Dodgy meet-and-greet
airport parking firms exposed:
In covert
Which?
probe using
GPS trackers
companies stole cash, broke speed limits, left
cars filthy - and
dumped one
in a
GARDEN
Dodgy meet-and-greet airport parking firms exposed: In covert Which? probe
using GPS trackers companies stole cash, broke speed limits, left cars filthy
- and dumped one in a GARDEN
Reporters posed as customers at off-site airport parking firms in London• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон
Which? discovered that one comparison site runs several parking operators
READ MORE: The world's 50 best hotels for 2024 named with Thai spot in No.1
By Sophie Foster, Deputy Travel Editor For Mailonline
Published: 00:01 BST, 28 September 2024 | Updated: 00:01 BST, 28 September
2024
e-mail• Коммуникации » Интернет-коммуникации » Электронная почта
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An undercover investigation by Which? using GPS trackers has exposed 'dodgy'
meet-and-greet parking firms operating at London• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон airports.
Their unscrupulous behaviour included 'treating vehicles and personal property
with contempt - stealing personal possessions, speeding, and leaving cars in
poor condition', and parking them in unsecured locations. One was dumped in a
back garden.
What's more, Which? found that rogue operators could easily be mistaken for
legitimate companies, because they often use multiple names that are switched
once they start attracting poor reviews.
The consumer champion's research follows reports of rogue airport
meet-and-greet services from its members, with some revealing that they've had
to hire a taxi to track down their vehicle on their return, or missed a flight
as a result of long waits at drop-off.
Read on for the covert probe's findings for three meet-and-greet services...
Quick Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) - car dumped in back garden
An undercover investigation by Which? used GPS trackers to expose 'dodgy'
parking firms operating at London• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон airports. The consumer champion tested two
parking firms at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Airport (above) and one at Gatwick airport
Undercover reporters booked a service with Quick Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия), an off-site
meet-and-greet firm at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Airport. Above, the reporter's GPS tracker
captures the vehicle speeding down the A4 at nearly 70mph in a 50mph zone
Read More
The best and worst car hire firms for the summer of 2024 named by Which?
First up, undercover reporters posing as customers booked a service with Quick
Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия), an off-site meet-and-greet firm at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Airport that Which? says
came 'recommended by comparison site Deals4Parking '.
After dropping the car off with the operator, the reporter's GPS tracker
captured the vehicle speeding down the A4 at nearly 70mph in a 50mph zone,
Which? claims. Speeding at such a level is a criminal offence that could
result in up to six penalty points or even a driving ban, Which? notes.
Which? also says that the Quick Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) website promised parking 'in a patrolled
location equipped with CCTV, and crucially, Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) Mark accreditation'. This
would mean the space had passed a police risk• Страхование » Риск assessment.
In reality, the GPS showed that the car was actually left in the back garden
of an abandoned rectory five miles from Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу. The British Parking
Association (BPA) confirmed to Which? that this is not an accredited Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) Mark
site.
When the investigator went to collect their car, they said 'it took multiple
unanswered calls and ultimately an 80-minute wait before the keys were handed
back' and that there wasn't 'even a cursory check' to confirm they were the
vehicle's owner. In addition, Which? states that £4.50 in change had been
stolen from the car.
Quick Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) did not respond to requests for comment.
Mayfair Parking - speeding four times
The GPS tracker came in clutch for exposing Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу meet-and-greet firm
Mayfair Parking, whose driver was caught speeding 'on four separate occasions
during the 10-mile round trip from Terminal 5'. See image above
Read More
Airports charge holidaymakers up to four times more for parking if they pay on
arrival rather than in advance, research finds
A Which? reporter's experience at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу with firm Mayfair Parking was 'not
much better'.
The consumer expert says: 'At the time of booking, the site appeared on the
first page of Google search results and was also promoted on comparison sites
Parking4You and Ezybook – making it appear legitimate at first glance.'
But, the GPS trackers came in clutch once more - Mayfair Parking's driver was
caught speeding 'on four separate occasions during the 10-mile round trip from
Terminal 5'. Plus, upon the car's return, £4 had been taken, along with some
sweets, alleges the consumer group.
The service was the only one to use a Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) Mark accredited site, but when
Which? investigators visited, they say it 'left much to be desired'. Rather
than being a secure car park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия), they were able to 'drive straight in and wander
around unchecked'.
