Dozens of travelers were left stranded at Gatwick Airport for up to eight hours last month after falling victim to a fraudulent meet-and-greet parking service. Passengers who had booked parking through comparison websites returned to find their vehicles missing.
After a frantic search, the cars were located in various states: some were found in junkyards, others at hotel sites, and a few were abandoned in the airport's short-stay car park. Some victims reported that personal items, such as blue badges and vehicle documents, had been stolen, and their cars were left dirty and with low fuel.
Lauren James, 35, from Worcester, described the experience as "traumatic and stressful" after returning from a two-day trip to Bordeaux. She stated that she and others were calling the police in a panic, fearing their cars had been stolen. James booked her parking through a website that ranked highly in online searches for "Gatwick parking." The service, which cost £50, appeared legitimate until the company stopped responding to calls upon her arrival at the airport. After an hour of searching, she and approximately 30 to 40 other passengers were attempting to locate their vehicles. A group chat was formed to share information, and by mid-afternoon, one passenger located a car at a nearby hotel. A group of travelers, including James, took an Uber to the hotel site, where they found a police officer and four men with a car boot full of car keys. James reported that her Volkswagen Tiguan was covered in mud and had used a quarter of its diesel fuel.
Dani, 34, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, experienced a similar situation after a long weekend in Milan with her husband. She had booked a service costing £75 through a different company advertised on the same comparison site. Upon her return at 11:30 a.m., her Skoda Kodiaq was not at the designated pick-up location. Her car was eventually found at an abandoned junkyard, miles away, with all documents removed from the glovebox. It took seven hours to retrieve the car, and the couple anticipates receiving fines for speeding and tailgating, as the vehicle had accumulated 100 miles. Dani described the junkyard as "derelict" and the experience "awful," noting the sophistication of recent scams.
Damien Ford, 44, from Hayes, West London, who had returned from a two-week trip to Jamaica with his daughter, booked a £125 service for his Mercedes A-class through the same comparison site. After a seven-hour search, involving travel between airport car parks and the designated sites amid heavy traffic, Ford discovered his car parked on a lower level. The car key was left on top of his tire, and his belongings from the glovebox were scattered across the seats, with his charger missing. A ticket found in his car indicated it had arrived at the short-stay car park an hour after his search began. Ford described the situation as a "nightmare," especially after a long flight with his young daughter.
Several affected travelers reported the issue to the police, but were informed that it was a civil matter because they had voluntarily handed over their car keys. The holidaymakers are urging Gatwick Airport to take more action against rogue parking firms. "The police and Gatwick in these times don't help you. They are turning a blind eye," Dani stated. Damien Ford added, "I just can't believe that Gatwick don't do anything about this. It was a horrible experience. I don't want this happening to anyone else."
Oli Bedford, Head of Car Parks at London Gatwick, acknowledged awareness of "rogue third-party parking companies" offering valet or meet-and-greet services. He stated that Gatwick is working with the police, Trading Standards, and the British Parking Association to address the issue. The airport recommends booking official Gatwick parking or other reputable companies and advises passengers to thoroughly research any off-airport meet-and-greet provider before booking. The comparison website used by the affected travelers did not respond to a request for comment.