A WOMAN was left stunned when she returned to her car and found it had melted – leaving her without a vehicle for weeks.
Tracey Casteel was one of many drivers who, one month after a major parking garage fire that damaged 50 cars, is still struggling for information on her set of wheels.
Action News JaxMultiple cars were left burned to a crisp after a fire at Jacksonville International Airport in May[/caption] Action News JaxMany drivers are still waiting on answers from the airport and valet service[/caption] Action News JaxOne said she only found out her vehicle had melted after seeing it on the news[/caption]The Jacksonville International Airport has caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage and left multiple car owners awaiting some sort of compensation and explanation.
Speaking to Action News Jax, Casteel said she was told by the valet company SP+ when she returned to the garage on May 19 that they were unable to get her car – and that she had to take a Lyft or Uber.
She later found out it had melted after seeing it on the news.
“It’s like when I watch my cat chase her tail. It’s just you’re going in circles, only you’re hitting brick walls everywhere you go,” said Casteel.
She says she contacted the airport when the fire first happened, but added: “I did the little online thing of putting in your car and everything, but everything tells you if you’re valet parked that you have to talk to the valet folks.
“I have attempted to reach the airport through social media and different things like that. I’ve gotten no response from the airport.”
As she’s struggling to get to her car, it also means her insurance can’t help her out.
Since the incident, she’s been forced to pay for a rental while she tries to get some answers from the airport or the valet company.
She said: “The airport has not necessarily talked directly to the folks that valet parked, because valet parking is managed by another company.
“They have spoken to us, and I actually was able to reach out to a couple of different folks, even at their corporate office in leadership roles, but they can only tell us what the airport tells them.
“Just trying to get some answers has been extremely frustrating.”
ALL’S WELL THAT END’S WELL
Elsewhere, a woman was left fuming after someone else’s mistake seemingly cost her $3,000 in fees to get her car back from a tow company.
Kenethia Dunning of Birmingham, Alabama, had her 2012 Hyundai Elantra stolen back in April, hours after she returned home from work.
It left her without her much-needed vehicle for nearly a month and worried she’d never see it returned.
As reported by WBRC, Dunning revealed thieves shattered her car’s window and used a simple USB charger – in a method known as the “Kia Challenge”, which takes advantage of a security flaw in certain Hyundai and Kia models – to drive off.
She said: “I didn’t know which way to turn, I didn’t know if I was going to get my car back or anything.”
Naturally, she reported the theft to the Birmingham Police, but weeks passed with no updates while her car, unknown to Dunning, was found by Midfield Police the same day it was stolen.
It was then towed to local tow company King Boyz Towing and Recovery, but failed to be entered into the state database as a recovered stolen vehicle until weeks later.
This meant that, when the car was finally located, Dunning was slapped with a bill of some $3,000 in storage fees.
Marcus King, owner of King Boyz Towing and Recovery, believes something fell through the cracks during the handoff between police and the state system.
Legally, King had every right to collect the fee, but brilliantly, after learning the full story, he decided to waive the charges entirely.
“We believe in our folks, we’re going to take care of them if we can – we just got to make sure that our customers are happy,” he added.
Dunning says the act of kindness has lifted a weight off her shoulders.
How to prepare for the DMV
Here are some ways to streamline your DMV experience:
Check the DMV website for your state to see if the task can be done completely online. Many processes can now be done online, like renewing a vehicle’s registration or changing an address. Otherwise, several processes can be started online and finished at an in-person location, like renewing a driver’s license. Schedule an appointment. While walk-ins are available at all locations, having an appointment time can help reduce frustrating wait times. Check the DMV’s website to ensure you have all the necessary forms for the task. Get there early. Since many people prefer to try and tackle simple tasks on their lunch breaks or days off, showing up early can mean you’re only one of a few. Eat before you go or bring a snack. Since wait times can exceed expectations, bring some form of sustenance. Be positive. The process is temporary. Read More Details
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