Trading Standards have received a number of complaints from Customers who have suffered thefts from their cars, damage to their vehicles and excessive mileage added to their cars’ odometers while in the care of some companies.
The advice given when booking Gatwick Parking is:
- Check the company websites and make sure you know who you are dealing with. Legally, companies need to provide their name, address and company number on websites. If contact address details are missing, be extra cautious and consider booking with a different provider.
- If the cost of the booking is more than £100, consider paying with a credit card as this will give you extra protection should things go wrong.
- Most reputable companies will complete paperwork highlighting any damage to the vehicle at the time you drop it off. Trading Standards advises customers to take pictures of all 4 sides of their vehicle when they drop it off to help avoid any disputes regarding damage to your vehicle when you return from holiday.
- The majority of meet and greet companies will have parking facilities which are relatively close to the airport. Make a note of the mileage reading on your car when you drop it off, that way you will know whether or not it has been driven further than you expected.
- Lastly, do not leave any valuables or money in your vehicle whilst you are on your travels.
Lionel Barnard, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services with responsibility for trading standards said: “It’s important to say that the majority of people suffer a stress free experience when dealing with official and regulated meet and greet firms.
“There are so many things to arrange when you are going on holiday that it is easy to look at car parking online and concentrate on price or availability rather than reading the small print.
“If you look closely some companies offering ‘meet and greet’ services do not have full contact details on their websites so you have no way of making contact if you have a complaint.
“In some cases claims of secure parking can actually mean a field or a street near to the airport.
“We advice people to use a secure ‘meet and greet’ service provided by our ‘Buy With Confidence’ trading standards approved business and Approved Operator by Gatwick Airport”
