My van was taken on 100-mile joyride after I parked it with valet firm – I even got a £70 fine
A HOLIDAYMAKER says an airport parking company took his van on a 100-mile joyride — and landed him with a £70 fine.
Rob Harris, 52, left his Ford Transit with a meet and greet service at Gatwick before a ten-day family break in Egypt.
He paid £55.95 to Skylink Parking, which promises that vehicles will be left in a “highly secure car park”.
But on his return Rob found the works van had an extra 100 miles on the clock.
And it had been issued with a £70 parking ticket for being illegally left outside a Waitrose store in Horley, Surrey — two miles from the airport.
Rob, an account manager for a cycling company in Nottingham, told The Sun: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the fine.
Read More on Travel
"What on earth had they been doing there?
"It’s not exactly the most secure car park in the world and why wasn’t it taken to where they said they would take it?
“You just think — what were they doing in the car?
"I want them to cough up for the fine. It wasn’t driving so why should I pay?
Most read in News
“I don’t want to think how many other people this might have happened to.
"I’ve been lucky because at least we caught them at it. They are complete cowboys.”
Rob said he has paid the £70 fine. Skylink Parking said the driver of the vehicle has been sacked.
Read More on The Sun
A spokesman said Mr Harris had been compensated.
His parking ticket has been refunded.
