Update: Together we can end rip-off car hire charges

I hired a car through do-you-spain and took out the additional comprehensive insurance they offered only to be hassled on arrival into taking out the Goldcar’s own cover (or else) which added an additional 220 euro’s to the cost.
The deal I took out would not have been the best had I been aware of the additional charge been forced on me. I don’t mind a realistic charge but the one thing I don’t want (and I’m sure no one else does) is to start my holiday by being greeted with the hassle and the additional costs I’m not expecting.

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I think Heathrow Europcar is the worst. The trainee who waited on us argued with me for at least 40 minutes about taking a bigger car and insurance even though I told her that we had our own insurance through our credit card company. She said that if we left a deposit of 299 pounds, then we could take the car without the extra insurance. We agreed, but as we were driving away, we saw that she had charged us full insurance and an extra driver fee which we did not need. This was our second time it’s happened by them and we should have known better. There seems to be no recourse.

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Reserved a car through “Economy Car Rental,” a Greek-based company (i just learned!) in November of 2014 for our June, 2015 trip to Iceland. The price was reasonable at about $300 USD. Three weeks before the trip we received an email notifying us that the reservation was null and void. No offer was made for a new reservation. We needed the car as we were going to travel Route 1, the “Ring” around Iceland and needed a reliable car to do so. I made a new reservation with “Economy” Care Rental and the price tripled to about $600 USD for the same car! (I have full documentation with both “contracts!” and would be glad to share with anyone!)

In addition, we were hit by a drive near Hofn, IS and were told by the police that all we needed was a report, which we filed with the car rental company. Of course, we paid “Economy” Car Rental and extra fee to provide us with insurance and they do not accept the Icelandic way of reporting accidents. I was out $900+ USD for an accident that was not my fault.

I want my “insurance fee” back. Fortunately, I had additional travel insurance which covered the entire incident 100%. The fact that these slime balls refused to consider the loss because I didn’t have a police report (there is no such thing in ICELAND!), shows how they rip people off. The bogus pricing is another indication of their “best (ripoff) practices!” Stay away from this company.

And.of course, do not, never do business with this company.

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I booked a car through do you Spain and got Dickmans . 26.85 Euros for 12 days bargain I thought.
98 euros for fuel and 950 euros on my card as I didn’t take out their insurance as I have my own. I returned the car intact and they said my 950 euros would be returned in 20 days now that’s a rip off.
Now it gets better after that time still no money so I started phoning , they said if I gave them BIC number of my account they would transfer quicker. 6 weeks later I got my money back but not all the sky high conversion or transfer charge meant that I was some £30 short of what I should have had. My bank in the UK do not charge to receive money from abroad and Dickmans say there is no charge as they deal in euros that’s nonsence , there holding bank or intermediate bank are making the money.

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On arrival in Belfast I was given a car with only 23 miles on it but was assured at their outside office on collection that stone chips and normal driving would not be classed as damage. On return today a 1.1cm hairline scratch was claimed to be damages; this in a country where the hedgerows fall into the path of most roads. On the previous occasion of hiring from this company they deducted charges for petrol even though I had filled the car .25 mile from the airport. I shall be contacting the UK Competition and MARKETS authority and Leaseeurope to complain

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Booked a car at Alicante Airport through Do You Spain and collected form Record Go. I declined all extras, gave my CC number for deposit and left. I returned the car with an absolutely full tank of fuel, had it verified and left.

When I checked my CC statement, £65.53 had been taken and £36.99 returned. When I looked more closely at the paperwork from Record Go, it wasn’t that I was short changed on the fuel, but was charged 39.99 Euros for a ‘Go Pack’ which I definitely did not request. I have complained to Do You Spain and had an automated reply but nothing more. I know it’s not a huge amount of money, but if this is done to all hirers, then it’s a massive rip off.

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Booked with doyoudospain told them I had no credit card booked paid €70 insurance so I wouldn’t need to pay anything to car hire booked from 12 mid day but flight had slight delay so by the time we got to where we was hiring car it was just before 1a.m tried to cancel they said couldn’t as it was past the start time. What a jojw they had flight number they should have known what time I arrived. Replied continually to them but just realised the email from there first email not cancelling was a noreply email. Why does some kind of authority not step in. Lots of people have had the same problem. If anyone has there actual email address or office address I would be more than grateful. I had to pay the hire company another €288 before being allowed to take car and I had paidcthem £145

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HOW WE GOT ACTION. Europcar Heathrow tried to bill us for unchosen insurance and extra driver-as well as trying to rent us a bigger model. My brilliant wife looked up the company president and sent him a well-written and firm Email, including a threat to publicicize their shoddy practices in the U.S.A. They took care of it. We were there for 30 days, so had time to do this. Also took many photos of the car and the fuel gauge when we returned it. For the first time ever, they mailed us a receipt when we got home.

