‘Meet-and-greet’ boss fined
COUNCIL OFFICERS POSED AS CUSTOMERS
A MEET-and-greet boss has been fined by magistrates after a sting to uncover firms parking holidaymakers’ cars on the streets around Manchester Airport.
Nabeel Khoury, director of PPS Manchester Ltd – which is not affiliated to the airport – was rumbled after trading standards officers placed a tracker in a car and pretended to be customers.
Officers claim the tracker showed the vehicle had been parked on Greenwood Road in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe – and not in a secure car park as advertised.
Both director Mr Khoury and his firm, PPS Manchester Ltd, were found guilty at Manchester magistrates court of ‘engaging in a misleading action,’ under consumer protection laws. Total fines and costs came to £3,567.
After the hearing, Mr Khoury – who denied the charge but was found guilty after a trial – said he intends to appeal the case.
Describing the investigation as a ‘witch hunt,’ he told the M.E.N.: “PPS has served Manchester Airport customers for 18 years and had never been to court before.
“It is one of the best companies on Manchester Airport with an impeccable reputation.”
A council spokesman said in a statement how their sting was carried out.
He said: “In 2016, Manchester council’s trading standards team fitted a tracking device to a vehicle and booked a three-day airport parking service through the PPS Manchester website.
“The tracker showed the car had been parked on Greenwood Road in Woodhouse Park and clearly not in a secure car park as advertised.
“The company’s website claimed that cars are kept on a concrete surface surrounded by fencing, patrolled 24-hours-a-day by security guards, and under the watch of CCTV.
“Returning the following day, trading standards officers found the car in the same position before picking up the vehicle from a PPS Manchester driver the next day.
“Under interview, Mr Khoury claimed the cars were safe and secure as it was parked outside of his home address, and claimed the promise on the website referred to a period of time when the business was based at another location close to the airport.
“He also claimed that if the booking had been for longer, the vehicle would have been moved to one of three secure car parks that he had exclusive use of.” Mr Khoury, of Greenwood Road, Manchester, was personally fined £425 as sole director of PPS Manchester Ltd and was ordered to pay £1,000 court costs, and a victim of crime surcharge of £42.
PPS Manchester Ltd was also fined £1,000 after being found guilty of engaging in a misleading action, and ordered to pay court costs of £1,000, along with a victims of crime surcharge of £100.
The tracker showed the car had not been parked in a secure car park as advertised
Manchester council spokesman