The director of a Gatwick parking firm has admitted misleading customers and engaging in unfair commercial practice.
Best Meet and Greet Ltd left vehicles parked in fields and public car parks despite claiming they would be kept in a secure facility.
Some customers were left with expensive repairs after their vehicles were parked in muddy fields.
Following complaints the company was investigated by Trading Standards and yesterday director Shagufta Khan admitted engaging in unfair and misleading commercial practice at Hove Crown Court.
The hearing was told that Best Meet and Greet’s website offered short-term offers encouraging customers to book quickly and contained false customer testimonies.
The court was told that Khan was probably not the person in ultimate control of the parking company and that other were likely to be involved. She will be sentenced on Friday.
Richard Sargeant, Trading Standards team manager, said: “We think this is very serious; customers are being defrauded.
“This company was making statements on their website and they were false. Consumers paid good money for their cars to be securely parked, but they weren’t – they were parked unprofessionally in a field.”
The BBC said Best Meet and Greet is one of a number of firms which has been investigated by Trading Standards, including Gatwick First Parking and London Parking Gatwick.
A Gatwick spokesperson said: “Gatwick Airport strongly recommends passengers use official on-airport parking, or companies registered with Gatwick’s approved off-airport parking operators scheme. More information about the scheme can be found on our website.
“While we sympathise with all affected passengers, it is important to stress that Gatwick has no relationship with the parking operator involved in this trial.”