Despite this, the BPA said it was satisfied that the site met the current Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия)
Mark standard. But it remarked that it would be checked for suitability for
its new AM-GO standard - a new higher standard for operators that's now being
rolled out.
Approved operators will be fully insured, staff will be qualified, uniformed
and carry ID, and they will use designated drop-off and pick-up zones, as well
as using Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) Mark accredited parking sites.
Mayfair Parking told Which? it strongly disagrees with its findings, asserting
it operates in a professional manner. It apologised if money was stolen from
the car and said it was prepared to take appropriate action and return
anything that was stolen on provision of further evidence. It also noted the
car was stored in a BPA accredited site, picked up promptly and returned
safely.
Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces Ltd - muddy car
Pictured is the investigator's car before it was handed over to Gatwick
Airport Parking Spaces Ltd
When the investigator's car was collected from Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces
Ltd, which is not affiliated with the airport, Which? says it was 'dirty and
muddied both inside and out', as shown here
During the vehicle’s stay with Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces Ltd, Which?’s
GPS tracker showed that the car was moved from Gatwick’s official car park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) to
an offsite location 'which appeared to be industrial wasteland behind a petrol
station'
THE BRITISH PARKING ASSOCIATION'S NEW MEET-AND-GREET OPERATOR SCHEME (AM-GO)
In response to the rotten meet-and-greet system, the BPA admitted the current
scheme - implemented in conjunction with the police to reduce crime in parking
facilities - fell short of its goals.
A new Airport Meet and Greet Operator Scheme (AM-GO) has been launched which,
by focusing on the operator rather than the car parks, aims to stamp out
rogues, says Which?.
Operators are fully insured, staff are qualified, uniformed and carry ID, and
they use designated drop-off and pick-up zones. All sites must be accredited
and the BPA will carry out regular operator assessments and site visits.
Failing companies will be sanctioned or removed from the scheme.
Advertisement
At Gatwick, Which? booked a meet-and-greet service through
comparetheparking.co.uk and chose a service called Prime Parking. But, when
the booking confirmation came through it showed the reporter was actually
using Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces Ltd - a firm that Which? notes is not
affiliated with the airport, despite its name.
Which? investigators 'were unable to see its terms and conditions until after
the booking was complete'. But, the consumer champion says that when the terms
came through, Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces Ltd was 'shameless about the
shortcomings with its service'.
Which? says: 'It warns that in some cases cars will be parked in locations
without CCTV, can be parked in fields, in compounds up to 15 miles from the
airport, or even in a public facility. One alarming line noted: "While our
overflow car parks have a hard standing surface, it is important to note that
some of our car parks lack the necessary planning permission for airport
parking."'
During the vehicle’s stay, the Which? GPS tracker allegedly showed that the
car was moved from Gatwick’s official 'Orange' car park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) to an offsite
location, 'which appeared to be industrial wasteland behind a petrol station'.
When the car was collected, Which? says no proof of identity was requested and
the car was returned 'dirty and muddied both inside and out'. Cash change
totaling £3 had been taken and 'previously sealed water in the driver’s door
had been swigged'.
Gatwick Airport Parking Spaces Ltd did not respond to requests for comment.
Comparison sites - why they're part of the problem
Which? alleges that some comparison sites are 'part of the problem', stating
that when researchers looked for Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу parking with the Deals4Parking
website, it offered seven providers to choose from, all with high ratings of
4.9 out of 5 stars.
Having dug deeper, Which? claims that none of the seven companies appeared to
exist independently of Deals4Parking.
It says: 'Just two of the options listed – Quick Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) and Greg Maurice – were
listed on Companies House, where it emerged that both recently incorporated
firms shared a director. That director resigned last year from a firm called
Falcon Parking Ltd – the trading name of the comparison site Deals4Parking.'
Which? adds: 'Hiding behind a comparison site might help rogue traders absolve
themselves of responsibility when things go wrong.'
The BPA told Which? that 'relatively few providers have appropriate insurance• Страхование
to operate a meet-and-greet service, and most rogue traders are completely
uninsured', which puts drivers at risk• Страхование » Риск of being out-of-pocket should damage
occur.
When Which? reported its findings to the BPA, it said the rogue behaviour it
uncovered 'just scratched the surface'. Which? also sent its evidence to the
police and Trading Standards, and reported rogue sites to Google• Общество » Социальные группы » Субкультура » Сетевой жаргон » To Google.
