Couple hit with £1,300 bill after leaving car with a Luton airport parking service

A couple returned from holiday to find their car had been bashed – after they left it with a £55 airport parking service.

Sam Watkins and Chiara Ferri parked at Maple Parking at Luton Airport during a city break.

But when they landed they found the front of the vehicle had damaged, which later cost £1,300 to repair.

Sam claims that Maple tried to get out of covering the costs and he was left to drive the damaged car home at night.

But the firm said the car only sustained cosmetic damage, making it safely drivable, and it was Sam and Chiara's decision to travel home.

The matter has since been resolved.

Sam said: "I'm relieved now that they've finally owned up to their mistake and covered the cost of the damages.

"But it shouldn't have taken this long, and it's safe to say I won't be using their services again."

The couple, both 30, dropped off their Volkswagen Polo on October 15 and flew to Edinburgh.

They then returned at around midnight two days later.

But, when they arrived back at the meeting point to pick up their car, they say it was nowhere to be seen.

That's when Sam received a call from the parking company, who he says claimed that another vehicle had reversed into their car while the driver was moving it to a private car park.

Sam, from Farnham, Surrey, said: "We hadn't used Maple before but we heard they are a parking service for all London airports.

"We were only going away for a few days, so we left our Volkswagen Polo with the Maple driver at Luton, and paid £55 for private parking.

"When we returned it was really late, and we were hoping to just pick the car up and drive home.

"But it wasn't as simple as that, and when we turned up at the meeting point no one was there to greet us.

"We were confused, until I received a call from Maple saying there had been an accident involving our car and another vehicle."

After Maple informed Sam and Chiara of the incident, the driver appeared and dropped off their damaged car.

Sam says the headlight was smashed and the right-hand wing of the car had been badly bashed.

Maple however claim CCTV shows the car only sustained cosmetic damage and both headlights were working prior to him collecting his vehicle.

Sam says before he had a chance to speak to the driver, he left – abandoning them at the meeting point.

He claims the phone operator went on to tell him that they were unable to arrange any alternative transport for them – leaving them stranded at the airport at 1am.

The couple then say they felt they had no other option than to drive their damaged car back to their home in Surrey – which Sam described as a "terrifying experience".

But Maple argue that the car was safe and driveable and it was Sam's own decision to drive it home.

Sam, who works as a barber, said: "When the driver dropped off our car, he had his hood up so we couldn't see his face properly.

"He put the keys in my hand quickly, and then jumped into another vehicle and drove off.

"I rung the office – [who] proceeded to say there was nothing more they could do.

"That's when it became clear that we were going to have to drive our smashed-up car back home ourselves, down the motorway, in the middle of the night.

"It was so unsafe, and the front of the car was flapping about – we were terrified."

The next day Sam says he contacted Maple Parking again, and went through the process of trying to fix the problem.

But he claims they failed to take responsibility initially, and it wasn't until he threatened to go to the press that the firm began cooperating.

Maple did not respond to this claim but did state they provided a courtesy vehicle for Sam to drive while the vehicle was repaired.

The firm paid for a third-party body shop to fix the damage to Sam and Chiara's car – which came to a total of £1,339.20.

Sam now says he is happy that his car is back in his possession.

But he is still furious about the way in which he and his girlfriend were treated.

He said: "The way Maple tried to duck and dive rather than accept responsibility is shocking."

A spokesperson for Maple Parking said: "We can confirm that when Mr Watkins collected his vehicle it was safe and driveable, having only sustained cosmetic damage.

"This is confirmed by our CCTV and Mr Watkins’ own video. In addition, both headlights were working prior to him collecting his vehicle.

"Mr Watkins made the decision to drive the vehicle home and was subsequently provided with a complimentary courtesy vehicle (a brand New Rav 4) until his vehicle was returned fully repaired.

"We have since spoken to Mr Watkins who confirms that he is happy that the incident has been resolved to his full satisfaction."