Airport parking double charged

czg_fluffycatsrule

I’m hoping someone can advise me. I booked airport parking at Gatwick through Skypark secure, received the usual email confirmation and arrived at Ace Parking. The chap said he couldn’t find the reference from Skypark but as I’d only booked it two days before it wasn’t unusual, he checked the booking email seemed happy with it and said the booking would come through, gave me a ticket and off we went. When we returned I was informed (by the same chap) that there was no reference and despite being given a ticket I’d have to pay £240 to get my car keys back. I explained I’d already paid and showed him my bank statement, he remembered us and said he’d see what he could do, called the manager & was told not to release the keys until we’d paid again. He was uncomfortable with this & when I said you accepted the booking & didn’t tell me there was any risk we’d me charged again so should give me my keys he says the company will charge him so he can’t. He says we’d get our money back if we called in the morning but refused to write it down. I spoke to the manager on the phone who was rude and just said pay or no car & then hung up on me! Cut a long story short, it was midnight, we have young kids & I paid unwillingly so we could get home. 

My question is whether I can get my money back?  This seems like sharp practice at best and a scam at worst. Is there any regulation? Thank you 

Aylesbury_Duck

czg_fluffycatsrule said:

I’m hoping someone can advise me. I booked airport parking at Gatwick through Skypark secure, received the usual email confirmation and arrived at Ace Parking. The chap said he couldn’t find the reference from Skypark but as I’d only booked it two days before it wasn’t unusual, he checked the booking email seemed happy with it and said the booking would come through, gave me a ticket and off we went. When we returned I was informed (by the same chap) that there was no reference and despite being given a ticket I’d have to pay £240 to get my car keys back. I explained I’d already paid and showed him my bank statement, he remembered us and said he’d see what he could do, called the manager & was told not to release the keys until we’d paid again. He was uncomfortable with this & when I said you accepted the booking & didn’t tell me there was any risk we’d me charged again so should give me my keys he says the company will charge him so he can’t. He says we’d get our money back if we called in the morning but refused to write it down. I spoke to the manager on the phone who was rude and just said pay or no car & then hung up on me! Cut a long story short, it was midnight, we have young kids & I paid unwillingly so we could get home. 

My question is whether I can get my money back?  This seems like sharp practice at best and a scam at worst. Is there any regulation? Thank you 

You need to look at your contract with Skypark to determine who your dispute is with.  It may be with them because that's who you paid, or the contract might say they are just some sort of referral service who hawks your business out to any old man-in-a-field and that your contract is with Ace Parking.

How did you pay?  Debit card?
How much did you originally pay - is the £240 'penalty' the same as the original charge?

Okell

Have you got proof of the original booking and that you had to pay again?

If so write to them and threaten to sue.

Alternatively, if you paid by debit card or credit card initiate a chargeback or s75 claim with your bank. 

Is this one of those "valet" car parking services that are nothing to do with official Gatwick parking and where you have to hand your keys over?  I have no idea why people uses these companies.  You wouldn't give your house keys to a stranger and does your car insurance permit it?

Aylesbury_Duck

Okell said:

Have you got proof of the original booking and that you had to pay again?

If so write to them and threaten to sue.

Alternatively, if you paid by debit card or credit card initiate a chargeback or s75 claim with your bank. 

Is this one of those "valet" car parking services that are nothing to do with official Gatwick parking and where you have to hand your keys over?  I have no idea why people uses these companies.  You wouldn't give your house keys to a stranger and does your car insurance permit it?

Three reasons: Price, price and price.

As you say, there may be an insurance risk.  I recall several threads where people have returned to discover their car has perhaps been used as a taxi or takeaway delivery vehicle, is filthy, damaged or worse - has clearly been in an accident.  At least OP has routes to reversing what is a documented and unjustified double charge.

Okell

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Okell said:

Have you got proof of the original booking and that you had to pay again?

If so write to them and threaten to sue.

Alternatively, if you paid by debit card or credit card initiate a chargeback or s75 claim with your bank. 

Is this one of those "valet" car parking services that are nothing to do with official Gatwick parking and where you have to hand your keys over?  I have no idea why people uses these companies.  You wouldn't give your house keys to a stranger and does your car insurance permit it?

Three reasons: Price, price and price.

As you say, there may be an insurance risk.  I recall several threads where people have returned to discover their car has perhaps been used as a taxi or takeaway delivery vehicle, is filthy, damaged or worse - has clearly been in an accident.  At least OP has routes to reversing what is a documented and unjustified double charge.

Yeah - I know, but still.

You spend £££s on a holiday(?) and flights, you're travelling with young children, you know you'll be picking the car up at midnight, you need everything to be hassle free but you decide to pay peanuts for the service.  What could possibly go wrong?

There comes a point where basing everything on price is effectively cutting your nose off to spite your face.

born_again

Okell said:

Have you got proof of the original booking and that you had to pay again?

If so write to them and threaten to sue.

Alternatively, if you paid by debit card or credit card initiate a chargeback or s75 claim with your bank. 

Is this one of those "valet" car parking services that are nothing to do with official Gatwick parking and where you have to hand your keys over?  I have no idea why people uses these companies.  You wouldn't give your house keys to a stranger and does your car insurance permit it?

Problem here, it is to separate companies that have been paid. SkyPark (online) & Ace Parking (card present) So a chargeback will not work, or even be offered.

EDIT
If you tried non receipt of service on Skypark, it could work, but would rely on them not contesting chargeback & then not deciding to go the legal route given they would be saying the service was provided.

OP best hope maybe to contact SkyPark & see if they will refund. But whats the betting they will say need to take it up with Ace.


EDIT
Sadly this is the danger with using 3rd party booking co's.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I would imagine SkyPark are liable for damages for the extra £240 OP paid if they failed to perform their aspect of the contract, i.e failed facilitate the booking between the two parties.

If the the actual parking company were just lying and fleeced OP I guess that's a criminal matter but would very hard to prove. 

Best starting place is SkyPark who I would assume will fob OP off because it's off script so might require a letter before action and possibly small claims.  

czg_fluffycatsrule

Thanks all. I’ve used this company many times in the past, it’s a Gatwick approved parking scheme so thought it was safe - just to answer a couple of comments above. Although I hadn’t appreciated that SkyParkSecure were a third party agent but that’s on me. I have contacted Skypark who have just replied & requested receipts so will see what they say, thanks