Action 9: Airport parking service accused of wrecking customers' cars

ORLANDO, Fla. — Action 9 investigated an airport parking service that some customers said wrecked their cars.

Action 9's Todd Ulrich confronted the company's managers after customers said they were left with repair bills and shoddy auto body work.

Omni Airport Parking offers valet service near Orlando International Airport.

Customer Tim Kline paid to park there and returned the following week, several days early.

"I give the ticket to the guy, he looks for the car and an hour later, there's no car," he said. "You come back and it's gone. You just feel violated. Your life has been violated."

A manager told Kline his Nissan Rogue was at an auto body repair shop because an employee crashed it, he said.

Photographs were taken of the car's mangled back end.

Kline said he couldn't accept what he considered a shoddy repair job.

"I believe he tried to cover something up," Kline said. "I think that's the bottom line."

Omni Airport Parking didn't respond to his complaint, Kline said.

Action 9's investigation discovered that Kline wasn't the only customer whose vehicle was damaged.

In the last three years, 272 calls were made to the Orange County Sheriff's Office from Omni Airport Parking -- 141 of which were classified as verbal disturbances, records said.

According to Florida Highway Patrol records obtained by Action 9, seven crashes have been reported at the business, three of which involved customers reporting damaged vehicles.

"It was damaged on their property," said a woman who asked to not be identified. She said her Lexus was sideswiped while parked at the business.

Omni Airport Parking paid for half of the repair costs after months of complaining, she said.

"It caused us stress," she said. "We had to pay out-of-pocket."

Ulrich traveled to the business, seeking answers.

"Some customers claim their cars were wrecked here and the company tried to cover it up," Ulrich said.

"Todd: I'm not sure exactly what customers you are referring to," manager Christian Hernandez said.

Ulrich told Hernandez about Kline’s case, the other crashes and the Sheriff's Office calls.

"There are customers who claim it's risky to park here,” Ulrich said. “How is that happening?"

"I'm not sure why they would say that," Hernandez said. "Recent managers have changed. We’re operating quite differently. I can assure you of that, Todd."

Hernandez said customers are notified of crashes and the company pays for repairs. He agreed to review Kline's case.

Consumer experts advise drivers who park at pay lots to immediately examine their vehicle upon return, to photograph any damage and to file a police report if damage is moderate to serious.

Customers whose vehicles have been damaged should request the business’ insurance information and provide it to their own insurer, experts said.

Cox Media Group