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

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.

It is very supportive and useful post. I am glad to find it. There are so many developers working on this part but this is one of the best innovative post ever. Thanks for such post.

[Sorry, your comment has been edited to align with our community guidelines https://conversation.which.co.uk/commenting-guidelines/. Thanks, mods.]

I have a similar problem to many listed on this blog. I rented a car for pick up at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus via Holiday Autos. For peace of mind, I purchased additional insurance from Holiday Autos only to be told by the supplier (Europcar) that they wouldn’t release the vehicle to me unless I paid them EUR 200 for their insurance. There was no real option to refuse – either paid up, or forfeit the already paid for rental and find an alternative means of getting to my destination. It’s been a month since I returned from Cyprus and all I get from the ironically named Customer Care Team at Holiday Autos are emails saying they refuse to give any refund.

Feeling well and truly ripped off!

. I recently hired a car in Catania Italy from Enterprise (Locauto) via Holiday autos. When I picked up the car I spent some time checking the car over. After my short trip I returned the car was told that there was a chip on the windscreen for which I am now liable. The chip was small and if it was there when I picked it up then I had not seen it. However I was suspicious because the rental staff member had not inspected the screen but came up with this fault. However, I could not prove that it had already been there so there was nothing I could do.

My issue is that the next day I received an invoice for the damage amounting to £506. There was a small admin charge and tax included but the major part of the invoice was for what was termed damage compensation. There was no indication that any action was taken in respect of the alleged damage or if any action was taken what that was.

I am concerned at this because

• The stonechip that was the damage concerned in my view was repairable without the need for a new windscreen. The amount seems excessive.
• The amount I have been charged is termed as compensation and does not relate specifically to action deal with the damage.
• The car may be hired again with the same damage if indeed the company took no action. Another customer may not spot such a small chip and be charged for the same damage.
• I sought further detail in an email message on the company website but did not receive it and now the link to send a message does not function. A telephone number simply refers you to the website.

Nothing much changes. We have hired cars several times recently in Germany. There are a number of excessive hidden charges which can only be found in the small print.
1. Extra driver. We hired a car and asked about the cost of an additional driver. The additional cost was more than the cost of hiring the car with one driver. This is a major rip-off. I doubt that there is any justification for charging extra, indeed there may be a case for charging less since there is less likelihood of there being a tired driver.
2. Child seats. Compulsory of course, but charged extra, typically 5 to 6 euros per day. 2 weeks hire is then enough to buy a brand new seat. Several times, we were given older, well-used child seats. Nothing wrong with them, but proof that the hire companies do not regularly buy new ones.
3. Extra if you want to cross a European border with the car. What happened to EU wide rules?