Manchester Airport meet and greet service writes off holidaymaker's Range Rover
A North Wales holidaymaker's car was "written off" after being left with the Meet and Greet service at Manchester Airport. Ioan Williams, who embarked on a trip to Alicante with his children Ela and Sion from the airport on August 9, entrusted his white Range Rover to the airport's Meet and Greet service, stating it "didn't have a scratch on it".
However, upon their return a week later, he was informed of an incident involving his vehicle. Expecting a minor issue, he was shocked to find the driver's side wheel at an abnormal angle.
The repair cost quoted by insurers was £15,800 - effectively writing off the vehicle. While Ioan acknowledges that both the airport and his insurers are working together on the matter, he is frustrated by the lack of apology or compensation offer, reports North Wales Live.
Ioan, from near Caernarfon, said: "I left the car with them on the 9th of August. This is the official meet and greet and Terminal 2 and camera goes around your car before you get in to the car park to assess if any previous damage."
"My car didn't even have as much as a scratch on it. I dropped my keys off inside the terminal where they give me a receipt for. We then went away on our holiday."
They arrived back at 1am on August 16. The 44-year-old added: "I went to get some coffee while my friends which also parked there went before me. When I arrived at the pick up for meet and greet I saw my friends putting their luggage into their car. I went to scan my barcode to access my keys. But it said seek attention."
Ioan recounted the unsettling experience he had with a meet and greet service at Manchester Airport, saying: "I instantly knew something was up and thought that my car had been stolen but he said one of 'our drivers have kerbed your wheel'. I thought 'oh god' and said 'I hope you're going to paint it'."
He continued, detailing the moment he saw his car: "To which he replied 'I think you need to have a look at it'. When we walked up to the car I noticed that the angle of the wheel wasn't right and obviously been involved in a high impact and I stated this to him. He agreed and said that the driver has been dealt with but there weren't any cameras in that area."
"The car was obviously not drivable as something had snapped. They paid for a taxi home for us and I had to leave the car there. I wasn't home until 5am."
He said the insurance company had been in touch and "have been cooperating with me".
Reflecting on the financial implications, he added: "The cost of the repair came up to £15,800 to fix, making the car a write off. I loved that car, I bought it for myself for my 40th. Although I've been paid out for the car it's not the point I didn't want to get rid of it."
Frustrated with the lack of response from the airport, he concluded: "Manchester Airport refunded the £149.99 I paid to park there. But I haven't had an apology email/letter from them or an offer of compensation whatsoever. I'm there quite often but I'll never use their meet and greet service again."
Manchester Airport are liaising with the customer and their insurers are in contact with the customer's insurance company. They refrained from commenting further on the specific case.
They did mention that in such circumstances, it is standard procedure to issue an apology once the situation has been fully resolved.
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