Think twice about valet parking....
05-13-2008, 10:18 AM
#1
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Think twice about valet parking....
This weekend I decided to let valet take care of my car at The Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
A few hours after getting there I get a call saying that there was an incident with my vehicle.... First they tell me the valet guy backed into my car. Finally, they stated that the valet driver left my car in neutral, it drifted with my driver door open, and hit another car. Leaving my car as it is below.
They wanted me to take it to a Ford dealership where they would fix it at no expense. I had it towed -- the towing company strapped it down so hard they further dented my car. I was pretty close to hurting somebody -- somehow I managed to control myself.
:shakehead
A few hours after getting there I get a call saying that there was an incident with my vehicle.... First they tell me the valet guy backed into my car. Finally, they stated that the valet driver left my car in neutral, it drifted with my driver door open, and hit another car. Leaving my car as it is below.
They wanted me to take it to a Ford dealership where they would fix it at no expense. I had it towed -- the towing company strapped it down so hard they further dented my car. I was pretty close to hurting somebody -- somehow I managed to control myself.
:shakehead
05-13-2008, 10:36 AM
#2
Loving my 08 TLS!
Oh my fucking god!! I would have rip them a new asshole. How the fuck to do they manage to do this? Stupid valet drivers who can't even drive auto. 
It is heart breaking to see this kind of a damage to such a beautiful ride.
It is heart breaking to see this kind of a damage to such a beautiful ride.
05-13-2008, 11:03 AM
#4
Race Director
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How the hell can they get a dent all the way up there? lol
I would make sure you get new fender, new doorskin, and a complete repaint of your car out of this...
I would make sure you get new fender, new doorskin, and a complete repaint of your car out of this...
05-13-2008, 11:54 AM
#5
Turd Polisher
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I can't believe they threw a strap over the top of the car.
05-13-2008, 11:55 AM
#6
thats more than skin damage, when a door gets bent on a rolling open situation- can mess the hinges and all the area up
Whatever they told you is less than half the story- ask to see the security tapes
Get an independant estimate first-maybe 2 then ford
May have caused a stress transfer to cause that upper dent, or is that what you say the tow company did?
unless they were trying to hold the door shut in some bizarre fashion- there is no reason for a strap across the car
There are 2 ways to secure a car to flatbed trucks/trailers-
the suck way (IMO) is to strap around the tires to the floor, and allow the car to bounce wildly on the suspension. The potential to loosen straps and have the car come loose is much higher- plus the car is bouncing more than normal- sitting on the back of something that is boucing over the road- those trucks are not softly sprung!
The good way (IMO) (and the way they ship cars) is to use the frame tie down points-- those hoops front and rear on the car, or the frame. Crank it down tight as humanly possible, compressing the suspension fully as able. This secures the vehicle and protects it and the contents from drastic motion. You cant always get the needed angle for the tie down chains on the front points- so they use the real frame- then the car is not going anywhere...the tow company hates dropping cars on the freeway- huge liabilty
You probably have the right to use any bodyshop- but go talk to ford as they want ---probably have an account with them~- valets stack the cars insanely close together- things happen- cars have dark tints, they are jamming to your tunes while looking for loose change and hot rodding around the block....
And lets not forget- the TL has a funky looking shifter gate, to someone in a hurry who may or may not read and understand English or the universal symbols in cars......
Want to cure yourself of ever valeting the car again???-
go to a nice hotel and wander over to the valet reserved parking- its up close because those workers run to them- look at how tight it is- places you would never try to get your baby in, they rip around the corners and back right in
Whatever they told you is less than half the story- ask to see the security tapes
Get an independant estimate first-maybe 2 then ford
May have caused a stress transfer to cause that upper dent, or is that what you say the tow company did?
unless they were trying to hold the door shut in some bizarre fashion- there is no reason for a strap across the car
There are 2 ways to secure a car to flatbed trucks/trailers-
the suck way (IMO) is to strap around the tires to the floor, and allow the car to bounce wildly on the suspension. The potential to loosen straps and have the car come loose is much higher- plus the car is bouncing more than normal- sitting on the back of something that is boucing over the road- those trucks are not softly sprung!
The good way (IMO) (and the way they ship cars) is to use the frame tie down points-- those hoops front and rear on the car, or the frame. Crank it down tight as humanly possible, compressing the suspension fully as able. This secures the vehicle and protects it and the contents from drastic motion. You cant always get the needed angle for the tie down chains on the front points- so they use the real frame- then the car is not going anywhere...the tow company hates dropping cars on the freeway- huge liabilty
You probably have the right to use any bodyshop- but go talk to ford as they want ---probably have an account with them~- valets stack the cars insanely close together- things happen- cars have dark tints, they are jamming to your tunes while looking for loose change and hot rodding around the block....
And lets not forget- the TL has a funky looking shifter gate, to someone in a hurry who may or may not read and understand English or the universal symbols in cars......
