Cancelling airport parking booked online

jackisla

Looking for a bit of advice here.

Made an online booking for airport parking about a week before we went on holiday. Stupidly didn’t read the e-mail which said we had the leave the car key with them.

Arrived on the day for them to ask for the key, and as we have a Tesla, we use our phones as the key. I offered them my phone to take the car and park it and then I would take my phone away with me however they wouldn’t accept this.

We then had to leave and book parking elsewhere.

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

Thanks.

sammyjammy

Possibly not, have you looked at the terms and conditions? I think its quite normal to hand over a key in case the car needs to be moved before you collect it.

HillStreetBlues

Only if they offer goodwill and seems they haven't.

Edit: It wouldn't have been just the e-mail, when booking it tells you the requirements.

CliveOfIndia

jackisla said:

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

You'd need to read the T&Cs, but on the face of it I suspect not.  Looking at it purely objectively, the email confirmation stated that you would need to leave the keys with them.  You chose not to to do that, so they've done nothing wrong.  It's not like they've broken the terms of their contract or their own T&Cs, it's you that chose not to comply with the T&Cs.

OK, I guess "chose" is perhaps not the right word, but hopefully you get what I mean - from a purely contractual point of view, you "voluntarily" (as it were) chose not to abide by the terms that were clearly specified.

Ergates

jackisla said:

Stupidly didn’t read the e-mail which said we had the leave the car key with them.
...
Am I entitled to anything?

Thanks.

Based on that - probably not.

*IF* the Ts&Cs on their website make no mention of this requirement, AND they'd refused a refund as soon as you got the email, then you'd have a valid complaint.

But I think by not reading the email you've probably lost any chance now.  And if their Ts&Cs on their website mention the keys then you'd never have had a claim.

Hoenir

jackisla said:

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

You booked a space. With no opportunity to resell it. The business has lost revenue. 

Alderbank

CliveOfIndia said:

jackisla said:

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

You'd need to read the T&Cs, but on the face of it I suspect not.  Looking at it purely objectively, the email confirmation stated that you would need to leave the keys with them.  You chose not to to do that, so they've done nothing wrong.  It's not like they've broken the terms of their contract or their own T&Cs, it's you that chose not to comply with the T&Cs.

OK, I guess "chose" is perhaps not the right word, but hopefully you get what I mean - from a purely contractual point of view, you "voluntarily" (as it were) chose not to abide by the terms that were clearly specified.

The word you're searching for is 'breach'.

The OP breached the contract.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hoenir said:

jackisla said:

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

You booked a space. With no opportunity to resell it. The business has lost revenue. 

Well they haven't, in fact the oppisite, they've had a windfall of full payment without providing the service.

OP this falls under terms regarding retaining disproportionate sums where the consumer fails to perform their obligations under the contract, technically you are looking at them retaining either costs or loss of profits rather than both but given it isn't, I'm assuming, a huge sum and the resistance you'd face in claiming what may be a rather small amount it's propbably one of those to chalk up to experience.

HillStreetBlues

Alderbank said:

CliveOfIndia said:

jackisla said:

When I e-mailed the company asking for a refund, they refused.

Am I entitled to anything?

You'd need to read the T&Cs, but on the face of it I suspect not.  Looking at it purely objectively, the email confirmation stated that you would need to leave the keys with them.  You chose not to to do that, so they've done nothing wrong.  It's not like they've broken the terms of their contract or their own T&Cs, it's you that chose not to comply with the T&Cs.

OK, I guess "chose" is perhaps not the right word, but hopefully you get what I mean - from a purely contractual point of view, you "voluntarily" (as it were) chose not to abide by the terms that were clearly specified.

The word you're searching for is 'breach'.

The OP breached the contract.

I don't think the OP did.
When booking the OP wasn't compelled to use parking space, it was simply available if OP chose to use it, in the end OP decided not to. The contact was fulfilled.

user1977

Surely other keys are available? What happens when you eg put the car in for servicing?

HillStreetBlues

user1977 said:

Surely other keys are available? What happens when you eg put the car in for servicing?

OP only realised after getting to car park so didn't have any other keys with them.