Europcar Privilege Elite Membership for Velocity Plats... not quite

[bullerdude]

So like many Velocity Platinums I signed up for the Complimentary Europcar Privilege Elite membership because of its fancy benefits, such as the 20-30% off rates and free car upgrades.

Used it a couple of times in Aus and it worked fairly well, except that it sometimes didn't apply this discounts correctly.

Tried to book a car in the US today for later this year and unfortunately found out that the elite membership meant pretty much nothing :!:

On the phone to the overseas call-centre booking rep I found out two things:

1. LAX and many other major locations do not provide the 20% discount due to the membership being 'linked to Velocity Platinum' (I know is also doesn't work at SLC)
2. There are no car upgrades for the same reason.

And to clarify - I was specifically told that it wasn't accepted because it was a Velocity Platinum membership.

So basically, the Privilege Elite membership provided for VA Plats is not the real deal and probably doesn't mean much outside of Australia - which is not made clear on either the VA or Europcar websites.

Not good enough Virgin. :evil:

 

[AdMEL]

There have been a few other threads/posts about Europcar Privilege experience in the US - none positive!

Effectively, Europcar don't operate in the US - they partner with National, but none of the usual Privilege benefits apply, since National don't have access to Europcar details! Given this, it doesn't surprise me that the discount doesn't apply either! Just checked the Europcar website and whilst the standard prices seemed pretty cheap (one week in early Jan - $213 for a full size car or $482 for a Mustang convertible at LAX), it comes up with an error when entering the Privilege discount codes.

I find Privilege pretty cough all round - whilst the discount applies at most, if not all, locations in Australia, the ability to not complete paperwork only applies at major airports and major capital city CBD locations - about 10-20 locations in Australia in total! Maybe the others are like this too, but I haven't encountered it.

Overall,, I find Europcar service significantly worse than Hertz, Avis and Budget.

 

[bullerdude]

Thanks for that info - I was unaware that there was no 'real' Europcar in the US.

Off to the Hertz website I go - I have used them previously in the US and found them pretty decent.

 

[TonyHancock]

...and if you are really lucky National will manage to associate your credit card with another renter and you will see your account charged multiple times for rentals you have nothing to do with. As you booked with Europcar you will find yourself dealing with multiple customer service reps to try and resolve the issue.

Then there is what I call the "Perth Scam". You will find your credit card charged for damage to a rental car that you have not caused. This will drag on for months, but if you are really lucky Europcar will at least be cough enough not to have the evidence to fight the credit card charge back you will have initiated. If you are not lucky you will be paying for damage you didn't do.

All up Europcar has been a nightmare for me. I won't be renting from them again.

 

[AdMEL]

Thanks for that info - I was unaware that there was no 'real' Europcar in the US.

Off to the Hertz website I go - I have used them previously in the US and found them pretty decent.

No worries. FWIW, I've rented from both Hertz and Avis in the US. My experiences were as follows:

Hertz at SFO twice. First time, had a Camaro booked. Their website wasn't quoting the right rate (quoting rates without LDW and LIS) - after many phone calls, they eventually fixed it! Requested a V8 but was allocated a V6. Had to go to the counter to add mate as a driver - walked past a couple of V8's out the front of the office. Asked about them, but was quoted a significantly higher rate, so passed. Thought about it later and realised they had made a mistake. Overall, not bad. Second time (3 weeks later), again requested a V8 and this time one was allocated, so very good service.

Avis at LAX - they were very good. Booked a Mustang, but wanted a Camaro, which couldn't be booked online. Went to counter to add mate and ask about a Camaro - upgraded to V8 Camaro for a reasonable rate, so pretty good service.

Avis at JFK - staff member I dealt with was one of the worst car rental staff members I've dealt with! Had a full size booked on a corporate rate. Spotted two Cadillac CTS, which I had been wanting to drive. Asked about them - was told $100 extra per day! Ridiculous! Total rate was ~$650 for a week, so over double! When I asked what category, was told premium (one up from full size), which I knew I could get on my corporate rate for an extra $50 for the whole week! Told the staff member and he said I should book it online then, so I did on my mobile (at huge data roaming cost) at the counter, for him to then tell me they weren't available! Very annoyed! Was allocated a Malibu, which I cvouldn't comfortably drive, so asked for a swap to a VW Jetta, for which I was charged the full size rate, even though I later discovered it was a class or two lower! Appalling experience!

 

[AdMEL]

...and if you are really lucky National will manage to associate your credit card with another renter and you will see your account charged multiple times for rentals you have nothing to do with. As you booked with Europcar you will find yourself dealing with multiple customer service reps to try and resolve the issue.

Then there is what I call the "Perth Scam". You will find your credit card charged for damage to a rental car that you have not caused. This will drag on for months, but if you are really lucky Europcar will at least be cough enough not to have the evidence to fight the credit card charge back you will have initiated. If you are not lucky you will be paying for damage you didn't do.

All up Europcar has been a nightmare for me. I won't be renting from them again.

From what I've read/heard, it's not just the Perth scam! For a long time, it was also the Tassie scam (though the Tassie franchisee has been taken to court and lost!) and the Europcar everywhere else scam! Luckily, I haven't had any issues with the damage scam, despite renting at many locations (OOL, MEL, Melbourne City, Melbourne suburban).

