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Original poster

Theft by Meet and Greet at LHR

65 replies

RetreatRetreatRetreat · 15/10/2022 17:47

Went on honeymoon and used a company via Holiday Extras to book a hotel and meet and greet parking. It went like a dream. Hotel great. Drop off easy. Amazing honeymoon and the car was there immediately when I arrived.

Got in the car, first thing I do is go to put my mobile phone in the holder. It's not there. Search the vehicle, nope it's been nicked!!

Went to complain and they got up video of me entering the parking and tried to say that it wasn't on there. It was clearly visible and even they admitted it in the end. They apologised and said to make a complaint. They let me take a photo of the evidence of me entering with it in the car. I said, I'm not complaining, I'm involving the police, this is theft from a motor vehicle whilst entrusted to your care. They say no a complaint is what is needed!

I'll be honest, the holder cost not a lot, but my dad who lives miles away abroad bought me it and I've had it years and I loved it.

I wrote an email complaining immediately and I have also reported it online to the police, (not that they will do anything) as well as to holiday Extras.

I feel slightly unreasonable due to the low value but also, it's a trust thing and it feels like it has tainted our honeymoon slightly.

I paid £260 to be robbed. AiBU or should I push this further. Im so enraged.

OP posts:
GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 19:44

cansu · 15/10/2022 19:39

FGS
Make the bloody complaint and get a new holder. All this about is being purchased by your dad is utterly ridiculous. It is a piece of plastic. Just get them to pay and buy another one.

Hang on .... the dad lives abroad!!!

Surely that makes it a heinous crime?

luxxlisbon · 15/10/2022 19:48

I mean it’s annoying but you reported it to the police? A little piece of plastic you could replace for about £5?
Massive overreaction.

Bingbangbongbash · 15/10/2022 19:49

The phone holder clearly has sentimental value, and it’s entirely right that the limited police resources available after 12 years of Tory austerity are diverted from crimes against the person to get full justice for the OP. I’m sure there’s some joke to be made about a phone holder and getting a grip but I can’t quite put it all together.

itsgettingweird · 15/10/2022 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Well you're just charming aren't you Hmm

It doesn't matter how much it's worth.

A crime has been committed.

A one off. No harm done.

But if there are reports from numerous people about the same company and thefts the police certainly will get involved. And they shouldn't be allowed to operate if they are stealing from clients cars.

Precipice · 15/10/2022 19:51

Intrigued by these responses: 'thefts shouldn't be reported to the police'. Any other crimes you think people shouldn't inform the police about? (As distinguished from having expectations of police doing much about it) If your partner hits you, it's too minor because it's 'just a domestic' and you didn't need hospital treatment anyway?

Usernamqwerty · 15/10/2022 19:53

RetreatRetreatRetreat · 15/10/2022 17:47

Went on honeymoon and used a company via Holiday Extras to book a hotel and meet and greet parking. It went like a dream. Hotel great. Drop off easy. Amazing honeymoon and the car was there immediately when I arrived.

Got in the car, first thing I do is go to put my mobile phone in the holder. It's not there. Search the vehicle, nope it's been nicked!!

Went to complain and they got up video of me entering the parking and tried to say that it wasn't on there. It was clearly visible and even they admitted it in the end. They apologised and said to make a complaint. They let me take a photo of the evidence of me entering with it in the car. I said, I'm not complaining, I'm involving the police, this is theft from a motor vehicle whilst entrusted to your care. They say no a complaint is what is needed!

I'll be honest, the holder cost not a lot, but my dad who lives miles away abroad bought me it and I've had it years and I loved it.

I wrote an email complaining immediately and I have also reported it online to the police, (not that they will do anything) as well as to holiday Extras.

I feel slightly unreasonable due to the low value but also, it's a trust thing and it feels like it has tainted our honeymoon slightly.

I paid £260 to be robbed. AiBU or should I push this further. Im so enraged.

This is awful and you are justified to be pissed off IMO! Definitely report it so they can link it up with any previous incidents.

Yes it might not have cost much, but many are struggling with money at the moment and little things add up...

Remainiac · 15/10/2022 19:54

1FootInTheRave · 15/10/2022 18:44

We used a meet and greet at Manchester airport about 5 years ago.

Got the car back minus about half a tank of diesel. Didn't think to record mileage as never once thought it would be an issue.

Same here. Car had been driven 60 miles and there were clear dirty footprints where someone had put their feet up on the passenger side dashboard. We complained but HE couldn’t have cared less. Pretty much said what did we expect.

itsgettingweird · 15/10/2022 19:54

Precipice · 15/10/2022 19:51

Intrigued by these responses: 'thefts shouldn't be reported to the police'. Any other crimes you think people shouldn't inform the police about? (As distinguished from having expectations of police doing much about it) If your partner hits you, it's too minor because it's 'just a domestic' and you didn't need hospital treatment anyway?

I've seen it so much on here the last few years.

Even comments such as "Johnson didn't have a party as it was less than 10 minutes".

So we really need a list of what the laws are and actually what low value items or timeframes they don't relate to!

By the posters logic we can all steal phone holders from supermarkets and Halfords etc and it's ok!

PlutoRavesWithStars · 15/10/2022 19:57

We've had children's car seats go missing whilst the car was with a meet and greet service. Which was interesting, as we actually needed them to drive home with.

catandcoffee · 15/10/2022 20:01

Are people missing the actual point of this thread. ?

