Warnings over rogue airport parking firms

Sussex Police and West Sussex Trading Standards say customers are reporting damage to their vehicles

Police and trading standards officials are warning Gatwick Airport passengers to "do their research" when using meet and greet parking companies.

The advice comes as Sussex Police and West Sussex Trading Standards (WSTS) said they continued to receive regular reports of disappointed customers using the services, the organisations said.

Sussex Police said customers using the firms continued to report damage to vehicles, vehicles returned dirty, or with more mileage on the clock.

Gatwick Airport reiterated that it had "no relationship with rogue meet and greet parking companies".

Richard Sargeant from WSTS said: "In recent years, we have had to deal with a number of rogue meet and greet companies at Gatwick Airport and it can be very difficult for travellers to decide which parking operator is best to use when you go on holiday or business.

"We would recommend travellers either park with Gatwick Airport direct or use a Trading Standards approved business."

Gatwick Airport says firms are allowed to operate at the site as long as they do not break any airport by-laws

Sussex Police said customer vehicles could be allocated to one of a number of companies if meet and greet services were booked through an online agent.

In a statement, Gatwick Airport's head of parking Gary Wallace said: "Gatwick Airport has no relationship with these rogue meet and greet parking companies, even though many of them have ‘Gatwick’ in their company name.

“Legally rogue firms can operate on the airport as long as they do not break our by-laws."

He referred customers to the British Parking Association for further advice.

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