A holidaymaker returned from a week-long holiday in Spain to find his Peugeot had been ‘smashed’ into an Audi and ‘written off’ by an airport valet parker.
John Price, 60, from North Devon, claimed his car was damaged by a member of the parking staff at Bristol Airport while he was hundreds of miles away in Majorca.
He claimed he’d been offered £400 in compensation and been given a rental car for a week.
A spokesman for the airport blamed the crash on ‘adverse weather conditions’.
John Price, 60, from North Devon, claimed his car was damaged by a member of the parking staff at Bristol Airport while he was on holiday
Mr Price had left his car in the Silver Zone area of Bristol Airport before setting off for a week-long holiday on December 10.
When he returned he was informed his car had been involved ‘in a smash’.
The 60-year-old said: ‘Apparently they were moving my car and his foot slipped.
‘He accelerated and it smashed into an Audi car. He must have been doing some speed because it’s a write-off.
‘On Sunday I returned home and I went to pick my car up from Silver Zone.
‘The chap came and said the manager would like to see you. He said “your car’s been in a smash”.
‘All they offered me is £400 for me to get rid of it.’
He added: ‘I have come back and my car has been smashed up. They said take the money or sort it yourselves.
‘What am I going to do with £400? How can I buy a car? I want them to fix it. I’ve not got a car.
‘I didn’t expect something like this to happen.’
The 60-year-old who returned to find his car damaged said he ‘didn’t expect something like this to happen’
A spokesman for Bristol Airport said: ‘We are sorry for the adverse impression the passenger has gained of the Silver Zone car park and apologise for the inconvenience experienced.
‘We are fully investigating the incident regarding the customer’s car and we have remained in direct, frequent contact with the passenger since their initial complaint was received.
‘We can confirm the car was involved in an incident during adverse weather conditions at Bristol Airport, which resulted in the car being in contact with another vehicle on site and while being driven by one of the valet parkers.
‘We informed the passenger immediately on their return and provided free car hire.
‘We take our responsibilities with passengers cars seriously. After receiving professional advice, particularly when dealing with an older car, we have been informed of the value of the car and offered compensation to the passenger which is above the insurance value.
‘We are still in discussions with the passenger and hope to resolve this matter as soon as possible.’