Meet and greet at airports. Damage to car

NicoleFrances

We have used the meet and greet several times over the past few years with no problems. Last week we came back from holiday in the early hours of the morning and it was pouring with rain and the car park was poorly lit. As far as we could see, given the conditions, the car looked fine. However the following day it was clear that the underside of the car had been damaged by them. Car v. Kerb, car lost.
We immediately drew this to their attention and their response was it wasn't them and tough luck.
Has anyone else had this and had any better luck.
I can't even find anywhere to rate their service, which even ignoring the damage was the poorest we've ever experienced

andy13

You have posted on the Parking tickets board

Crabman

I've moved this to the Motoring Board

vikingaero

A lot of meet and greet parking companies have been shown to be sharks. Practices from parking cars on local estates to using them to collect/drop off other cars.

I imagine you sign a form on collection to say all was hunky dory? If so you might be in trouble as the parking company could claim the damage was already there.

forgotmyname

Checked your fuel and mileage? I think watchdog covered a company that did this and used the cars themselves and parked them in residential streets etc.

Personal items went missing.

shaun_from_Africa

This will be what you remember Forgotmyname.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2010/10/airport_parking.html


I was living in Horley when this all came to light, and there was one company who were parking vehicles in the carpark of the recreation field just outside of the centre of town.

NicoleFrances

We did not sign to say the car was ok.. The mileage was fine. Fewer than 10 miles
I would like to know how to review their service.... Impossible to find.

The moral: take a torch and check the car minutely before you leave no matter what time

Horizon81

We used one once. Got the car back and it was covered in some of the most offensive bird dirt I've ever seen. These meet and greets are often farming types who'll drive your car half way across their bumpy land then dump it under a massive tree. Our car at the time was an old knacker so not the end of the world but we saw a brand new Jag getting dropped off at the same time as ours.

For the sake of a few quid more, we've always used the airports on site parking since. There's codes on this site that can get you a few quid off, plus you know the car won't be driven by a yokel or parked under a tree.

eschaton

Horizon81 wrote: »

We used one once. Got the car back and it was covered in some of the most offensive bird dirt I've ever seen. These meet and greets are often farming types who'll drive your car half way across their bumpy land then dump it under a massive tree. Our car at the time was an old knacker so not the end of the world but we saw a brand new Jag getting dropped off at the same time as ours.

For the sake of a few quid more, we've always used the airports on site parking. There's codes on this site that can get you a few quid off, plus you know the car won't be driven by a yokel or parked under a tree.

Totally agree. Don't like leaving my car unattended anywhere long term but if I have to then the official airport long stay car park is what I choose.

Not for a minute would I hand the keys to my car to a total stranger not knowing where it is going. I am not adverse to parking the car and walking to the shuttle bus stop and the same on the return jourrney.

Oldfatgrumpy

Years ago when we had to leave our car at Heathrow for 2 weeks we used Purple Parking. They had a proper secure compound for the cars and a good shuttle service to/from the terminal, and were much cheaper than airport parking.

mildred1978

Oldfatgrumpy wrote: »

Years ago when we had to leave our car at Heathrow for 2 weeks we used Purple Parking. They had a proper secure compound for the cars and a good shuttle service to/from the terminal, and were much cheaper than airport parking.

Use them all the time. Last time they brought the car back and the glass was broken in one of the wing mirrors. Driver disappeared sharpish.

PP reviewed the pictures from when the car went into the compound and paid (more than the cost of the parking) for replacement glass with very little hassle whatsoever. :T