Valet Parking

bijayendrasingh

I have used Valet parking at Heathrow & Gatwick for a number of years and have been pretty happy with the service but this all changed last week.
I gave my car - a 64 reg vehicle to be parked via one of the providers and on my return found that the car was completely non usable and seems that there was water in the engine as well as in the carpets of the car. It looks like a substantial damage if not a write off for a brand new car. I have tried to contact the parking company - who have simply said that as there was significant rain on 22/23 November that they cant do anything about it - it was 'An Act of God' and have washed their hands off completely failing to take any responsibility for the damage to my vehicle.
I would be grateful for advice on what my rights and what actions I can take so that this does not happen to others or myself in future. I am completley put off by using the Valet service again.
Thank you in advance

InsideInsurance

How did they bring the car back to you if the car is totally unusable?

Presumably this is an offsite parking company?

TBeckett100

InsideInsurance wrote: »

How did they bring the car back to you if the car is totally unusable?

Presumably this is an offsite parking company?

Lol, picturing OP with bags by the car collection point and then it arrives on the back of a tow truck :rotfl::rotfl:

phatbear

bijayendrasingh wrote: »

there was water in the engine

how the hell does water get into an engine unless they parked it in a pond. Were there any ducks in the boot or the odd fish in the glove box?

bijayendrasingh

When I rang them to inform of my arrival - they said that the car wasn't starting and hence was taken to their parking site which was half pond!! Clearly they had tried to remove it from the flooded area to another area.
To make it worse the insurance company are saying that its not an Act of God - and that as I was not in the possession of the car - its not covered.
I am kind of left in a limbo!!
Any advice on my rights would be useful.

Running_On_Empty

Are you a member of the AA or the RAC? Maybe they can advise you.
Look on their websites, there may be advice there.
Do you have legal protection on your insurance? Maybe bring a civil claim for damages? I have no experience of ths situation except I know something similar was on BBC's Watchdog a while ago. Maybe see if Watchdog have a website.

rs65

bijayendrasingh wrote: »

To make it worse the insurance company are saying that its not an Act of God - and that as I was not in the possession of the car - its not covered.

Have a read of your policy. Does it say it only covers acts of god? Does it say you have to be in possession of your car when damage occurs?

If you have comprehensive cover, you should be covered for damage to your car. Do you have a link to your policy wording?