Gatwick parking incident

Aylesbury_Duck

Loobiec wrote: »

I have pictures of when the car was parked up, after I gave them the keys with the ticket they provided, the pictures show all windows are closed.

I can't see how that is evidence that they were negligent though. It takes a leap of supposition to get from there to "they've left a window or door open and flooded my car".

I don't think you're going to be able to pin this on them I'm afraid.

DoaM

I don't know ... if timestamped photographic evidence shows that all doors and windows were closed when the OP handed over the car, then any damage must have happened during the valet parking company's time of keeping. (Assuming OP can prove that the damage didn't happen in the 30 minutes between collection and reporting the problem ... a soaked rear footwell is highly unlikely to happen within that time frame, and if this went to court the judgment would be based on the balance of probabilities).

poppasmurf_bewdley

Were your car windows misted up when you collected it? If the rear of the car was soaked, then in this warm weather it's odds on the car windows would be misted up completely from all the water inside.

foxy-stoat

DoaM wrote: »

I don't know ... if timestamped photographic evidence shows that all doors and windows were closed when the OP handed over the car, then any damage must have happened during the valet parking company's time of keeping. (Assuming OP can prove that the damage didn't happen in the 30 minutes between collection and reporting the problem ... a soaked rear footwell is highly unlikely to happen within that time frame, and if this went to court the judgment would be based on the balance of probabilities).

They would still have to prove that the car park was negligent in some way.

Is there any proof that the water was not already in the back footwells?
You are expected to check the vehicle before leaving and report any damages before you set off.

System

All resolved. Admitted liability, full refund of parking costs and extra payment for cleaning the car.

Yes, all the windows were closed. No there was nothing there before. No I do not have leaky seals, I don't really see why someone would waste their time making a post if all the things most people mentioned was checked first?

It seems obvious to me that someone would only post if they had left their car with no issues to return when there are issues. To the people saying 'you should've checked your car' something only come to light after the fact, it's not like you'd get down on your back and check the underside of your before driving off?

Aylesbury_Duck

Good result and I'll admit I'm surprised. I didn't think they'd stump up.

Did you not get a hamper?

01afraser4

Loobiec wrote: »

All resolved. Admitted liability, full refund of parking costs and extra payment for cleaning the car.

Yes, all the windows were closed. No there was nothing there before. No I do not have leaky seals, I don't really see why someone would waste their time making a post if all the things most people mentioned was checked first?

It seems obvious to me that someone would only post if they had left their car with no issues to return when there are issues. To the people saying 'you should've checked your car' something only come to light after the fact, it's not like you'd get down on your back and check the underside of your before driving off?

Good result! However all the things you mentioned above were plausible reasons as to what could have caused a leak. Your opening post contained none of that information so it is only natural that people ask these questions to get a full picture. Don't take it personally.

Herzlos

Did you find out what happened?

System

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Good result and I'll admit I'm surprised. I didn't think they'd stump up.

Did you not get a hamper?

I think it's when I started to quote their T&Cs etc, lady called and seemed rather nice, she just mentioned that someone said it was damp but nothing more, I don't think they would pay unless someone had said something but who knows.

01afraser4 wrote: »

Good result! However all the things you mentioned above were plausible reasons as to what could have caused a leak. Your opening post contained none of that information so it is only natural that people ask these questions to get a full picture. Don't take it personally.

Valid point :beer:

Herzlos wrote: »

Did you find out what happened?

No, not really but the car smells clean so that's nice!

Mercdriver

You know what to do in future, though. Valet parking at Heathrow tried to get me to head on my way when I noticed damage on my wife's car. They were insistent, but I absolutely refused. After that, we kept the spare keys with us so we could check the car before going to the office - they like you to sign the form before they give you the keys. I won't sign until I have thoroughly checked the car...