Parking firm iPark at Gatwick 'left holidaymakers stranded' /// SCAMMERS

rebecca1

I was caught up in this scam last Sunday. Ipark attendant did not turn up to take my keys and would not answer the mobile phone I was told to call on arrival.. Then I see many people in the same boat as me some waiting many hours as their car couldn't be found! Some were stolen!

I had to pay a huge short stay car park fee to get my car out when I arrived back in the country.

Bearing in mind I had already paid Ipark

The Gatwick Airport parking company say they can't reimburse me and to report it to the Gatwick police. My Holiday Insurance company said that they would NOT pay the claim if I made one..

I booked this through a company online called'Compare my parking' they asked me to log a complaint of what happened and they would call me back on the same day and didn't (so not looking good!).

The Mohammed guy that is the Director of Ipark runs 3 other parking companies in Gatwick! His accounts are overdue at Companies House so it looks like scammers are not even caught that way!

Does anyone know if there is a way I can claim from anyone to get the extortionate fee I paid to exit the short term car park? Thnks Rebecca

oldernonethewiser

Did your car end up staying in the short term car park as iPark didn't pick it up?

Can't see you have any claim against the short term parking people but you should* get your money back from iPark

* theoretically.

rebecca1

Did your car end up staying in the short term car park as iPark didn't pick it up?

Yes, my car stayed in the short term car park when I flew as the meet & Greet team did not turn up!

Can't see you have any claim against the short term parking people but you should* get your money back from iPark

* theoretically.

I just called the mobile number again and they said that Compare Your Parking site has got my money and I should contact them (which I have) he also said that Ipark don't operate any longer and hung up!

Really professional this company! what a bunch of scammers…

rebecca1

Just called Compare Your Parking and told them that IPark said they have my money and HE hung up!

I will post about them on Trustpilot and then see what else I can do, they are not answering their phone now !

0203 925 7797 (Compare Your Parking) are scammers also!!

Half_way

Is this the place/company:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx26g25g3dlo

Meet and greet parking at airports is full of cowboy companies, with airport meet and greet you should always check check and double check, and check where the secure storage site is as well.

Also pay using credit card, and never bank transfer or cash

Make sure you go away with a spare key, and put a tracker of some sort in your car - airtags and other Bluetooth trackers are not always the best option if you really want it to be foolproof, if you can hide an old mobile phone and a powerbank in your car and make sure the phone can stay powered for the duration, couple it with a cheap sim ( ie giff gaff) and use find my phone/find my device and you have a tracker using an old phone.

Also make sure that your V5C is up to date as well as your driving licence as If you find that you get parking charge notices or even council issued tickets/speeding tickets etc then ensure you have proof you were away and give them the contact details of the meet and greet company - these will be sent to the address the DVLA have on the V5C ( logbook)

Castle

a) Who did you pay, IPARK or Compare Your Parking?

b) Did you pay by Credit Card?

TadleyBaggie

It's posts like this that make me always use the official parking companies when parking at airports.

rebecca1

Apparently Ipark business closed down 3 weeks ago, yet Compare My Parking advertised them on their website and took the booking ! All I need to figure out is how I get it back from Compare My Parking. Does anyone know if they have to have a license to run their website??

Thanks

oldernonethewiser

As already asked who did you pay and how?

What do you mean about licence to run their website?

I know it isn't much but reading that BBC report at least you car was in a proper, if very expensive, car park.

Coupon-mad

Complain to IPark's trade body and ask why they still appear on the 'AOS' list, if they do (check the BPA and IPC websites' AOS lists).

Gr1pr

Minibus or taxi service for me, never go near airports with my car. !

Sorry to hear about the scammery, very common topic here in the UK, needs intercepting. !