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I have just been ripped off in spain by Record car hire company. The price through autos abroad was the most competitive. However once there they would not recognise my yearly car hire insurance and said I could not rent the car despite my having paid for it unless I paid their insurance on top which cost £160 pounds!!! Do I have any possibility of challenging this?

This is my second post about Go Record in Alicante, Spain, first one was a month ago.

I have just had a forty Euros charge taken against my Credit Card without authorisation and without notification by Go record. I have sent a complaint email to Do You Spain who haven’t even responded to my first complaint.

I will try and contact Do You Spain by telephone as I have been told by my CC company that if at least try, they will refund the payment taken.

I booked a Fiat 500L with Interrent through a broker. At my arrival at the desk at Bologna airport on 22/10 I was offered a Fiat Qubo. Since this is the passenger version of a van, I asked for an alternative option. There was none. The staff tried to convince me that the cars are in the same category. I accepted the Qubo because the process had already taken a long time – there was a video link with a remote worker, every time I asked a question the person would ring the desk – it was really absurd. I walked to the parking lot to discover that: the car had various damages that had not been indicated in the contract and it was dirty inside and outside. I walked back to the desk only to be told that the only other car – another Fiat Qubo – had not been prepared and I had to wait another 30 minutes. I asked to talk to the desk manager and the member of staff called on her mobile phone to check whether the manager wanted to talk to me. Finally I managed to communicate with person who was unapologetic and unhelpful, saying that it wasn’t his fault – I still wonder whose fault was it. I cancelled the booking and I rented with another company. Needless to say that i will never rent a car with InterRent again.

We just got back from a trip to Fuerteventura. Booked a car via Expedia, which I tend to trust – but it was with Goldcar (which I really should have Googled first.

We showed up at their counter after 9pm, only to be told we needed to pay double the going rate for a full tank of petrol, PLUS an extra €127 for insurance! Politely declined the insurance, as we’re already covered, only to be told that it was required if we wanted to take the car. (Others have said they were offered the option to have a “damage deposit” held on their card instead – we weren’t offered this, but it was probably a good thing, as another traveller told us at drop-off that he had just been told the £200 “deposit” he’d put down wasn’t going to be refunded!)

By this time, it was 10pm, we were on an industrial estate in an area we weren’t familiar with (no way to get a cab), and our son was tired and cranky, so we very reluctantly agreed to the insurance. Imagine my face when we got to the hotel and I read the T&Cs on our booking – the insurance we’d been forced to purchase (“Cobertura Super”) was clearly listed as an optional extra!

We were also told quite brusquely that the cost of any remaining petrol in the tank when we returned the car would be “refunded, automatic – in 2 hours” – needless to say, it’s a full day later and no refund has appeared.

I’ve contacted both Goldcar and Expedia about this, but don’t hold out a lot of hope for a resolution from either one – so I’m resolved to spread the word as widely as I can instead. Don’t rent from Goldcar – ever! They put a real damper on the start to our long-anticipated holiday, and I’m still very angry about it.

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Omg we are in the midst of trying to rent a car for two weeks in Alicante to Javea for June 2016 the stories and forums whilst arm me with knowledge and preparation it still seems that you have to accept that no matter what if you need to hire you will be ripped off scammed or duped! Thinking we should have booked an all inclusive Thomson holiday with coach transfers! Just emailed Lara cars, fingers crossed!

