The cost of leaving your car at the airport while you jet away can take a sizeable chunk out of your holiday budget, so it's no wonder families are keen to save money when they pay for airport parking.
According to Google Trend Data, the search term 'Airport Parking' has received a 132.31% uplift in searches in the past month alone as holidaymakers try to bag a bargain, but travellers should be on their guard against scammers eager to get their hands on your cash and leave you with no parking when you turn up to catch your flight
It pays to ensure the parking company is reputable before you part with your money. Look out for a blue Park Mark logo, which is awarded to car parks that have passed a police risk assessment. This should should give you confidence that your car is parked in a secure, well-lit and well-managed car park and is accredited to the British Parking Association (BPA).
Read more: Clever hack to avoid hefty £4 drop-off fee at Newcastle Airport
You can also check to see if the company is a member of an accredited trade association. Private car parking operators cannot access the DVLA database if they are not a member of the International Parking Community (IPC) or British Parking Association (BPA).
With horror stories of parking scammers driving around in cars they have been paid to park up or fraudsters stealing card details via fake QR codes, Vantage Leasing has looked at three of the most common airport parking scams and how to avoid them.
The Meet & Greet
How it works: For travellers wanting a relaxing start to their holiday. booking a Meet & Greet package, where you hand your car over to a driver to park, is a popular choice. However, recent accounts claim that their cars tracker reveals their car has been driven whilst they are away, broken speed limits and even parked thousands of miles away from the airport.
Meet & Greet parking may be more convenient but it is one of the most common airport parking scams, because it is easy to get money from the customer and park your car anywhere without you knowing. You think your car has been parked in a safe and secure location, although it could be parked in a muddy field in the middle of nowhere.
To avoid the Meet & Greet scam: Use your phone to take a picture of your car’s millage. The image will be time stamped which will serve as evidence that the details in the image are accurate. When you return, if the millage has risen a substantial amount, you may wish to investigate if your car has been used in the time you are away.
Scott Dixon, of the Complaints Resolver website, also suggests that you ask for identification when you hand over your keys and get a receipt, take photos and a video of your car inside and out at drop-off and pick-up. He suggests you check if you can pay by credit card, if the company have a proper stand at the airport, or do they simply meet you on arrival and hand over the keys and if they have insurance to drive your car.
Check the contact page of the website to ensure there is a proper registered company with a registered address and ensure customer reviews are genuine by looking for tell-take signs like spelling mistakes, poor grammar and reviews with little or no information.
The Safe and Secure
How it works: Third-party parking operators often offer parking in safe and secure locations leading drivers to believe that their car will be parked in a secured car park. However, there have been reports of cars left in an open residential street, often leading residents to report the vehicle to the council.
To avoid the Safe & Secure Scam: Before booking with the parking company, use Google Earth to view where the car will be parked. This will ensure that the location aligns with description used on the brand's website. If the company uses a Meet & Greet service, don’t be afraid to ask them to send you a picture of the vehicle once it has been parked. This will ensure that it’s placed where they say it is.
The QR Code Scam
How it works: If you're just planning a short trip, you might be planning on using a Pay & Display car park. Many car parks now require you to pay online by scanning a QR code, but there have been reports of QR codes being targeted by scammers who are replacing the code with their own. The code then directs the user to a fake site where they put in their payment details and therefore handing their details over to the scammer.
Have you ever fallen victim to a parking scam? Join in the conversation below
To avoid the QR Code Scam: Only use payment information that is clearly displayed on official signs. If the information provided appears to be glued on, beware that this may be the product of a scammer. If cash payment is not available, try to pay by phone. This way, you will be able to Google the phone number beforehand to ensure that it’s a legitimate payment method.