WHICH? ADVICE FOR BOOKING AIRPORT PARKING
Shop around, with caution : Scam sites are 'alarmingly common' – so to avoid
getting caught out, says Which?, 'stick to official airport sites, Which?
Recommended Providers, and big-name comparison sites such as Holiday Extras
and Skypark Secure'.
Use accredited providers : Use the new Approved Meet and Greet Operator Scheme
(AM-GO). 'If things do go wrong, the BPA has promised to mediate on any
escalated complaints,' says Which?. AM-GO will be rolling out across UK
airports over the coming months. Find out if an operator is part of the scheme
at am-go.co.uk .
Plan ahead: 'Book as soon as you confirm your holiday,' says Which?. 'Most
off-site (and some on-site) locations require advance booking, and leaving it
late risks high prices. Even if you forget, some providers let you pre-book as
little as two hours in advance.' Which? points out that when it tried this for
short stay parking at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу, it knocked more than £400 off the turn-up
price.
Try hotel deals: 'If you have an early flight or live a distance from the
airport, it’s worth checking parking deals that include a hotel stay,' says
Which? The consumer group said it found a night’s stay at Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу’s four-star
Radisson Blu• Объект организация » Организации по алфавиту » Организации на Ra » Radisson Hotels & Resorts, with a week’s worth of parking and shuttle transfer to the
terminal, for £195. The standalone charge for the room was £100, making a
week’s secure parking just £95.
Sign up to save: 'Airports prefer you to book direct and offer discounts if
you sign up to their mailing lists,' says Which? 'All our Which? Recommended
Providers also offer sign-up and promotional codes of 10-15 per cent for those
who book direct. If you’re a Tesco Clubcard member, you have the chance to
turn every £5 in vouchers into £10 to use with Gatwick and Manchester provider
APH.'
Advertisement
Tip of the iceberg...
Which? says the issues it uncovered are likely the tip of the iceberg, with
Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Police telling the consumer champion that it had received 300
allegations related to meet-and-greet services in the past two years.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'Our investigation revealed rogue
meet-and-greet airport operators treating vehicles and personal property with
contempt – stealing personal possessions, speeding, and leaving cars in a poor
condition.
'Worryingly, rogue operators are often prominently listed in search engine
results and on some comparison sites. With generic names that change as soon
as they attract poor reviews, consumers can easily be caught out. As a result,
Which? has now reviewed airport parking operators so we can recommend the
brands you can trust.
'In future, consumers should also check the BPA's new approved Meet and Greet
operator scheme, AM-GO, which is gradually being rolled out across the
country. Approved operators will be fully insured, and all sites used will be
Park• Филология » Лингвистика » Алтайские языки » Корейский язык » Корейские фамилии » Пак (фамилия) Mark accredited.'
A London• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: 'London• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон Gatwick has no
relationship with any alleged rogue meet-and-greet parking companies, even
though many of them have "Gatwick" in their name. Legally these firms can
operate on the airport as long as they do not break our bye-laws.
'If passengers are considering using a third-party meet-and-greet parking
provider, they should check for positive reviews on Trustpilot, or other
reputable review sites. The British Parking Association also has some good
advice. For complete peace of mind, we would however strongly recommend that
passengers use official on-airport parking.'
A Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Airport spokesperson said: 'We do not endorse any operators other
than Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу Airport on-site official parking, even though some may have
"Heathrow• Великобритания » География Великобритании » Населенные пункты Великобритании » Города-сити Великобритании » Лондон » Хитроу
• Великобритания » Англия » География англии » Города Англии » Лондон » Хитроу" in the name. Under competition regulations we do have to allow them
to operate. If choosing to book with a third-party, passengers should look for
positive reviews on Trustpilot, or other reputable review sites, or Trading
Standards' Buy With Confidence accreditation.
'If any incidents occur with a third-party operator we would always advise
passengers to register a complaint with their local Trading Standards as they
can then investigate. We have also established a direct link with Trading
Standards and send all complaints to this contact to support any
investigations or cases they are building against these companies.'
A Google• Объект организация » Организации по алфавиту » Организации на Go » Google (компания) spokesperson said: 'Protecting users is our top priority and we have
strict ads policies that govern the types of ads and advertisers we allow on
our platforms.
'We enforce our policies vigorously, and the ads flagged to us have been
removed and the accounts suspended. We continue to invest significant
resources to stop bad actors and we are constantly evaluating and updating our
policies and improving our technology to keep our users safe.'
