Airport Valet Damaged Car

[haggis1984]

Hi.,

 

Mum used valet parking at Gatwick Airport recentley. They collect the car from you at the drop off point outside the terminal, and return it to you there when your return flight arrives. As we arrived late at night it was dark, but we inspected the vehicle the best we could. The next day mum noticed a dent, that wouldn't be possible to see without good lighting. There is no possibility this happened during the drive home, and the car is parked in a private driveway when at home.

 

Have written to the company but had no reply, its been over 2 months now since our first letter. Is there any recourse here?

[Kraken1]

sue.

[haggis1984]

That was my thinking. Wouldn't their defence be that the car could have been damaged after collection? What are the chances of suceeding?

[buzby]

Yes. Which is why going to court is so risky. The valet may not have damaged the car, but an inconsiderate Parker in an adjacent bay. Without proof positive, an accusation is easy but not a guarantee of success.

[mackem2010]

Often these companies have "no liability" but I wonder how this actually stands up in practise.

[buzby]

Pretty good - as you need to identify WHO did it, it could have been another customer.

[perplexity]

Often these companies have "no liability" but I wonder how this actually stands up in practise.

 

Certainly enough, it's a matter of trust to some extent, which to say that in so far as you choose to allow a person to take care of your property there's a responsibility to that because the choice was your own and you knew what the risk would be.

 

For the sake of example, if a wife damages a car while parking the thing in a garage, the husband would not have such an easy time of suing the wife as he would were a thief to have stolen it.

 

8-)

[Kraken1]

The valet may not have damaged the car, but an inconsiderate Parker in an adjacent bay.

 

which shouldn't be a problem as it is a valet service. the car in next bay should have been parked by the same company, unless it was one of these fake valet companies that dump the cars in supermarket car parks and the like.