I then called Mr Morris, the owner (of Global), to get the landowner details to begin the appeal process.

As the conversation continued, he knew exactly what I was talking about as he was the one my husband spoke to that very night.

I explained to him that while we understand we were on private property, the £250 call back and cancellation charges were simply unjustified, given the guy clamping was still on site.

He immediately apologised that, in fact, he had a number of issues like mine and that he would refund that part of the charge. I was gobsmacked - was I really, honestly, about to get some money returned?

While we feel the £300 Global Parking made out of us in a mere five minutes is completely extortionate, and my husband is still in utter shock that the guy clamped both cars, and didn't think one was enough and to let my mum go, we feel slightly better about the situation that Mr Morris was pleasant and reasonable about the other charges, and the very next day I got my cheque, which is now safely in the bank.

I'm pleased to say we had a 'slight' result with this; however, I still urge all the residents of Hillingdon never to park in this area again if you want to avoid the same surprise we got.

Until the clamping industry gets properly regulated, which I believe is in the process, these huge fines will still be, quite literally, demanded.

LUCY CAPON via email