Car Hire Rip Off

[poter]

I have just recieved a bill for a car hire that I used thru the Easyjet web site in Nice over last weekend.

On returning the car I was advised of a minor scratch (and I do mean minor, in fact it looked old & was probably there befor I took the car) on the rear bumper of a Clio. obviously I objected but I was running late for the plane back to uk, so I did not take much notice....

I now have a charge against my credit card of eu 636 £438 for a car hire that was suposed to be £70.

I have also found by accident one other disgruntled hirer on the internet, who also had a problem with the same hire company at the same airport. He got his dosh back thru Citizens advice Bureaux.

If the charge had been say £50 for cleaning I would have been upset but would probably have let it go, but this charge is totaly outrageous.

As this seems to be a scam what are my options? what would you guys do?
Should I use the internet as a weapon?
Go to their sole owner? (the largest car co in europe)
Do I name & shame or hold back?
Or just ask the company politly for my money back?

What are my options legal or otherwise.

I do hate getting ripped....

poter

 

[Skents]

You have certainly persuaded me to beware of any car hire thru easy jet. sounds like an utter scam. shame them would be my instinct. also let them know you intend to write a letter for publication to as many publications as poss.

 

[Colin_S]

Sure I remember something about this 'problem' on Watchdog a couple of years back in relation to Easycar in the UK.

 

[StephenSails]

As you paid on your credit card, I would talk to your card issuer and tell them that you have been ripped off and that you dont want to pay that bill.

I would talk to the people youbooked the car with (easyjet) as well and see how they can justify this cost and also ask to see receipts/estimates for the work.

Either way, I think you have a good case.

 

[EME]

Not too difficult to work out who . Easyjet only work with/market Europcar, unless things have changed recently.

I had a similar 'incident' with Natinal this weekend , but managed to get it cleared up in London when I returned the car. Luckily the guys there recognised it as an old scratch, I was surprised how difficult it was to resolve for them though with loads of phone calls.

Easyjet have no legal liability in this as you know they are just a 'marketing partner'. Although they hate having their good name 'blackened' by their web partners, or at least the CEO does. My suggestion would be to phone up Europcar's Nice, then UK operation ..

 

[VicMallows]

Unfortunately, this is an all-too-often claim (scam?) by hire companies against private hirers. Strangely (?) they don't seem to try it on with corporate hirers.

I guess the only answer is to INSIST they inspect the car BEFORE you accept it (sign) and endorse the fact. Of course I know this is completely impractical. It's a blatently obvious way of getting you to pay for insurances you would not otherwise want.

If you think France is bad, try Italy!

Vic

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Is it legal to charge your card in your absence without first invoicing you?

Ok to the £70 agreed bill, but have they really the right to add to this, you may have wanted to use collision waver etc.

This is surely theft?

 

[Ruffles]

We hired a car in Italy via Holiday Autos last year. I had heard this insurance scam was particularly prevalent in Italy so I phoned the UK people to ask them what my liability was. I was told that I would not have to pay for any extra insurance and that in the event of damage or an accident any AND ALL costs would be refunded by them. Seems a good deal but then I never put it to the test.

Rob.

 

[ean_p]

I had this with this company here in the UK while the car was under corporate hire....the company just picked up the bill, and recently my brother hired from them in Holland and two months later he recieved a speeding fine etc from the Swiss police for an offence that happened after he'd returned the car, he was in China at the time and has never been to Switzerland !......easy answer just don't use them ever again, and pass the word!

 

[Sybarite]

The difference between a notional rate and what you actually pay can be significant...

Did your daily rate include limited mileage and did you exceed the limit?
Did you return the car late and incur an additinonal day's charge - tolerance usually 59 minutes strictly applied?
Did you check the condition of car before taking possession and sign off on marks?
You are also probably (certainly) paying an airport surcharge; a fuel crisis surcharge; a refueling charge as well as the fuel top-up - they need to send a driver to the pumps:
CDW insurance etc etc

I dislike car hire - but then I was an FD in one...

John

 

[poter]

Yus all the points you raised was covered
ie milage, times etc.
yes I did check the car & honestly would never have noticed the mark, however thinking back, on the return the girl went straight to it....hmmm!!!

poter

 

[poter]

can't get any joy from the credit card co.
but I will talk to Easyjet.

poter

 

[bendyone]

Its so important to check and note marks on a hire car before accepting it. Both here and abroad. I use Target van hire in UK and will spend 10 minutes inspecting and marking damage even down to dirt marks - so far never had a problem.
Easy car hire was on Watchdog a few years back for this rip off problem.

 

[StephenSails]

Why not, they have taken money from your card with out agreement.

 

[EME]

Loads of dubious facts around this thread

Sorry you are off beam with your advice to Ruffles. ,,,IMHO

Holiday Autos COULD NOT have been the guilty party in that speeding transaction ---- they are only a broker < and well all know what responsibility brokers have !

The potentially guilty party in Ruffles case would have been one of the leading brands of car hire companies.

Also someone suggests that they have no permission to charge credit card. Think you'll find you have assigned that...

 

[[3889]]

Had exactly the same problem with easycar at Nice. Then cars were kept in multi storey, used by public, on prom d'anglais . I argued that car may have been scratched by anyone who had access to the car park and I was duly refunded.
BTW, damage in my case was a scratch to the easycar sticker on the door - charge...£150!
Good Luck
Andy

 

[kingfisher]

1) request the contact details/return report from previous users of that car. If they are really bad, they will have charged several users for the same scratch. Maybe the scratch wasn't marked on your report, but someone will have noticed it.
2) demand the repair bill, the original. As it is you who is fronting the money, you should get the repair bill. Again, see point 1
3) did they check before you got the car? If you state that the mark was there when you got the car, it is them that will have to show that the car was in mint condition upon reception.
4) OTOH, if you have signed an recieved in good order form, and the scratch wasn't marked, there's not uch you can do.

Same thing happened to me in Italy. Since then, I take every hire car for a ten minute inspection tour, with the car park manager.

 

[Steve Clayton]

If coming into Alicante or Valencia then I recommend using Mr. Car. No problems with them whatsoever.

As usual - no connection with them except for very satisfied customers



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