[Dave]

Hi all, just wanted to rant about Europcar.

We went on holiday to Spain in September and hired a people carrier from Europcar at Alicante airport. Great price and the car was excellent.

However, I have today had my credit card statement and have been billed 300 Euros for a damage surcharge.

Naturally I was straight on the phone as the car suffered absolutely no damage at all while we had it. When I returned it I asked if the car was going to be checked only to be told no you just leave the keys. No examination took place and certainly no authorisation to take nearly 300 quid off my card.

Customer services have informed that they don't know what the alleged damage is so I have put in a claim and they are going to investigate. Bloody licence to print money if you ask me, good job i noticed it coming off my card.

[Drd]

That's disgraceful. It's something that always leaves me nervous when dropping off a hire-car, thankfully I've never been stung.

This website attracted me recently, though how they ensure they are themselves not being ripped off I don't know, but does it matter as long as we are covered in future?

[Dave_nt]

Contact your credit card company. Tell them the payment was not authorised.

[DPinBucks]

Originally Posted by Dave_nt

Contact your credit card company. Tell them the payment was not authorised.

'Fraid it was. Car rental small print always carries a clause allowing them to do that, and it has been upheld as legal. It's a well-known scam, and I think it's under review by the EU.

He might have a claim against Europcar and the card company for taking the money when there was no damage, and it's well worth pursuing.

In this day and age of digital photography, I always take pictures of the car at the very beginning and end of the hire period.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by DPinBucks

In this day and age of digital photography, I always take pictures of the car at the very beginning and end of the hire period.

Yup, same here.
Especially when we hire abroad.

[sean5302]

Originally Posted by Dave_nt

Contact your credit card company. Tell them the payment was not authorised.

Hotels, car hirers and a small number of other businesses are allowed to do this. You don't have to authorise the transaction.

[Epicurus]

Originally Posted by Dave

Hi all, just wanted to rant about Europcar.

We went on holiday to Spain in September and hired a people carrier from Europcar at Alicante airport. Great price and the car was excellent.

However, I have today had my credit card statement and have been billed 300 Euros for a damage surcharge.

Naturally I was straight on the phone as the car suffered absolutely no damage at all while we had it. When I returned it I asked if the car was going to be checked only to be told no you just leave the keys. No examination took place and certainly no authorisation to take nearly 300 quid off my card.

Customer services have informed that they don't know what the alleged damage is so I have put in a claim and they are going to investigate. Bloody licence to print money if you ask me, good job i noticed it coming off my card.

Won't help you now but I always take photos of a hire car if there is noone to meet me at the drop off, I'm not very trusting!

[Dave]

Just to update this thread, I've actually received an invoice from Europcar today for the first time even though it is apparently a "replacement invoice".

It would appear that I have been refunded the £290 charged for imaginary damage. I have also been refunded the 69 quid for a full tank of fuel (which wasn't even full) and have now been charged the lower price of £58 (which is still a rip off).

In my opinion it's disgusting that these car hire companies can get away with this. Over £300 taken from my account and if I hadn't checked I'd never have known.

They haven't even had the decency to write or email explaining why they felt the need to take that sort of money from my account in the first place.