'We dropped our BMW at Manchester Airport, what we came back to was disgusting'

Keith Moyles with his wife Chandelle Watkinson on their holiday to Italy
-Credit: (Image: Chandelle Watkinson)


A couple said they landed back at Manchester Airport after a holiday to find their car in a 'disgusting' and 'filthy' state.

Before Keith Moyles and Chandelle Watkinson headed off on a trip to Italy to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, they dropped their BMW 435d Gran Coupe off at the airport with a parking service. Keith, 58, had booked the valet parking with Secure Airport Transfers Manchester through a comparison site.

He said 'everything appeared 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 back from Italy to Manchester, the car 'looked like it had been driven around a building site', the Liverpool Echo reports.

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Chandelle, 44, said the parking, which cost £71.94 for the week, was fine on arrival but told how the problems started after they returned home from their trip. As well as the car being mucky, the couple also claimed that a pair of sunglasses had been taken and that the car had been driven around 50 miles.

The pair reported the problems to police. The director of Secure Airport Transfers Manchester said there was no evidence to suggest the car had been driven anywhere but to the parking spot and said the mud may have been from 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 coming home.

"When we landed back at 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 drop the car off. When they eventually brought it it looked like it had been driven around a building site.

The couple said it looked 'like the car been driven round a building site'
The couple said it looked 'like the car been driven round a building site' -Credit:Keith Moyles

"There was sand and cement in the driver's footwell and passenger side. I don't know why anyone was even in the passenger side of our car."

Her husband, Keith added: "I'm very OCD about my car, I know exactly how the glove compartment looked when I dropped it off because things have a certain 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 designer sunglasses in there that have gone. And, the car was absolutely filthy. The range mileage had gone up by 50 miles."

However, the director of Secure Airport Transfers Manchester, Muhammed Iqbal, said there was no evidence that the car had been driven any further than the couple miles to their carpark and said customers sign a waiver saying the company does not accept liability for any valuable items.

He also told the ECHO the car had got dirty from the wet weather in Manchester making the ground muddy. Upon complaining to Secure Airport Transfers Manchester the couple, both from Claughton, Wirral, claim their excuse for the state of the car was 'it does rain in Manchester'.

Chandelle said: "That wasn't all of it. My issue is the aftercare and attitude of these people as well, they have been disgraceful.

"We stood outside the airport with all our luggage for over 40 minutes. The state of the car was disgusting.

"When we complained they didn't care, all they said was that they would replace the glasses and as for the condition of the care the response they gave was 'it does rain in Manchester.' I'm so angry.

Mud in the front footwell of the BMW
Mud in the front footwell of the BMW -Credit:Keith Moyles

"I know things happen and things go wrong but it's the handling of it. We're going to have to get the car valeted which is going to cost us for that."

She added: "It took the shine off our holiday. I'd booked it for our 10th anniversary present to my husband, it was a trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast." Keith said: "She treated me to a trip to Rome and my car got destroyed. It was such a lovely trip."

Muhammed Iqbal said: "The customer left the car with us, when he collected the car he told the driver the sunglasses were missing. When he dropped the car off he signed the paperwork to say that we as a company don't take liability for valuables.

"He claimed his car was driven 40 miles. However, one of our sites where we keep the cars is 1.5miles from the airport and the other is 2.5miles. I told the gentleman our insurance policy only covers cars to be driven up to three miles from the airport and if we drive it out of that perimeter it's illegal.

"So we can't. There is no evidence of fuel being used.

"I also explained that the tyres are muddy because in Manchester we get rain every day, the ground gets muddy. I offered him money to wash the car and replace the sunglasses but he has rejected everything. He called the police and I spoke with them yesterday but the police were satisfied with what I said."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "We have received a report of a taking without consent / taking from a motor vehicle (TFMV / TWOC) and would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch with 101 or Crimestoppers."

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