I would like to share my valet experience. About a year ago, I went to a club in LA, and the only available parking I saw was valet. I was a bit apprehensive, but I decided to do it, and I tipped the guy a $20. This was the 1st time I had ever left a car with a valet, and I got burnt BIG time.
So I come out around 1:30, and everyone is getting their car. They bring mine up, and the guy hands me the keys, and bolts. I look it over, and find a huge gash in the front bumper, along with a scrape up the side of the front fender. This was in no way a scratch or some small ding, it cracked the fiberglass bumper, left a huge hole, and bent the front fender on that side. I had 2 friends with me, and they both witnessed the damage to my car. I first talked to the closest employee, some security guard who tried to ignore me, until I about screamed in his face. He told me to wait while he called someone. 5 min goes bye, nothing. I go speak to him again, same story. I then go back in the club, and find someone behind the bar, who calls to get someone for me. Then I get some joker to come outside and he says I need to pull around to the front, and the manager will come out and look at it. I do as they say, and wait for 10 min, nothing. So I pull around to the exit again, and told the security guard about the BS that was going on, and that I was calling the police. I’m told again, pull around to the front, and the manager will look at it. I grudgingly obey, another 10 min, and some guy comes out. He looks at it, hands me some insurance paper, writes down a phone number of the parking company, says their club has nothing to do with the parking, and that I can just call them on Monday. I asked him to admit they caused the damage, and he agreed, in the presence of my 2 friends.
So, Monday comes around, and I call the number he gave me, it’s some dude’s cell phone, and I get his voice mail. I just leave my name and number and just ask me to call me. I get a call from some guy who sounds like he’s driving 80 on the freeway holding the phone out the windows. I try to explain the situation, and he just cuts me off and say, “NO, no, we had no accidents on Saturday, no way.” We exchange some unkind words and he hangs up on me. I call back a few times, and he tells me to call the office number. I call some dude there, same story. I’m pretty pissed now, and basically tell them I’m calling a lawyer, and that this if far from over.
Then I get a call back from some nice lady, apologizing for the matter, saying they found the guy who damaged the car, and that he lied about it and we fired him, yada yada… I’m like fine, what about the car. She says I can just get an estimate and they will pay for it.
Long story short, I get 3 estimates, they guy I first spoke to calls me after I faxed them over, and tells me in an irate tone, that there is no way they are paying for any of these, they are way too high, and that I need to bring it to their body shop (yeah right!)
So in the end, I wasted lots of time and energy, went without my car for 3 weeks, paid my $500 deductible, plus ~$300 for a rental, and my insurance company is currently perusing collection from the parking company with all the tenacity of an egg plant.
Say NO to valet.