Police have warned travellers to avoid unofficial 'meet and greet' parking providers working at Manchester Airport.
Some flyers, when they return from their holidays, have picked up their vehicles only to find extra miles on the clock and damage to body work, according to Greater Manchester Police which has urged travellers to check online reviews before booking.
The warning follows a crackdown in August to tackle cowboy parking firms around the airport following an onslaught of complaints about cars parked on the residential streets of Wythenshawe or on muddy fields around the hub.
While unscrupulous firms cause congestion on nearby streets, they also create havoc for the holidaymakers returning from their travels to find their vehicles have been driven for thousands of miles, damaged or even targeted for theft.
Last year the airport teamed up with Cheshire Police and Manchester City Council to stop ‘inconsiderate and illegal parking’ around the hub. Residents and holidaymakers have been complaining of these firms for years.
On GMP's Manchester Airport Facebook page, the force posted: "When booking parking at Manchester Airport, police are urging passengers to do their research on the company they are planning to use.
"An increase in passenger numbers means an increase in the use of 'meet and greet' type parking firms in operation in the area who are not affiliated to the airport.
"Some customers reporting to the police incidents of damage to their vehicle and extra miles on the clock, whilst left in the care and control of some of these businesses. Please check carefully using safer parking schemes and seek positive customer reviews before booking."
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