Bogus charges for damages
Complaint
mick unsworth
Country: United Kingdom
Locauto Rome airport, dropped the car back off, slightly dirty. Locauto excepted it.
2weeks later over 300 Euros extra charge on top of rental. Apparently a slight scratch on the under side of the bumper, Where if you were to check you would have to get on your knees or even lie down to see it.
How many people will pay for this same scratch I wonder?
This was the 2nd time I have used them, the first time, the cars windscreen washer pipe was split and didn't work, when i complained they shrugged they shoulder, I said "in the UK we get fined for that" and they said " yes here too" I waited for them to get me another car ( over 1 hour later) they finally did.
You have been warned DON'T USE THEM
2weeks later over 300 Euros extra charge on top of rental. Apparently a slight scratch on the under side of the bumper, Where if you were to check you would have to get on your knees or even lie down to see it.
How many people will pay for this same scratch I wonder?
This was the 2nd time I have used them, the first time, the cars windscreen washer pipe was split and didn't work, when i complained they shrugged they shoulder, I said "in the UK we get fined for that" and they said " yes here too" I waited for them to get me another car ( over 1 hour later) they finally did.
You have been warned DON'T USE THEM
Comments
http://sites.google.com/site/dontrentlocauto/home
I anticipate that, due to job reasons, I regularly hire cars and I know perfectly the contract terms under which the veichles have to be taken in charge and given back.
I hired my car, a FIAT PANDA, at the Locauto desk in , in Bergamo, Orio Al Serio Airport(Italy). After three days, I gave the car back, without damages and fully tanked.
When I arrived, nobody of the Locauto staff was waiting for me. I highlight that for car rental companies it is the normal procedure to check the damages and the fuel levels together with the customer. After this check the customer signs a for for acceptance.
Since nobody was there, no evidence of the inspection was submitted to my signature. Since I travel frequently I knew that this evidence is important and I asked for it at the desk in airport. Here they explained me that the immediate check was not possible due to the lack of staff, but that "I had no reason to be worried".
Some days after, my credit card was debited with teh amount of EUR 48,8, partly justified with 5 liters of missing fuel and partly with a tanking fee of EUR 25+.
I protested with the customer service, specifying that I insisted with the staff at the desk to obtain the evidence of inspection, but without success. With such evidence, it would have been clear that the car was fully tanked.
However, Locauto refuesed to credit back the amount unlegitimately debited.
Since I was unsuccessful in my complaints, I also involved the agency which booked the car with locauto on my behalf.
However, not even the agency could obtain the money back. The agency itself must have been disappointed of the behaviour of Locauto, since they gave me a "present voucher" as partial compensation.
I think that the very dissatisfactory commercial approach of Locauto (I repeat: nobody was there to inspect the vehichle together with me when I gave it back), exposes the customers to the unjustfied risk of being debited undue "tanking fees" or even not existing damages.
Since many more car rental companies exist, I would suggest to avoid Locauto at all costs.
Michele
I have also fought back though my bank, but I'm not sure whether I'll be able to succeed..
Please tell me what you did (they are charging me 400 Eur for a scratch, when the car was left in perfect contition!)
Here is my email jordicasafont@yahoo.com
Thanks a lot,
Jordi.
They charged 219 euro for scratches on the bumper as well (same story as the above)The money was charged by an other Locauto office. After 15 emails they sent me a digital copy of the drop off form and I found out they added the damages AFTER I signed the drop off form / check out. Still fighting with them.
Very bad customer service.
Told to find car by surly staff. Given wrong key so wasted time in the dark.
Car very dirty.
2 days later got call from the rental company to ask what is the registration number of the car we hired !
unprofessional outfit - best avoided folks
We rented a car through their company from Rome airport. We were overcharged 45 euro. They tell me the petrol tank was not filled sufficiently! When we got the car it was not filled to the top, on return I filled it to the same level.They say they are charging me for 17 litres and that there is a charge to get the car to the petrol station to fill it!!! The car was not cleaned after the previous rental. We had no water for cleaning the windscreen. We had a number of issues with this company but my only point is DONT rent from them!
Two weeks after i returned to my country,i discovered that i was charged by credit card in 1259.64 euros, not including the 463 euro that i already have paid for the car rental.
These [***] (the Company) announced confirmation they received the vehicle properly,with full tank, and completely mechanical normal . But surprisingly by washing the car, they discovered a problem and they see me responsible for it and i have to be charged for it.
Needless to say it was a complete lie of a bunch of criminals, and i'm sure that country that provides backup to criminals, should not be visited by any tourists ever!!!!!!
Benny , eilat, Israel
Two weeks later they took Eu14 from my account last week they tried to take another £30 odd pounds.
Fortunately RBS considered this to be fraud and blocked the transfer.
Wish I had seen the above reviews prior to booking!
i bring back the car with full tank and with out saying anything after he check the car the crook said that there
is 1 scratch on the back bumper and wait for it , 1 scratch under the front bumper you can see in these comments here they tried this all the time! conclusion after many email they charge me £ 215.62, this people
will not do me again i can assure you even if i have to walk i will never rent from them !!
I have not done this, refueled and ran the car 50 kms before returning so it is clearly impossible that is is anything but a scam.
Crooks!
Their customer service is appalling and when trying to make a complaint all staff suddenly cannot speak English?!