by A couple said they landed back at Manchester Airport after a holiday to find their car in a ‘disgraceful’ and ‘shaky’ state.
Before Keith Moyles and Chandelle Watkinson went on a trip to Italy to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, they dropped off their BMW 435d Gran Coupe at the airport with valet parking. Keith, 58, booked the valet parking with Secure Airport Transfers Manchester via a comparison site.
He said everything seemed legit with the service, which is not listed on the official list of parking options on the Manchester Airport website. But they claimed that when they returned from Italy to Manchester, the car looked like it had been driven around a construction site’, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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Chandelle, 44, said the parking, which cost £71.94 for the week, was fine when they arrived but told how the problems started after they returned home from their trip. As well as the car being sunk, the couple also claimed that a pair of sunglasses had been taken and that the car had been driven around 50 miles.
Both reported the problems to the police. The director of Secure Airport Transfers Manchester said there was no evidence to suggest the car had been driven anywhere other than the car park and said the mud may have been caused by the wet weather in Manchester.
Describing the service, Chandelle said: “The service was like a valet parking service. When we arrived we were given a number to call when we got back to Manchester Airport on our way home.
“When we landed back in Manchester and were waiting for the bags I called the number. They said they would be on their way so we got the bags and went outside to wait.
“We stood for about 40 minutes before they came to release the car.
“There was sand and cement in the driver’s side and the passenger side. I don’t know why there was even anyone on the side of our car.”
Her husband, Keith, said: “I’m very OCD about my car, I know exactly how the glove compartment looked when I took it out because things are a special place. When we got the car back the clothes that are usually in the glove box were thrown across the back seat.
“I opened it [the glove compartment] up and saw it was empty, my partner has sunglasses in there that are gone. And, the car was completely dirty. Range mileage increased by 50 miles.”
However, Secure Airport Transfers Manchester director Muhammed Iqbal said there was no evidence the car had been driven further than the couple of miles to their car park and said customers sign a waiver saying the company does not accept liability for any goods valuable. .
He also told the ECHO that the car was dirty from the wet weather in Manchester making the ground muddy. After complaining to Secure Airport Transfers Manchester the pair, from Claughton, Wirral, claim that ‘it does rain in Manchester’ was their excuse for the state of the car.
Chandelle said: “That wasn’t all. My issue is the aftercare and attitude of these people too, they were disgraceful.
“We stood outside the airport with all our luggage for over 40 minutes. The condition of the car was appalling.
“When we complained they were not concerned, all they said was that they would change the glasses and regarding the condition of the care, their response was ‘it does rain in Manchester.’ I am angry.
“I know things happen and things go wrong but it’s the handling. We’ll have to get the car valeted which will protect us from that.”
She said: “It took the enjoyment out of our holiday. It was a trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast that I booked for our 10th anniversary present for my husband.” Keith said: “She took me on a trip to Rome and wrecked my car. It was a lovely trip.”
Muhammed Iqbal said: “The customer left the car with us, when he collected the car he told the driver that the sunglasses were missing. When he dropped the car he signed the paperwork saying that we as a company are not responsible of valuables.
“He claimed his car had been driven 40 miles. However, one of our sites where we keep the cars is 1.5 miles from the airport and the other 2.5 miles. I told the gentleman that our insurance policy only covers cars that drive up to three miles from the airport and if we drive outside that perimeter it is illegal.
“So we can’t. There is no evidence of fuel being used.
“I also explained that the tires are muddy because we have rain in Manchester every day, the ground gets muddy. I offered him money to wash the car and replace the sunglasses but he refused everything. He called the police and I spoke to them yesterday but the police were happy with what I said.”
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “We have received a report of taking without consent / taking from a motor vehicle (TFMV / TWOC) and we would urge anyone with any information to please contact 101 or Crimestoppers.”
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