"Travellers are being urged to keep an eye out for unofficial operators claiming to offer cheap long-stay parking following an increase in complaints, according to reports. Holidaymakers have been returning to find their vehicles damaged, burgled or stolen when they were supposed to be being looked after by meet-and-greet companies, the Guardian has reported. Some have been hit with penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking breaches even though they believed their cars were being kept in secure compounds, according to the newspaper, while the meet-and-greet service did not even turn up for others, leaving them abandoned at the arrivals terminal."
"Anyone can trade as a parking operator as long as they are not breaking airline bylaws. The rogue firms reportedly do not often have contracts with landowners, with some moonlighting from airport hotel car parks, where unsuspecting customers are instructed to drop off their vehicles. The cars are then dumped on land, such as construction sites and fields, beyond the airport perimeter."
"Oliver Bedford, car parking director at the West Sussex Airport, said: The challenge we have is that these operators can operate in the airport as long as they don't break any of our bylaws. Although they may have Gatwick in their name there's no association between those operators and the airport. He added that it is common for operators to open during peak holiday seasons before closing down."
Police have warned drivers about a rise in vehicle thefts and other crimes linked to airport parking. Travellers are urged to watch for unofficial meet-and-greet operators offering cheap long-stay parking. Customers report vehicles returned damaged, burgled, stolen, or abandoned, and some receive penalty charge notices despite believing cars were stored in secure compounds. Rogue firms often lack contracts with landowners and may use airport hotel car parks as drop-off points, later dumping cars beyond airport perimeters. Sussex Police and trading standards are addressing concerns. Airport officials note operators can work while complying with bylaws and often appear seasonally.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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