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AIBU?

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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 20:51

@itsgettingweird so why if she's not going to claim did she want a crime number?

Flubber88 · 15/10/2022 20:58

Do not use Meet and Greets. They are an open invite for being taken advantage of. It isn't hard to park your car in long stay and get the bus. Unless you want to spend your time away worrying what your car is being used for....

FallopianTubeTrain · 15/10/2022 20:59

endofthelinefinally · 15/10/2022 17:50

Have you checked the mileage? Some of these companies allow their friends and employees to drive around in your car while you are away. Maybe that is how your phone holder got stolen. There are so many reports of people getting speeding/parking tickets while they are not even in the country.

Relative of mine used one of these and the car had been driven extensively whilst they were away. Took hours for them to get it returned to them once they landed and it ran out of fuel within sight of the airport leaving them stranded on the m25 despite having left it nearly full when they departed.

PlutoRavesWithStars · 15/10/2022 21:00

It isn't hard to park your car in long stay and get the bus

Maybe not if you are not travelling with 3 children under 5 and are disabled.

CapMarvel · 15/10/2022 21:05

By all means phone 101 and (pointlessly) get a crime number, but beyond that of course the police aren't going to do anything. The police don't have the resources to investigate far more serious crimes than a sodding £5 bit of plastic.

JRHartly · 15/10/2022 21:21

Flubber88 · 15/10/2022 20:58

Do not use Meet and Greets. They are an open invite for being taken advantage of. It isn't hard to park your car in long stay and get the bus. Unless you want to spend your time away worrying what your car is being used for....

We’ve been using Meet and Greets at Gatwick/Stansted for years and never had any issues.

Sometimes it would cost £50 for the week, which is much less than Long Stay.

thenightsky · 15/10/2022 21:32

A few years ago I dropped my Subaru Impreza at Meet and Greet and the subsequent dashcam footage was interesting when I played it back. My car had been used in an off the road fucking rally!!!

ancientgran · 15/10/2022 21:41

Well when the police are looking for funding they use crime statistics, if people don't report things then the politicians can say they don't need more resources as crime is going down.

Don't be lazy, if there is a crime then report it.

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 15/10/2022 22:05

@thenightsky what the fuck? 😮

My car has an app that shows me exactly where it is, it’s mileage and what journeys I’ve done. I can lock it or unlock it remotely. I’d like to see someone try and move it. I still wouldn’t use meet & greet though, heard too many horror stories.

JaceLancs · 15/10/2022 22:11

I had something stolen from my car whilst it was being valeted
Despite a complaint the company owners weren’t interested
I won’t leave my car with anyone now for any reason

Doodledoop · 15/10/2022 22:22

When we left our car in valet parking a few years ago someone took a bag of change we kept in closed central console for parking meters etc.

It was less than a tenner and i'm pretty sure they had signs saying they weren't responisble for any loss of valubles left in car.

But it did feel quite violating - you'd have to open central console and root around a lot to find it. So someone had definitely been through car looking for things to nick.

Still think reporting to Police is loopy though.

KimberleyClark · 15/10/2022 22:31

You can prebook LHR short stay for up to 99 days and be quite sure no one is driving your car while you’re away.

Notimetothink · 15/10/2022 22:39

Life’s too short to give this the headspace over a plastic holder, OP.

I’d chalk it up to experience, leave a factual review and never use them again.
I wouldn’t even bother with the police. 🤷‍♀️

Blackmetalmama · 15/10/2022 22:40

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Azandme · 15/10/2022 22:49

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.

Why would someone leave something "much more precious" in a car going to Meet and Greet parking?

I use it all the time - the only things left in it are screenwash, phone holder worth a tenner, and maybe a Twirl wrapper.

Surely noone is foolish enough to leave anything of value in any vehicle - let alone one they're handing over to a stranger.

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