Warning - Howletts Animal Park Kent

teasleym

Visited Howletts park last week on a budget (pre packed picnic, tesco vouchers for entry v mse.). Had a great time at the park until we returned to our car.
Although parked 2 feet away from the car next to us, they had managed to hit our car, scratch our wheel arch and break a part off the mirror. Then the thieving toerags took the part with them!
Howletts accept no liability, although there is CCTV at entry to car park, would not check to find reg of the Black Zafira that caused this, and I now have to find £40 for a replacement part, and get the wheel arch resprayed.
V disappointed that this is a family attraction, we clearly have a family car, with baby & child seat, and the car we parked next to had child seat and sign on it, but still they have no morals to damage our car and drive off.
So a warning to anyone visiting Howletts (or Port Lympne) they accept no liability, and will not check CCTV to help you find the culprit. :mad:

donnap83

To be fair, I don't think anywhere accepts liability for damaged that occurs to your property which is left in carparks.

Supermarkets, shopping centres, attractions etc. There are signs all over the place.

That said, if you report the incident to the police, they can view the footage.

I also think that you have a legal right to view the footage, by sending a written request. I'm sure someone will be along to either verify that or correct it.

teasleym

There weren't signs all over the place, we looked. The staff were not interested in checking the cctv either.

I'm concerned that it will happen again, as if you buy your tickets (rather than use tesco vouchers) you get entry for a year. This family have done it once without being caught and may well do it again. (Especially if they are that bad at driving that they hit a car 2 feet away!)

donnap83

teasleym wrote: »

There weren't signs all over the place, we looked. The staff were not interested in checking the cctv either.

I'm concerned that it will happen again, as if you buy your tickets (rather than use tesco vouchers) you get entry for a year. This family have done it once without being caught and may well do it again. (Especially if they are that bad at driving that they hit a car 2 feet away!)

Unfortunately we only have your word regarding signage. However, I'm sure you'll agree that in nearly every carpark there as these signs. I don't know of anywhere that will accept liability for damage to property left in the carparks.

Also, you are assuming that it was a particular car that did the damage. Without actually seeing the CCTV footage, how can you know who/what did the damage?

Have you reported it to the police?

peter_the_piper

You are more likely to get dinged in tesco's. They (and any car park) do not accept responsibly and are unlikely to check cctv either, unfortunately its perfectly normal and very common.

teasleym

I agree, but we did not notice any signs at all. They certainly weren't in a "prominent" position. We would have reported it to the police if we had the number plate but cannot get that.

We are pretty sure it was the car next to us, as it was there an hour earlier when my husband came back to collect the picnic, and we have black paint marks along our car that would match a black Zafira.

All I wanted to do was warn others about leaving their cars there, as it takes several hours to visit, and you are leaving your car unattended, for it to be damaged or robbed and Howletts will accept no liability or even give a proper apology. The damage to our car is done and I'll have to find the money to fix it somehow, but I don't want others to get theirs damaged if I could warn them against it.

scheming_gypsy

teasleym wrote: »

I agree, but we did not notice any signs at all. They certainly weren't in a "prominent" position. We would have reported it to the police if we had the number plate but cannot get that.

so report it to the police and advise them that there's CCTV there. The owners of the other car have left the scene of an accident and caused criminal damage (probably). You need the other cars details so you can claim through the insurance; so the police will deal with Howletts and obtain the CCTV to see what happened and to get the car details.

balmk

Unfortunately, as previously posted, they will not accept liability for a visitor damaging your car. And why would they?

Your best bet is to report the incident to the police, who may be able to track down the other driver.

Regrettably, damage to your car is a risk that you take wherever you park it as drivers less careful than yourself may feel the urge to use the carpark as a private dodgems ride.

I don't think that it is fair to warn people against Howletts specifically just because some numpty damaged your car.

foxymum1977_2

sorry this has happened to your can on a family day out, we have been to Howletts Zoo a few times without incident, i always worry about our car when its parked anywhere really as a lot of people do not respect the car parked next to theirs, i see children opening their doors onto the car parked next to their car all the time, mainly at our local Tesco!
i try to park away from other cars and favour 'end' spaces!
not sure you can do much about this apart from put it down to a very bad experience.

Fridaycat

peter_the_piper wrote: »

You are more likely to get dinged in tesco's. They (and any car park) do not accept responsibly and are unlikely to check cctv either, unfortunately its perfectly normal and very common.

When I go shopping, I always try and park my car as far away from other cars as possible, always towards the rear of the car park as far away from the entrance as possible - indeed, it makes me chuckle when I see people drive around wasting fuel to find the nearest possible slot to the door, to save themselves the hassle of walking a few extra feet.

Anyway, a couple of years ago, I'd parked like this in a large Tesco car park on a quiet shopping day, did my shopping, and when I returned to my car, there was a massive dent that wasn't there previously, together with some lovely white paint marks - noticeable on the black of mine. It was a windy day and I presume someone had parked next to me and the wind had caught their car door, whacked my car, so they'd driven off and presumably parked elsewhere.

The car park has numerous signs telling customers about CCTV, so I went back into the store to the security desk and asked to see the footage.

I was advised that it was not possible to see any footage as the cameras were very limited in their range, and of the parts of the car park they do cover, they don't actually record. So it was a complete waste of time. I said to the security guards what a load of rubbish that was, and they agreed with me! They said that it was a head office decision that they didn't agree with either :eek:

Jeff_Bridges_hair

There are signs at Howletts - I went only last week and noticed them. I go frequently too with the free for a year thing and kids love it there.

As has already been said report it to the police. Cant blame Howletts for someone else's behaviour.