EUROPCAR CAR SCAM IN UK - Beware!!
Complaint
Sammy
Country: United States
Hello everyone:
Beware of the rental car companies overseas if you are a traveller like me. I am describing about a recent experience I had in London, UK. I booked a car from EuropCar UK website and paid almost week in advance for the type of car I needed as I was travelling with my family and had 2 large suitcases. When I went to receive the car, they told me their system shows I had reserved an Economy (Pinto to be exact). They were trying to squeeze my blood in paying 30GBP extra a day + 10GBP for GPS and other non-sense taxes. I fought with them for half hour to convince them to give me the car I booked for the price I paid already. I was tired of the whole situation and forgot to note small scuff marks on the rear bumper and tire rims. When I returned the car, they showed those scuff marks and asked me to sign the paper. I remembered I never parked in a crowded place and was mostly driving outside of London crowded city. They try to catch you with some claim or the other as every rental car does. I request you to be aware of all these scam artists overseas.
Beware of the rental car companies overseas if you are a traveller like me. I am describing about a recent experience I had in London, UK. I booked a car from EuropCar UK website and paid almost week in advance for the type of car I needed as I was travelling with my family and had 2 large suitcases. When I went to receive the car, they told me their system shows I had reserved an Economy (Pinto to be exact). They were trying to squeeze my blood in paying 30GBP extra a day + 10GBP for GPS and other non-sense taxes. I fought with them for half hour to convince them to give me the car I booked for the price I paid already. I was tired of the whole situation and forgot to note small scuff marks on the rear bumper and tire rims. When I returned the car, they showed those scuff marks and asked me to sign the paper. I remembered I never parked in a crowded place and was mostly driving outside of London crowded city. They try to catch you with some claim or the other as every rental car does. I request you to be aware of all these scam artists overseas.
Comments
Europcar worst Car Rental Company.
I booked a car for 110£ for 5 days. At the airport these guys charged me anothe 150£ for a COMPULSORY insurance.
Even then they were LYING to me about the price per day, saying its 25/day.
Only when I paid I realized that it was actually 29/day, as the seller informed me the prices he told me didn't include VAT.
THIS IS A THIEVERY PRACTICE ON CORPORATIONAL POLICY LEVEL.
I AM DISGUSTED BY THIS COMPANY.
What are you going to do? This is robbery.
Thank you
I booked and paid in full for 3 weeks rental through an online website. When I returned the car I was informed that there was a balance of £120 which had been taken off my card, I immediately complained as I had paid in full, I was informed that the extra money was for ‘Tyre & Windscreen cover’, I did not ask for this and was never informed that this had been added to my account. The lady at the returns desk pointed out that I had initialed next to that part on the rental agreement. However when I checked out the car the lady walked me round it to check for damage then handed me the clipboard and said “sign here and initial here”. I had just travelled for 33 hours and did not bother looking at what I was initialing. Surely they cannot just con weary travelers into paying for things they did not ask for. I did not take out the excess insurance cover so why would I agree to pay £120 for tyre and windscreen cover, you could easily buy at least 2 brand new tyres for that. The staff are on commission for this.
I complained in writing to the Managing Director of Europcar UK and Eventually got told Tough you signed for it.
The favourite trick is assigning damage done by a customer who bought comprehensive damage cover to the next customer who doesn't take out the expensive additional cover.
Also Europcar receive a credit note from the people who repair their cars of approximately 25% this in my mind is fraud, although I haven't found specific legislation that forbids it, perhaps someone else can?
I returned the car in the evening, and greeted by a VERY RUDE Eastern European guy who could just about speak English. He walked around the car, and noticed some small scratches (hardly visible to the naked eye), and said that this was caused by me, and so i will have to pay 193GBP (approx $295 US Dollars) for it.
I laughed and said that it must be a joke, as its very small, and in the sunlight, there is no way i would find scratches like that, as whenever i've rented cars previously, it's been dents, dings, large scratches etc that i've been looking for.
His response was "Yes, you would not see it, but I do this everyday, so it's my job, so i do see it."
So i have made a complaint to Customer Care, but from what i have read on the internet, their Customer Care, doesnt really "CARE", and im sure i wont be getting my money back.
This is going to be very time consuming for me to get my hands dirty fighting them, but it's a matter of principle, and i WILL be ensuring that this is rectified....even if that means getting my legal team involved.
SCAMMERS ARE EUROCAR & ALAMO.....BE AWARE!