 

[bass_ke]

I've not had any trouble with damage yet but am no longer going to try my luck with Europcar

 

[Ausbt]

Rented with Dollar in NYC recently, after noting Eurocar couldnt help. Was glad I took the full insurance option - my SWMBO was driving (as is her want, and in typically aggressive-style) through W 14th Street and decided to push through a pedestrian intersection still displaying a walk signal. An angry NY-er woman came storming towards us with a loud 'Hey!' and then banged on the top of our rental. Sure enough, back at the return desk:
"Sir, the top of the vehicle appears to have a dent, did you park underneath any trees during your trip up-state?"
"...aaaahh"

 

[WLG]

FWIW, I have used Europcar twice in NZ (ZQN both times). In both cases, the proper discounts were applied and upgrades received (I'm no expert in the vehicle classes etc, but the last time I was upgraded from a Corolla to a RAV4).

 

[markis10]

I've not had any trouble with damage yet but am no longer going to try my luck with Europcar

It can happen with any car hire company, I have had not only Europcar do it but Hertz, put simply no matter who you rent with, walk around the car with the iPad or phone and take shots before leaving and after dropping back. I find on average 1 in 2 rentals on pickup have damage not noted, worse at airports than downtown. I have had roof damage as in someone fell on it and underneath dents the size of tennis balls, both areas where any damage is not fair wear and tear no matter how small.

 

[AdMEL]

It can happen with any car hire company, I have had not only Europcar do it but Hertz, put simply no matter who you rent with, walk around the car with the iPad or phone and take shots before leaving and after dropping back. I find on average 1 in 2 rentals on pickup have damage not noted, worse at airports than downtown. I have had roof damage as in someone fell on it and underneath dents the size of tennis balls, both areas where any damage is not fair wear and tear no matter how small.

Agree that it can happen with any car hire company, but it does seem more prevalent with Europcar.

I rarely bother doing anything more than taking a casual glance whilst walking around (don't even do that a lot of the time) and have never bothered with photos or video. The way I figure it, as a member of their frequent renter program, they'll be a bit more lenient. Over 8 years of renting 10-15 cars a year, I've never had a problem. Over that time, Hertz and Avis have both gone through periods of making you check and being lax about it.

I've had an Avis Pajero that had roof damage - didn't realise at collection, so was a little concerned, but no problem.

With Europcar, I'm a little more diligent, especially when renting prestige cars - I will get them to note any damage. Last Commodore I had from them was so badly scraped, scuffed, dented, scratched, I didn't bother checking.

 

[grubbidok]

At least the OP can actually book a car through Europcar Elite. I stopped using Europcar as every time I entered my PE details all the availability that once existed would magically disappear. Haven't been able to find a car in at least a dozen trips/locations.

 

[AdMEL]

At least the OP can actually book a car through Europcar Elite. I stopped using Europcar as every time I entered my PE details all the availability that once existed would magically disappear. Haven't been able to find a car in at least a dozen trips/locations.

It sounds like the wrong Promo/contract code is loaded in your profile - a couple of codes I have access to don't display cars that aren't part of the contract as being available, even when they are.

 

[cssaus]

In light of the recent changes to the Europcar Privilege Elite program which has resulted in the removal of the previous 30% discount, I would not be recommending newly-minted VFF Platinum members to opt-in for the Europcar benefit. Check out the Hertz benefit instead.

Unfortunately the Platinum benefits of the VFF program in terms of the car rental & hotel membership offerings are a once-only opt-in benefit which can't be changed. The only way to get another bite at the cherry is to be downgraded to Gold and then re-qualify for Platinum.

 

[MattC]

In light of the recent changes to the Europcar Privilege Elite program which has resulted in the removal of the previous 30% discount, I would not be recommending newly-minted VFF Platinum members to opt-in for the Europcar benefit. Check out the Hertz benefit instead.

Unfortunately the Platinum benefits of the VFF program in terms of the car rental & hotel membership offerings are a once-only opt-in benefit which can't be changed. The only way to get another bite at the cherry is to be downgraded to Gold and then re-qualify for Platinum.

Not entirely true? It if you renew platinum for another year you can select another provider/partner offer I thought.

 

[cssaus]

Not entirely true? It if you renew platinum for another year you can select another provider/partner offer I thought.

Didn't happen for me!

 

[bullerdude]

Not entirely true? It if you renew platinum for another year you can select another provider/partner offer I thought.

No you definitely cannot. Three years into Platinum and I only got to choose one and it only lasted for a year.

 

[MattC]

No you definitely cannot. Three years into Platinum and I only got to choose one and it only lasted for a year.

Ok well, like you I am in my 3rd plat year and second elite with Europcar....so that doesn't make sense but assuming you are correct. After 12 months what value is there for plat members aside from Lounge access and extra points earn if these benefits/discounts don't continue/renew?

 

[AdMEL]

In light of the recent changes to the Europcar Privilege Elite program which has resulted in the removal of the previous 30% discount, I would not be recommending newly-minted VFF Platinum members to opt-in for the Europcar benefit. Check out the Hertz benefit instead.

Unfortunately the Platinum benefits of the VFF program in terms of the car rental & hotel membership offerings are a once-only opt-in benefit which can't be changed. The only way to get another bite at the cherry is to be downgraded to Gold and then re-qualify for Platinum.

Don't think Hertz President's Circle offers any better benefits than Europcar Privilege, other than a guaranteed car at certain locations. As far as I am aware, Hertz PC doesn't offer a discount, though you can combine it with other discounts, such Amex Plat Charge/Centurion.

 

[bullerdude]

Ok well, like you I am in my 3rd plat year and second elite with Europcar....so that doesn't make sense but assuming you are correct. After 12 months what value is there for plat members aside from Lounge access and extra points earn if these benefits/discounts don't continue/renew?

Upgrades and plat call centre and the main other ones, but yeah, not having ongoing hotel/car benefits certainly reduces the value to Plat membership.