Car rental scams in Europe

[boomy]

It is relatively well known that car rental companies in Europe and particularly in Germany for some reason tend to issue bogus bills after the car has been returned (and checked). Over the years I got charged for petrol for allegedly not filling up the tank, late return fees, damage to the car and whatnot. Most of the above were relatively easy to dispute by making sure to take photos and video at the time of rental and again on return.

Recently I was charged €30 processing fee for a “fine” I’ve allegedly got in Germany. There was no fine, just another scam. This time the car rental company (Hertz) didn’t agree to refund. They emailed me a generic invoice stating fine processing fee yet couldn’t provide a copy of the alleged fine. They said it was issued by the German police and I should contact them for a copy. Like I didn’t waste enough time on this… I told Herz they have a week to refund or else I will do chargeback on my credit card which I eventually did and got the money back.

These scams don’t happen only in Germany, I had similar bad experiences in Italy and Spain so if you’re renting a car in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter) and weeks later get an unexpected charge on your credit card, dispute it.

 

[dxwell]

I'm wondering if we just need to accept this is going to happen. Think of it like a tip?
My last 3+weeks rental via AutoEurope in Italy went without a snag. Very happy.

 

[boomy]

I'm wondering if we just need to accept this is going to happen. Think of it like a tip?
My last 3+weeks rental via AutoEurope in Italy went without a snag. Very happy.

This is going on for quite a while unfortunately. I remember hiring Porsche in FRA few years ago as part of the LH F offer and when I returned it to FCT the LH agent suggested I take photos and video of the car because Avis has a habit to charge customers for made up scratches. This is just one example how well know these car hire scams are in Germany yet no one seems to do anything to stop them

 

[Cossie]

I thought my speeding ticket in Germany may have been a scam. Avis charged me €30 to give my details to the police, they included where the offence was meant to have occurred, I’m still waiting for the police to get in touch with me.
I would be happy to pay, if indeed it is correct.

 

[OATEK]

I stopped using Hertz owing to similar charges labelled "processing fee". I have been using Sixt only over the last 2 years (UK, France) and have not had any similar issues.

 

[lovestotravel]

I just take the FULL insurance option and have no care about how the car is returned

Much easier to spend a few hundred $$ than worry about photos, credit card charges and endless emails and/or credit card charge backs

 

[boomy]

I just take the FULL insurance option and have no care about how the car is returned

Much easier to spend a few hundred $$ than worry about photos, credit card charges and endless emails and/or credit card charge backs

How full insurance covers against fake fine processing fees or bogus petrol charges or allegedly returning the car late? Full insurance is good for some things but there are enough ways around it to scam you.

 

[CaptJCool]

I thought my speeding ticket in Germany may have been a scam. Avis charged me €30 to give my details to the police, they included where the offence was meant to have occurred, I’m still waiting for the police to get in touch with me.
I would be happy to pay, if indeed it is correct.

Well Avis gave my details to the Swiss canton where I copped a Speeding tic around 15 June
No fee charged and neither there ought be

Letter was waiting for me to pay
Due date 13 October

 

[lovestotravel]

How full insurance covers against fake fine processing fees or bogus petrol charges or allegedly returning the car late? Full insurance is good for some things but there are enough ways around it to scam you.

Yeah agree, but it's one less hassle

Credit card chargeback is the easy solution for any companies these days

Menulog is a good one I have done twice this year

 

[docjames]

Multiple German car hires over the last decade without any of this occurring (so far). Split mostly between Avis and Hertz.

Are you collecting/dropping at airport locations, or other?

Had an issue 2009 returning at Munich train station - they tried to charge me for paint damage to mirror - they stopped when i showed them the damage report showing it already marked. Nil issues with any airport locations.

Nil issues recently in France (Avis/central Paris collection and Toulouse return). That may have been due to the fact it didn’t have a clean panel left (!).

 

[lovestotravel]

Hertz Italy, massive bolt somehow made it to the tyre, low pressure warning while on a freeway, so into a truck stop and tyre changed (luckily this Land Rover had a spare as we checked when picking up the car, some have run flat kits and some have spare tyres)

Anyways into the nearest Hertz location and was told 300EU.... and made to sign a damage form.. Another car assigned, same type, had quite a bit of interior and exterior damage and a few missing bits of plastic, so refused it.

Changed to another one, only had a run-flat kit, and due to the distances we were driving, we refused it.

Manager then came out with us and we eventually found another Land Rover that had a normal spare tyre and we changed into that.

Never paid the 300EU for the damaged tyre

 

[marki]

I get the same tic from Germany Berlin via Avis processing fees. Parking tickets, I think. Some obscure areas where there are no signs. Anyway, 30 Euro but the police letter came later, saying if you pay now ( two weeks) there will be no further issues. However, the fine got to me via mail months later. So bye-bye to that. The fine went into the bin.