Beware - Heathrow T5 Long Stay Car Park

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Chippy_Minton
Chippy_Minton Posts: 3,339 Forumite
in Flights, currency & car hire
The Terminal 5 Long Stay Car Park is free of charge for the first 2 hours.

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/heathrow-parking/heathrow-long-stay-parking

However, twice in the last week when I have stayed there for less than 2 hours (private vehicle, not a taxi), the ticket machine at the exit barrier has displayed a charge of £14.90. I had to press the Assistance button to tell the operator who then lifted the barrier.

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  • bradders1983
    bradders1983 Posts: 5,684 Forumite
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    Okay, so where is the thing to beware here? Clearly an error was made, you pressed the button, you got out for free.
  • Doc_N
    Doc_N Posts: 8,270 Forumite
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    bradders1983 wrote: »
    Okay, so where is the thing to beware here? Clearly an error was made, you pressed the button, you got out for free.

    What an unhelpful negative comment for a very helpful warning post.

    Not everyone will realise what's happened, and this is a useful warning.
  • JohnHenry
    JohnHenry Posts: 14 Forumite
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    Same happened to me in August. Pressed assistance and they let me out.
  • cubegame
    cubegame Posts: 2,042 Forumite
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    Doc_N wrote: »
    What an unhelpful negative comment for a very helpful warning post.

    Not everyone will realise what's happened, and this is a useful warning.


    Stupid people deserve to pay. It subsidises things like this for the rest of us.
  • bradders1983
    bradders1983 Posts: 5,684 Forumite
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    cubegame wrote: »
    Stupid people deserve to pay. It subsidises things like this for the rest of us.

    Indeed, if you happily pay it then you are an idiot.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,459 Forumite
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    I had this problem back in May (28th). Pressed the assistance button. Was told I had to go into the office to get my ticket endorsed. So if they are now lifting the barriers if you just contact them without leaving the vehicle that is actually a slight improvement.

    Although I then had a problem getting into the T5 short term car park to pick up (perhaps because I had just left the long term car park. I usually pick up from the drop off area, but I had read about someone being ticketed for this.)

    The guy in the office said the barriers no longer let you out automatically for free stays (up to two hours) because taxi drivers had been abusing the facility. (Although you would think they could prevent abuse as all the VRNs are logged by an ANPR system.)
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