A family have been left horrified after returning from holiday to find the car they had left at Heathrow Airport had been written off. Oliver and Amy Clague had landed back in the UK on a long-haul flight with their one-year-old baby son Jack, only to find their vehicle undrivable due to its catalytic converter having been stolen, reports Bristol Live.
The Clagues, who had not slept for more than 24 hours, were then told by staff that there was very little they could do to help despite the family having paid £160 to leave their car at a location that is described as "safe and secure" on the airport's website. They had even selected the car park instead of cheaper alternatives, believing that it would be safer.
Television director Oliver, 39, from Bristol, said: "We came back having had no sleep with our baby on our lap, only to find that our car is unsafe to drive because Heathrow can't keep track of who enters their parking facilities. You get 20 minutes free in there and to rip out a catalytic converter - which can be worth thousands because of the platinum and rare minerals inside it - takes less than three minutes.
"Some cars you don't even need a jack. So, if Heathrow don't monitor who goes in and out, or can't adequately patrol the area, then you have this bonkers car parts bonanza at Heathrow.
"The parking attendant told me that, after Covid layoffs, they just couldn't get the staff back or didn't try. They were all laid off when people stopped flying, and not many of them came back."
Heathrow had declined a refund request, but the family have now been told their £160 will be returned after Bristol Live contacted the airport. That will not pay for a new car, however, with Oliver adding: "Owing to the high cost of replacing a catalytic converter, it seems likely that our car is going to be written off by insurance, leaving us with no option but to buy a new car.
"I just want other people to be aware of this. We thought we were parking our car in a safe, secure storage facility, and it turned out to be nothing of the sort."
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