We hired through “doyouspain” and collected at Alicante airport from gold car last time and on a previous three occasions. The first three times we got the usual hard sell for excess insurance but refused as we had our own annual excess cover ( recommended by which ). We felt the fuel charges very high with their full – empty policy but we’re aware of this as well as the ridicules deposit for not taking their insurance but as said we were expecting this so hey ho! However the last hire car was a complete wreck it had more dents and scrapes that a banger racing car honestly every panel was dented!! We were told that no other car was available and that was either take it or leave it – more or less. On return from holiday I complained to doyouspain and eventually gave up deciding never to use them again. I have had good reviews about enterprise so will try them this time even though they are twice as expensive. You get what you pay for I guess in the end

We were a month ago at Fuerteventura. We paid rent fee online in pre-booking website. After arriving we couldn’t final the rent and take car because we can’t use my credit card, when booking has been made on my partner. They advised to add another driver with extra cost of course, extra insurance and full tank charge which was totally around 200£. I asked about that deposit which company usually take. They said that it’s gonna be around 1000£ and when something will happen with care we will pay extra. They show me whole long list of payments. So finally we agreed on these insurance. Another thing was that their terminal can’t process payment by credit card and they took our signs and full details from card. When we give the car back they didn’t want to see it. When I got back home on my credit card statement appeared another transaction from goldacar which was 25£ probably for extra cleaning. They took it without my knowledge. Now when I read what happened for other people I can say that we were silly and lucky in one time. Never ever again goldcar, but I must say that it was second time when I hired car from this company and at the first time everything was allright. Sad

I travel abroad regular but have to say have thought about hiring a car but after reading the rip off horror stories from people have decided to stay well away from hiring of cars. I will stick with local buses and airport transfers.

I hired a car from Europcar at Nantes airport in France on 11 May and agreed to return the car with a full petrol tank. A few days later a strike of petrol tanker drivers began and I was unable to refill the tank on return on 25 May. Europcar charged my credit card with twice the normal going rate for petrol to refill the tank. I complained to them and they replied that the price charged complied with their conditions of hire. I have disputed the payment with VISA disputes department (via my bank) and I await a decision. I would never use Europcar again.

How do these car hire companies get away with it????
I am due to holiday in benidorm in november and was going to hire a car but I honestly cant find any broker or company that actually provides the cars that has decent reviews, in fact they are all so terrible I dont know how they stay in business. It really is one con after another and has sadly put me off renting a car.

I have searched and searched car hire companies and only found autoclick with a reasonable review………
and the reason I say reasonable is that the all the others are soooooo bad!!!!!
Thinking about risking it with them as they seem to be the best of a bad bunch, not really a glowing recommendation.
I just know im going to get stung with an out of office hours fee even though it states on the booking form I wont. my flight lands at 9.20pm………… office hours end at 10pm……….
I will be in the office before 10pm but already budgeted for the 30 euros out of office hours fee.
I have my own insurance cover but am also ready to start my holiday with stress arguing that I dont need the hire companys insurance.
I will be taking photos of car before i take it and when i return it and am ready to have a hefty amount frozen on my credit card……….
why does it have to be a battle of wills with these people, it should be illegal what they do.
im also ready for the fuel rip off, booking full to full…………..
anybody with any tips (other than dont bother in the first place) would be very welcome.

Hi There, I am wondering if you are also helping combat the fraudulent activity that is going on. I recently hired a car via DoYouSpain who referred me to Ok Rent A Car. I have had this experience. Hired a car. It broke down on within a few hours of me having the car in my position. This was not a dent or a scratch. The wheel alignment was dodgy. I pulled over and called for the tow truck, to avoid any damage being done and I had to pay for the tow truck. I have witnesses to say that nothing was done to my vehicle – It was driving fine – I returned and drove it off 3 hours later and it was like a flat tyre, because the car was continuously going off to one side – what was wrong was the 2 front wheels where going different ways, so were misaligned. They charged me 600 Euros plus 240 Euros for the tow truck. They have provided me with a list of charges but no photos from them of what is wrong with the vehicle. I at the moment have no way of reclaiming the money back other than through the insurance company, which I will not do because the damages had nothing to do with me. The company currently don’t know how much evidence I have. I am looking for any support possible as I am not made of money and 840 Euros is a huge amount of money for me at this time. Please help me and others in the future from having to put up with this.

Do you Spain…….do you ever reply to emails……no i don’t think so…….

Record Go stole my wallet, were very aggressive sand ignore all comms. Escalated to CEO and Police, no response.

Booked a car through rentalcars. com… What a mistake. I was rushing over to menorca August 2016 where my sister had accident and was at airport and decided to see about renting a car through my phone. I went through the usual online process of entering details (flight number, time of landing and then credit card number) then it said proceed with booking expecting to put details in about driving licence etc but unfortunately didn’t have licence with me so pressed the back button to get off site. Then email came through saying booking confirmation.. Shocked I went back on to manage my booking and pressed cancel all within 30 secs and now I have been charged £110 cancellation fee…. Just so no one else falls into this trap..

