People who use valet parking at UK airports warn cars 'no longer driveable'

People driving to Gatwick Airport in London have been warned cars are being left "unusable". A motorist wrote into the Guardian newspaper to discuss their traumatic experience as they jetted off from the capital city on a summer holiday.

They wrote: "We used the valet parking at Gatwick airport but when we arrived back, late at night with our three-year-old son, we were told our car had a “mechanical fault”. It had apparently suffered a broken coil spring while being driven from the parking lot back to the terminal and was no longer driveable.

"Despite this happening on the Friday before our return on Sunday, we were not informed and had no opportunity to make alternative travel arrangements. In addition, some work had been carried out without our consent. It has a new tyre but there is no record that it has been done.

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"Gatwick airport parking is not accepting liability for the damage and refusing to compensate us for our onward travel costs." The national newspaper reported the terms and conditions of this service state: “We and our subcontractors are insured for any loss or damage to your vehicle which happens as a result of our employees and subcontractors not driving carefully.”

And Gatwick says: “The damage to the vehicle in question was caused by a broken coil spring and classed as mechanical wear and tear, therefore we are unable to accept any liability. We have issued the passenger a full refund for their parking as a gesture of goodwill.”

"I guess it's possible someone took the car for a spin and broke it. But without any evidence it's impossible to prove that so not a lot you can do. Gatwick/NCP aren't going to admit responsibility in these circumstances," a reader replied.

A second typed: "It's just bad luck. Surely better to have happened in the car park than halfway home with your three year old at night? Yes they could have rung, that's the bit where they fell down, but refunding your car park costs is enough of an apology for that."