Regardless of what's been STOLEN the fact is some thing has been stolen from the car.

The car that you've entrusted to a company to look after, and the contents of your car.

It's a disgrace your property has been stolen OP.

Name and shame them ...warn people about them.

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 20:01

@itsgettingweird not "charming" but realistic!

Dear god, the IP thinks they've stolen an ancient piece of plastic....

She wants a crime number? Why?

What insurance is going to pay out on that?

Please do enlighten me.

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 20:03

catandcoffee · 15/10/2022 20:01

Are people missing the actual point of this thread. ?

Regardless of what's been STOLEN the fact is some thing has been stolen from the car.

The car that you've entrusted to a company to look after, and the contents of your car.

It's a disgrace your property has been stolen OP.

Name and shame them ...warn people about them.

Name and shame holiday extras as she has in the OP?

Can I ask why you think it's appropriate to use upper case letters, do you think others CANNOT read your point without them?

We CAN!

HundredMilesAnHour · 15/10/2022 20:05

RetreatRetreatRetreat · 15/10/2022 18:05

I'm not expecting them to do anything, I needed a crime number, you know, because a crime has been committed 🤷🏼‍♀️ and next time it may not be a mobile phone holder, but something much more precious.

You needed a crime number for a mobile phone holder? Seriously?! Unless it was made of solid gold and encrusted with diamonds, stop wasting police time. Your response is totally OTT.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 15/10/2022 20:05

itsgettingweird · 15/10/2022 19:54

I've seen it so much on here the last few years.

Even comments such as "Johnson didn't have a party as it was less than 10 minutes".

So we really need a list of what the laws are and actually what low value items or timeframes they don't relate to!

By the posters logic we can all steal phone holders from supermarkets and Halfords etc and it's ok!

Show quote history

You can. The police aren't interested in shoplifting. It's why supermarkets now display their policies on civil recovery.

HundredMilesAnHour · 15/10/2022 20:07

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 19:44

Hang on .... the dad lives abroad!!!

Surely that makes it a heinous crime?

Show quote history

Interpol needed to be involved...this is an international crime now.

Getofftheladder · 15/10/2022 20:10

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 18:11

@Getofftheladder I'm no jerk, I'm a rational person that realises that any excess on insurance will be more than the cost of the "stolen" phone charger.

And I assume you've read the OP they said complain, which will likely lead to them paying for it I assume? But no, OP wants the police involved!

I don't think I'm the jerk......

If a crime has been committed yes it should be reported.

I suppose corner shop owners should turn blind eyes to £1 bags of sweets being nicked by your logic. Who cares about petty theft anyway.

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 20:12

@Getofftheladder you think corner shop owners report theft of £1 bags of sweets?

Do you live in Aidensfield in the heartbeat era?

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

JRHartly · 15/10/2022 20:16

Who is going to steal a mobile phone holder? You can get some for a fiver.

More likely it fell when they were moving your car.

Stop wasting police time.

itsgettingweird · 15/10/2022 20:16

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 20:01

@itsgettingweird not "charming" but realistic!

Dear god, the IP thinks they've stolen an ancient piece of plastic....

She wants a crime number? Why?

What insurance is going to pay out on that?

Please do enlighten me.

She isn't going to claim.

But if everyone stole something of low value and it wasn't ever acted upon then we have no law and order.

Is it ok for us all to steal a chocolate bar each from a local corner shop because the shop assistant is out the back?

Or a pack of loo roll each or something else?

And of course get away with it because it doesn't matter that people steal low cost items.

What you're failing to understand is the actual bigger picture.

OP knows the police won't do anything with one report. But a filed report can always shed light on a bigger picture if needed.

TheHouseonHauntedHill · 15/10/2022 20:17

It's funny what people think about re something like this situation.

For me I do want op to report this to the police because of what it represents.
That someone is seemingly helping themselves to item's from the publics cars!
Today a phone holder, what else though in addition from other cars.

People become emboldened when they are allowed to do small crimes and they learn the skills to upgrade and the attitudes to upgrade.

The initial attitude of the company was also absolutely crap and op needs to call the police to also make this company wake up!
Fancy trying to accuse op of lying about the phone holder!

Had rhey been all over it, taking it seriously then I am sure op wouldn't be complaining here.

Don't laugh off the phone holder, all theives start somewhere; don't complain when your whole car is stolen!

girlmom21 · 15/10/2022 20:18

Why did you automatically jump to theft? I'd have assumed that either the car was valeted and they forgot to put the holder back/put it back in the wrong car or somebody accidentally broke it and they forgot to notify you.

Why is the assumption that someone's committed a crime if you won't even let the company investigate?

VeniVidiWeeWee · 15/10/2022 20:29

@TheHouseonHauntedHill

Didn't you read my post? The police aren't interested in smallish thefts.

Summerfun54321 · 15/10/2022 20:40

Are you 100% sure it just hasn’t been knocked off and is in the footwell, under a seat or in a passenger door?

GloriousGlory · 15/10/2022 20:49

girlmom21 · 15/10/2022 20:18

Why did you automatically jump to theft? I'd have assumed that either the car was valeted and they forgot to put the holder back/put it back in the wrong car or somebody accidentally broke it and they forgot to notify you.

Why is the assumption that someone's committed a crime if you won't even let the company investigate?

And she took a photo of her mileage and left little fuel....

It's almost like she was looking for an issue....

CrampMcBastard · 15/10/2022 20:50

YANBU