I recently hired a car from Firefly at Girona Airport (19/10/2016). I booked in advance and paid €26.32 rental in advance. That was my quote for car hire for 4 days. On arrival, I was charged the following CC Fee €3.30, Fuel €41.51,
Service charge €18.68, SCDW €66.08, vat €27.21 and another unexplained €40.00 . Total €223. I was told that if I didn’t take out insurance with them that I had to pay €1000 deposit. When I tried to cancel they said that they were unable to contact my agent and were ‘unsure’ what the cancellation charge would be.
Car hire companies need to list all charges at point of booking in a similar way that low cost airlines in order to avoid a situation as outlined above. I had no choice be to take the car. I was travelling alone. I arrived late so there were no public transport options available. The final cost to me was almost 10 times my original quote.

I have just returned From USA how can you make an informed choice when the companies hide additional charges I researched the internet and for 12 days I paid upfront £256.99 with Dollar on my arrival I was told this did not include personal injury liability, Fuel charge, and toll pass charges. Having just arrived I was to tired to put up much of debate about the charges and paid. I have just received the final bill for another £316.93. with a transaction bank charge of £8.72. taking my total bill for twelve days to £582.64. this represents over 220% of my original bill. I do not know any other sector that can more than double charges how can customers budget for these extra charges.
I feel there is little or no control on the Hire companies they seem to plunder customer bank accounts. To add insult to injury despite booking the car nearly eight weeks ahead this type was not available they upgraded me for the same price, the SVU had no sat Nav they could supply one for an extra charge they only had no chipped car key and every time the passenger door opened the alarm went off. and the appearance was tatty.
I challenge the customer service agent at the return who just shrugged his shoulders. NEVER again Dollar how can I make an informed choice in future?

The Which? campaign has spectacularly backfired. Hiring with Budget through AutoEurope in Spain I could hire full to full. Now with Budget there is only the possibility of buying a full tank and a compulsory 19 Euro refuelling charge. Budget at the moment are the cheapest of the main hirers in Fuerteventura. Having tried Auto Reisen (the Which? recommended supplier) in Fuerteventura and Tenerife I would not use them again.

I have used Do You Spain for the last 8 years and rent up to 6 times a year and never had a problem, I use my own car hire excess insurance (annual £60) and the Hire companies (various) put an excess deposit on your credit card which is returned the day you bring back the car undamaged, they will try to frighten you into buying their exorbitant cover but just decline. The fuel charge varies from company to company but most now do a full/full service. However even with these charges the car hire is half the price of the big boys (Enterprise, Avis, Europcar). Be prepared when you arrive, do some homework and you will not be suprised when you arrive to pick up your car. April 2017

Your Which conversations are so far behind the curve. Forget the banking scandals, PPI, endowment miss-selling etc. The car hire rip offs have gone into overdrive. The credit card companies are turning a blind eye to wholesale criminal practices. They are being hammered by section 75 credit card refund claims but seem content to sit on their hands. They along with the criminal car hire firms must be making a packet. Search engine companies like Travelsupermarket are also complicit. Where are the regulators? Where is Which. What happened to consumer protection. Wake up! People are being robbed.

EU needs to take action to stop this inter Europe travel ripoff.

Used Argus Car hire for a 3 week trip to the US, the stateside company was Fox. I paid in full before travelling only to incur an $880 bill for insurance. The ‘agent’ told me “I was good to go, you’ve got everything and don’t need anything” I signed for the ‘car’ on a blank signature only LCD screen (this is normal procedure), at the end of the process he said that’ll be $880, when I refused to pay he said he would cancel the entire booking, he told me it was state law (which it wasn’t) I was completely conned into signing the blank screen. I raised the issue with Halifax (card provider) Fox and Argus, who refused to help on the basis that I’d signed. I stated clearly that I was told by the Fox agent “I didn’t need anything extra” I willingly signed for the car, AT NO POINT WAS I SHOWN THE DUE BALANCE, the screen was a signature only screen. This is by far the single biggest con trick from a supposed bona fide company. I’m certain this is their entire pitch, everyone before me seemed to be charged extra for something. I was sitting comfortably, and when he told me I had everything, I naturally assumed I was signing for the car, not an additional $880 The Fox agent openly ‘lied’ openly mislead me. I kept copies of all paperwork, sadly money and greed prevented me from receiving a refund. It disgusts me to think you can be treated this way. It has put me off ever hiring a car in the US again.