Hi there. My special lady has rented a parkin spot for her car in our neighborhood. The problem is that sometimes when she comes back home, her spot is taken by someone we suspect is studying in the school nearby. There are clear signs in front of the spot telling that the spot is reservated, but still it happens.

Local police is not helping. They say she should go to "staatsanwaltschaft" and sue the wrong parker, and that, concerning that usually the one who parks the car has gone in two-three hours, would only be a waste of time and money.

I ask you my fellow EF-users: what could we do? We don't want to start a full war because then her car would be the target for revenge.

To clarify: it is not one single car, there are many diferent drivers who park on her spot.

Hi there. I just found an older thread about the same problem, so lets continue there.

Gooner?.......

.......Traubert? Is that you?

Why is this avatar so popular?

easy... you call a towing company, you need to prove to them you own/rent the parking space etc they tow the car away, you do pay them but then they give you money back when the owner comes to claim the car.

TBH that is an extreme ending. I would put a printed sign on the window clearly saying its a private park place etc. if the same car parks there again then its gloves off.

Leave the offensive driver's windshield wipers up.

Or a note under said windscreen wipers?

Failing that, write the note in shaving cream all over the car

Pee on the car...

oops sorry wrong thread

Bit of a pain for you but an instant fix - buy a traffic cone and stick it in your spot when you are not there. I doubt that someone too lazy to look for a proper spot will get out, move the cone and then park. Also, make sure that the number that belongs to your lady's car is added to the 'private' sign, even if it's just a printout in a plastic sleeve.

Start having the offending cars towed, and have your proof of reservation for the parking spot handy. Show no mercy. After a few cars get towed, the problem will be solved!

Had to do this myself and do not feel bad about it *at all.*

only problem is if someone is vindictive they may come back at a later date and damage your car, It happened to one of our neighbours.

What is wrong with just writing a polite note reminding them that you need the parking space ?

The person probably comes every day, and thinks the space is not used and they are 'getting away with' their behaviour...

In our block, I know the neighbour's pattern, and they rarely use their car spaces on particular days and times, so if I have a friend over, they use the space - the neighbour doesn't actually mind - because when he has friends over, they use our car space, since we have a space that is set aside for our apartment and no car!

Are you allowed to install a metal bar with a lock which you put down when you want to park? That is what I would do.

Discuss it with whomever you're paying rent to. Maybe you can get one of those fold down posts that prevent people from using your spot when you're away. Either that or discuss getting a lower rate since you aren't getting access to it 100% of the time (I know, fat chance, eh?....)

+1 for note (with threat of tow), then tow on repeat offence.

Just for shits & giggles I'd have all the numbers I need (re towing) at hand, i.e. call them up front, it'll make you feel better even if you never use their services

Gosh, that is so terribly Swiss!

Be careful with towing - you might end up having to cover the cost yourself. Check on CarIndex who the people are and if their number is registered, write them a letter home (I just call them, freaks them out no end but then I speak the local languages) to say that the next time you find them on your spot you will be forced to tow their car. If they are not registered, leave a note with their car number on it to say that you will inform the police of them parking in your spot. Local police stations have their own number so you just ring them and explain the problem, they'll advise you.

just as a note.. CarIndex doesn't work in a far few cantons ... GE for one

ok, in theory it works in GE but the system tells you you need to send an email to such and such an address where your request will be dealt with during regular office hours and at a fee of, I think, 20Chufs.

I deleted the app. from my phone.

It doesn't work for cars with plates from certain cantons, that is true. But Lucerne is in there and the OP has LU as his location, so there's a good chance it will work.

This normally works - people don't like their bad behaviour observed.

Don't worry about revenge attacks if you get them towed. I'm sure it happens, but most people aren't that stupid to do something criminal which could quite easily traced back to them.

The challenge that the OP's friend has is that everyone and their mother is using the spot so the normal "leave a note" idea is not really going to do it. You call spend all of your time calling the tow company as well.

As a couple of people have mentioned, you need to physically protect the spot. That means a chain across it or one of the pop-up/down metal triangles. Anything else is a waste of time.

You can buy the metal triangles from Coop Brico.