Want to cure yourself of ever valeting the car again???-
go to a nice hotel and wander over to the valet reserved parking- its up close because those workers run to them- look at how tight it is- places you would never try to get your baby in, they rip around the corners and back right in
05-13-2008, 12:57 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by wikeddreamz
They wanted me to take it to a Ford dealership where they would fix it at no expense. I had it towed -- the towing company strapped it down so hard they further dented my car. I was pretty close to hurting somebody -- somehow I managed to control myself.
:shakehead
:shakehead
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05-14-2008, 12:06 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by THTL
never ever valet parking your car.....i got my share of experience too.
It's usually stick shifts that get messed up. I've had valets kill my manual trans Integra trying to drive off,
and a buddy's manual trans Prelude slid down a hillside and hit another car when a parking attendant failed to set the parking brake. 
05-14-2008, 09:22 AM
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It's definitely a hassle to deal with. The manager of the hotel told me he would assume responsibility b/c the valet driver was completely negligent.
I put the claim through my insurance company and they're going to go after the hotel and the towing company. My insurance company recommended a body shop that they work with and they are going to guarantee the work. They fixed my girlfriend's CL not too long ago and did a good job. They're being a bit stingy on paying repairs though so I hope they don't cut any edges.
I'll post pictures of the finished product. Hope my car looks like new =\
I put the claim through my insurance company and they're going to go after the hotel and the towing company. My insurance company recommended a body shop that they work with and they are going to guarantee the work. They fixed my girlfriend's CL not too long ago and did a good job. They're being a bit stingy on paying repairs though so I hope they don't cut any edges.
I'll post pictures of the finished product. Hope my car looks like new =\
05-14-2008, 12:24 PM
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The door didn't open past where it is in the pictures. They jammed it with the hit and broke one of the hinges so I couldn't open/close it.
Cop said it had to be towed -- I woulda tied and driven it home if it were up to me, but I was like 50 miles from my house.
Cop said it had to be towed -- I woulda tied and driven it home if it were up to me, but I was like 50 miles from my house.
05-14-2008, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Y.
There are a few (too many) places which are valet parking only in LA, without self-parking within a block.
05-14-2008, 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Acura3GTL
wow! thats messed up. On your ticket claim, does it state anything in the line's of "not liable"?
They put that on there just incase they mess up someones car and they think its legally binding. Maybe put one over on someone.
I think it should be illegal to put that on signs AND claim stubs. Why AREN'T they responsible. They crashed it.
I had one small scratch put in my rear bumper (Actually a paint scrape). The one time I vallet parked my 04 TL in the city. Wasn't worth the agravation to fight it. I haven't vallet parked my car since and probably never will.
05-14-2008, 06:00 PM
#21
GO DAWGS!! SICK'EM!!
sorry to see it this happen man.....
i always tip the valet couple $$ when i gave them my key to park my ride in the front and i leave when they actually park my car in the front to prevent this type of shz happening...
hope everything works out, if not get a lawyer....
i always tip the valet couple $$ when i gave them my key to park my ride in the front and i leave when they actually park my car in the front to prevent this type of shz happening...
hope everything works out, if not get a lawyer....
05-15-2008, 11:01 AM
#23
Keep Right Except to Pass
I never, ever, ever, use valet parking. Last time I used it was in my prior car in New York in 2003 (we were staying at the Plaza and there was no real alternative). I won't even park in my office garage in a space where you have to leave the key with the garage attendant—if I'm coming in late, I drive my other car (RX-7) because it is much smaller and can be squeezed in between pillars so I don't have to let them drive it. I dread the notion of some valet getting in the TL, having trouble with the clutch, and ramming something.
Your own insurance carrier will pay the claim with no problem, but if you have a deductible for collision or comprehensive coverage they'll require that you pay it. They then proceed through what is called subrogation to recover from the resort (or, more likely, the resort's insurance carrier), and the subrogation demand will include the amount of your deductible, any towing expense you may have paid, etc. The law recognizes subrogation because your insurance carrier is paying you a debt owed to you by somebody else—if you recovered from your carrier and then sued the resort for your damages, the insurance carrier would be entitled to intervene in the suit and to take away any recovery you win up to the amount they paid you (because the law doesn't allow you to recover double damages).
You will almost always get better service from your own carrier. It's worth being out of pocket for your deductible for a few months because the other party's carrier has no incentive to give you good service (after all, you don't pay premiums to them!).
Your own insurance carrier will pay the claim with no problem, but if you have a deductible for collision or comprehensive coverage they'll require that you pay it. They then proceed through what is called subrogation to recover from the resort (or, more likely, the resort's insurance carrier), and the subrogation demand will include the amount of your deductible, any towing expense you may have paid, etc. The law recognizes subrogation because your insurance carrier is paying you a debt owed to you by somebody else—if you recovered from your carrier and then sued the resort for your damages, the insurance carrier would be entitled to intervene in the suit and to take away any recovery you win up to the amount they paid you (because the law doesn't allow you to recover double damages).
You will almost always get better service from your own carrier. It's worth being out of pocket for your deductible for a few months because the other party's carrier has no incentive to give you good service (after all, you don't pay premiums to them!).
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