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StumbleUponPink Meet & Greet - Airport Valet Scandal
Many people may not yet be aware of this awful news so we feel obliged to pass it on to the unwary. We haven’t felt this let down since we found out about Father Christmas. Several of us here have used airport meet and greet valet services and vowed we would never again fly without them. So the recent news about the goings-on with Pink Meet & Greet has been a bitter blow. Apparently, this particular company (based at Gatwick airport) is still taking payments on its website, despite claiming on the same site to have ceased operating!
Pink Meet & Greet has been exposed as a rogue company by the BBC’s Watchdog programme. Their investigators fitted a car with a tracking device and handed the keys over to find out just what they did with it. The results were everyone’s worst nightmare. They discovered the car was only in a ‘secure compound’ for two out of the five days. The remainder of the time it had been shuttled about between supermarket parking areas and streets, and driven at speeds over 100mph! We heard other reports of illegal substances being found in cars and music CDs that did not belong to the owners.
BAA, which operates most major airports, can do nothing more than warn the public to be very wary and play it safe by using their designated airport car parking areas. Airport forecourt areas are for public use and therefore they have no control over the honesty of those you hand your car keys over to.
We want to believe there are still reputable companies operating out there. So, if you are not put off by this recent report the best advice on offer seems to be to thoroughly check out the company you plan to use. They should be a member of the Independent Airport Park and Ride Association (IAPRA). Opt for members who have been awarded the Safer Parking Award which is granted by the police after a detailed risk assessment. To check for registration visit: www.saferparking.com – but even this may not be failsafe. The AA reported that operators such as Airport Car Parking Direct (www.acp-direct.com) claims to have the AA Gold Standard award for security, even though that particular scheme terminated over five years ago! Any company still displaying the award should be reported.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Airport Parking, Travel News .You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Driver gassed up twice and…
The theft was discovered Christmas Eve when the victim found the lock cut off the gate on his Kegtown Mill…
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Good for these things to be pointed out but it doesn’t mean we all act in the same way. At Stansted Parking - Meet and Greet you and your car will be treated as companies should treat their clients….you’re our ‘Fortune’
If you want to know more about my service please feel free to email me. Peter
March 21st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I fully agree with the original post and well done for posting it. People shuould be warned about these types of comapnies.
Meet and greet is still the most convenient form of airport parking and I would like to add to the above comments by saying dont be put off by meet and greet instead follow the above guidlines and I would also recommend using a comparrison site.
Most comparrison sites vet all car parks personally before adding them to their websites for that extra bit of re assurance for the customer.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Unfortunately there will always be rogues who spoil it for the majority. Customers when selecting their parking should look for a car park approved under the Park Mark Safer Scheme operated by the police.
Also look to park with long establihed companies.
David Cook
October 24th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
This is a really interesting blog post,I have added your blog to my favourites I really like it,keep up the good work!