An elderly holidaymaker was left furious after a meet and greet parking service returned her car in an 'undriveable' state. After landing back in the UK at 10pm, 82-year-old Madeline Tretton faced a three-hour wait before the parking service brought back her vehicle.
But it was in such a bad state, said the grandmother, she couldn't drive it home to Lytham. To add insult to injury, Madeline was then slapped with a repair bill of £700. One of the wheels still rattles, she said.
Madeline had enjoyed a sunny 10-day break in Gran Canaria, Lancashire Live reported, and landed back at Manchester Airport on March 10. She had used a parking service, registered to a field close by in Styal.
Despite carrying the airport's name, it later emerged it was not affiliated with the firm. After the lengthy delay, Madeline said she saw her car was covered in mud inside and out and also had damage to the underside panel, the axle and shock absorbers.
Her holiday "had been brilliant but was ruined by the service", she said. And she advised people not to use the meet and greet parking service.
"I contacted [the parking company] who said they were investigating but then ignored my calls and e-mails," she said. "I read on Trust Pilot they had 74% poor reviews but by then it was too late."
Madeline had to pay for the damage herself and was left without a car for four weeks while it was in the garage having the necessary repairs done and waiting for parts.
She said: "The car is still not right, one of the wheels rattles when I drive, I am so disappointed by the way the company handled my complaint and we even have video evidence of the car at Terminal 1 with the damage but the company continue to ignore us."
Madeline says she used a company which shares an address with one listed on Companies House. Both have been approached for a comment but failed to reply in time - either to LancsLive or Madeline and her family.
A spokesperson for Charlie Cornish’s (CEO) office at Manchester Airport said: "I can confirm that Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is not associated with the company stated in any way. We will continue to support the police and our neighbouring councils’ trading standards teams in doing all we can to raise awareness and tackle this issue.
"We encourage customers to use initiatives such as Park Mark and the Government-backed ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme to find an operator that has undergone a series of detailed checks."
Madeline has since filed to small claims for the damage to her car and the case continues. She warned other drivers going abroad this summer to "be very careful" when booking a meet and greet company because it has cost her an extra £700 on what was a lovely holiday through no fault of her own.
She said: "Use the official Manchester Airport Meet and Greet not the fake one posing as Manchester Airport."
