A service of:
Community123.com
Professional websites for HOAs & condos, since 2004
🎁 1st year FREE for HOATalk members! →
← Return to Topics List

valet resposbilities

Started by MartinM • 17 replies • 1186 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
i had my car parked by the valet late one night and instruccted the valet to leave the keys in the car and luck the doors. He responded "ok" the next day i went to my car and the windows were down and doors un locked and the keys gone.the valet service owner that contracted to our associetion refused to pay for the new keys after he had agreed too. the associetion members will not help me recoup my lose siting that i told him to leave the keys in the car..what do i do
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
Please describe more about this "valet" service that you used.

Is this an HOA-contracted service?

If so, once you turned over your car to the valet company, then it was their obligation to return everything to you when you called for the car.

The company is responsible for the care of your car when under their service.
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
yes, they are paid out of our monthly dues. they have a disclaimer on their check they give you for your keys that is basicly a way out. that all article that are left in car are not their responsiblities..

the orders were not completely followed leaving any article in the car unsecured. doors unlocked windows down..
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
The whole thing depends on how much pressure the HOA board places on the contracted valet service owner.

If the valet service wants to keep the HOA contract, they MIGHT pay for a new set of keys.

However, since you changed their regular procedures (asking them to leave the keys in the car instead of them safeguard the keys) then the HOA board may say that you contributed to the problem.

If the board will not go to bat for you, you may have to take this to small claims court yourself.

Do you have a set of keys for the car?
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
yes i have keys now. the board said i did contribute to the incident but it seems that it should be in our intrest to now what good practices this company does support. the reason i did want the valet company to hold the keys because the have a history of losing keys as well as mine. the joke is have a pair.
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:

Martin,
Lesson learned--don't leave your keys in the car---ever!
KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665
Posted:
Don't know about Florida, but in Texas (and I believe some other states) leaving keys in an unattended car is against the law. Locking the doors does not change the fact it is against the law to leave them there.

Now the valet shouldn't leave the car with windows rolled down. Then again, you shouldn't give them the car with the windows rolled down either.

Final thought: a new set of keys is probably still cheaper then what it would have cost if the car had been stolen. And the locks on the door will only slightly slow down many a person.
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
locking the keys in a car is not uncomnon. Valets leave them in the cars so they don't have to find them.
it is not against the law in FLA. Car thefts take place in areas that will allow a easy get away. My vehical was parked in a parking structure with 24 hour security.

Now the management company will not give me the name of the valet company. They say i have no right to the information. Can this be true??
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:

That Martin, is not true. As an owner and member of your association, you have the right to know who you are paying to entrust your beloved car to. But the proof that the windows were open or were closed will be your burdeon to prove. If a simple phone call to the Valet company does not give you the results that you desire, then I would bite the bullet and buy another key set. If your key is like my key, I can understand that you don't want to buy another. But as I said, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE CAR.
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
ms donna
i wrote a letter to the association to get the address of the valet company . i have a feeling that it will be ignored. this is a brand new community and we have a condo commando for a president. The thing i have not mentioned is that the car has a kill switch in it if you don't know were it is the car will not start.
I would think that the management company would want to help. but it appears they are worried about resale . so i guess i am a liablity to them. the key cost $400.00 i have a signed statment that the valet left the windows down and not locked...mmmmm
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:


Mercedes?
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
mercedes? no, that automoble is so 1990'S
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:


SQUUUUZE ME
MartinM (Florida)
Posts: 8
Posted:
ha ha just being funny. this mess has me so confused as to what is right and wrong anymore. ms donna i was just making a joke thanks for your post.
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:

No Problem Martin,

My Mercedes has a $400.00 key. I found out because I have a Master Gardener badge with a very strong magnet on its back. It seems that the magnet and the key's innerts mated inside a pocket in my purse.
KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665
Posted:
I think both of you got ripped off. The only justifications to that kind of price that I can think of include such things as:
  • The appearance of more security.

  • The appearance of being special.

  • making people feel like they are special for having such things


    • Please note, from what I have seen Donna is special and I don't doubt the others here as well. But it isn't the $400 key that makes it so.
    DonnaS (Tennessee)
    Posts: 5,671
    Posted:

    Kirk,
    You got that right--(the key thing). I asked the Dealer about the cost of the replacement key. He smiled and said " Because we can" That my friend is reason to not buy there again OR rap him one, which was my first instinct. And THANKS for the compliment. There are so many special people that are on this site. Yesteray, Susan cracked me up--alot and I laughed hard enough that I made my Husband come read her remark. You, Glen, Brian, Michelle are always a good read. Hope that I did not forget someone.
    KirkW1 (Texas)
    Posts: 1,665
    Posted:
    The heck of it is, that they are undoubtedly using off the shelf technology.

    The latest trend is to avoid the need for contacts. Thus they are moving to proximity type of units. And there is so much that it is senseless to not use technology that already exists. And to be honest, they could probably separate the key from the proximity card.

    In fact, there could be a huge benefit to doing so. Like allowing for a "valet mode" where the car will only travel a few hundred yards without the proximity card inside. You could then leave the card in a wallet.

    🎯 You've read this entire discussion

    Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

    • ✓ Ask follow-up questions
    • ✓ Share your experience
    • ✓ Get expert advice
    • ✓ Access 350,000 discussions
    Create Free Account →

    ⚡ Takes 30 seconds

    Already a member? Log in here

    Terms of Use and Privacy Statement