CLAMPERS may soon hike up their charges as the parking industry’s trade body plans to abolish the cap on penalties.

This shock move by the British Parking Association (BPA) comes despite the Government announcing tough new plans to impose further regulations on the controversial industry.

One of the driving forces behind this crackdown was Southampton Itchen Labour MP and secretary of state John Denham, who d e m a n d e d action after the Daily Echo revealed that motorists were being hit with release fees of more than £400.

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In watering down its code of conduct, the association has removed the recommended maximum fees, and claims it is something which operators should set.

While the new code will not come in until October, some firms have already boosted charges to more than £500.

One person who believes that clampers can’t be trusted to set their own limits is student Vicky Guilder, 19, of Chandler’s Ford, who is now working three jobs to pay off a £420 release fee after leaving her car in Pound Tree Road, Southampton, for a few hours to go babysitting.

Vicky said: “I was absolutely devastated.

It seems like clamping is legalised robbery. It is disgraceful.

“I am lucky enough that my parents could come out to get me and lend me the money or I would have been stranded and have to get a bank loan.

“I just don’t see how they can justify making this much money out of people.”

It took Southampton-based Frontline Security just an hour to spot Vicky’s blue Peugeot 206, clamp it and call the tow truck.

Now, instead of enjoying her gap year with friends and swotting up on the reading list for her teaching degree, Vicky has to spend her free time earning a few more pounds by working full-time at a coffee bar, part-time in a pub and doing all the babysitting she can.

This is not the first time that clampers have caused misery for motorists. Another Hampshirebased clamping firm hit the headlines last year when the Daily Echo revealed that it had been charging motorists more than £400.

A BPA spokeswoman said that it had to remove the advice on maximum fees and change the wording of the code to comply with competition legislation.

She said that the association does still give “guidance” on what it considers “would be not unreasonable or excessive”.

This includes a clamp release fee of £125, a removal charge of £250 and a daily storage levy of £35.