A holidaymaker was baffled after he got a ‘parking ticket’ while he was 2,000 miles away in Lanzarote.
Alan Ennis, 62, and his mum Dorothy Hind, 82, went on holiday to the Canary Islands and used Stansted Airport’s valet parking service.
But when he returned he was shocked to receive a £60 parking charge notice for allegedly leaving his car on a road in a housing estate in Purfleet, Essex, without a permit.
Baffled Alan has complained to the airport parking team – and accused them of taking his car for a “joyride”.
But the firm deny his car ever left them – and say his plates may have been cloned and put on another car, which has incurred the fines.
Alan, a pet cremation worker, from Newbury, Berkshire, said: “I’ve only had the car for a month – it’s just so disappointing.
“We had a really lovely holiday then returned to find out this had happened.”
Alan’s mum uses a walking aid after having a stroke, so he opted for a valet parking service, so she didn’t need to walk very far.
Alan left his car at Stansted Airport on May 18, and paid £169.
The parking charge notice shows a photo of what looks like his car parked 45 miles away on May 21.
The letter from CPM says he needs to pay a “reduced” fee of £60 within 14 days – or £100 after.
He received the letter once he returned to the UK on May 25.
Alan, who believe his car was driven, said: “I went to the police.
“After some investigating, they told me the person responsible could face two charges – firstly, theft, because they took the car without my consent.
“And second – driving without insurance. Because as soon as they left the airport, they had no cover.”
Essex Police said they are “investigating a report of aggravated vehicle taking at Stansted Airport.”
Alan believes the car was driven at least 100 miles due to the location where it received the parking charge notice.
He said: “I didn’t think to check my mileage before – you just wouldn’t think to check.
“So, who knows? It could have been driven even further.
“It was supposed to make things easier.
“It was a fantastic service – you pull up at the arrivals and you couldn’t be closer.
“You give your keys to the attendant, take your baggage out, and then they go and park your car.”
Essex Police are currently investigating.
A spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report of aggravated vehicle taking at Stansted Airport.
“It was reported a vehicle left at the airport on 18 May, but was detected in the Purfleet area on 21 May.
“It was also reportedly damaged before the owner returned to it on 26 May.
“Our investigation is ongoing and our enquiries are continuing.”
A Stansted Airport spokesperson pointed to the car’s number plate possibly being cloned and said they have “categorically verified that the customer’s vehicle did not leave the London Stansted campus at any point before it was safely returned to its owner”.
They continued: “In instances where it is suspected number plates of our customers’ vehicles have been cloned prior to them leaving their cars with us, we will provide all necessary assistance to the police force carrying out the investigation.”