Rental Car Shonks On Today Tonight

[Deleted member 29185]

Tonight on TT (Channel 7), a story is being run on rental car rip-offs. Europcar features prominently in the advertising of the story.

 

[ozmille]

I might have been lucky so far but have never had issues with Europcar...

 

[Travel Guru]

I haven't had any issues with Europcar, had someone scratch my Europcar Audi A4 in a carpark in Adelaide a few weeks ago but the repair costs were far less than expected and they've been quick to refund the excess difference and follow up with the other driver to obtain payment for the damage costs.

I would have thought compared to the likes of Red Spot who have previously featured in the media that Europcar customers wouldn't have much to complain about.

I did see the back end of an ACA story the other night on a lady who's Hertz vehicle suffered hail damage over Christmas and who was bemoaning the fact Hertz wanted to charge her the full $3500 excess...can't say I have much sympathy for someone in that position, its always the same types of people who won't pay to reduce their liability but think the worlds against them when the car hire company rightfully imposes an excess on a damaged vehicle.

TG

 

[markis10]

Most of the majors seem to be the same to be frank, although Hertz's insurance company were very slow, taking three months to refund my excess when a Taxi gave my G6 an enema!

 

[AdMEL]

Tonight on TT (Channel 7), a story is being run on rental car rip-offs. Europcar features prominently in the advertising of the story.

I did see that and was curious ... but their stories always end up being nothing I don't already know and/or over sensationalised.

Having said that, Europcar have featured prominently in a lot of issues lately, including the Tassie franchisee being taken to court for dodgy damage practices (I posted another thread about this).

I might have been lucky so far but have never had issues with Europcar...

Me too! Hope it continues with my Audi A6 rental next month from OOL. I find their customer service appalling though - long wait times to get through to reservations, don't respond to e-mails or complaints, some very poorly trained staff at some locations.

I haven't had any issues with Europcar, had someone scratch my Europcar Audi A4 in a carpark in Adelaide a few weeks ago but the repair costs were far less than expected and they've been quick to refund the excess difference and follow up with the other driver to obtain payment for the damage costs.

I would have thought compared to the likes of Red Spot who have previously featured in the media that Europcar customers wouldn't have much to complain about.

I did see the back end of an ACA story the other night on a lady who's Hertz vehicle suffered hail damage over Christmas and who was bemoaning the fact Hertz wanted to charge her the full $3500 excess...can't say I have much sympathy for someone in that position, its always the same types of people who won't pay to reduce their liability but think the worlds against them when the car hire company rightfully imposes an excess on a damaged vehicle.

TG

I had a Hertz car on Christmas day and was driving back to Melbourne on the Calder Freeway when I drove through the storm - luckily the storm only included light hail, but so much rain you couldn't see! When I returned the car to Melbourne Downtown on boxing day, I asked two things:


1. What was the official procedure for hail damage - was advised full excess gets charged (which I had assumed);

2. Had any cars come back with hail damage - was advised not yet, but a staff member's car parked out the front had decent hail damage.

Most of the majors seem to be the same to be frank, although Hertz's insurance company were very slow, taking three months to refund my excess when a Taxi gave my G6 an enema!

If I am reading this correctly, your G6 was rear ended and Hertz charged you the excess, but given it wasn't your fault, they refunded it later - is that correct? What excess was charged? Did they refund the whole amount? I've always wondered what happens if the damage is not your fault.

I think it would be a good idea to have a sticky thread with member experiences dealing with damaged rental cars.

 

[markis10]

If I am reading this correctly, your G6 was rear ended and Hertz charged you the excess, but given it wasn't your fault, they refunded it later - is that correct? What excess was charged? Did they refund the whole amount? I've always wondered what happens if the damage is not your fault.

I think it would be a good idea to have a sticky thread with member experiences dealing with damaged rental cars.

It was $3000 and completely refunded after 3 months! Ironically I got FF points for it!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Ironically I got FF points for it!

Interest

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't have thought there would be issues with any of the major car companies.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I've predominantly used Hertz and Europcar, and never had any major issues *touch wood*.

 

[straitman]

Some years ago I actually posted on AFF about Europcar Perth who tried it on. Car was checked as OK but next day I got a phone call mentioning about $500 damages they were going to take out of my CC. I mentioned that it had been checked and that I was going to pass their notification onto our corporate affairs department. Suddenly the car magically fixed itself :!:

 

[Major]

Most of the majors seem to be the same to be frank, although Hertz's insurance company were very slow, taking three months to refund my excess when a Taxi gave my G6 an enema!

Oi !! Who are you calling frank ?

 

[Simo]

I have used Budget mainly.

I get the best rate from them.

I had to pay for a windscreen last year. The screen had a minor crack that I didn't notice. It didn't become evident until it was parked outside in the sun and it then split the screen in half.

I got lucky on that trip as I hit an animal and the plastic bar bent in and then it poped back out no probs for me.

Last year i drove app 50 000 in rental cars and I was pretty happy with that for a damage bill.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Well, that story last night has me deciding to photograph each car I hire from now on. I've not had any issues with this kind of allegation, but I've had enough incidents with Europcar (incidents that most normal people would consider minor irritations more than anything), to believe anything is possible with them. Better to be safe than sorry I guess.

 

[serfty]

I wonder if they'll start stripping the EXIF or other identification from images they email next time.

 

[markis10]

My biggest issue lately has been cars that have really bad fuel economy from locations that don't check the fuel and just look at the gauge. I always photograph a car on pickup.

 

[koonyaflyer]

My biggest issue lately has been cars that have really bad fuel economy from locations that don't check the fuel and just look at the gauge. I always photograph a car on pickup.

Totally agree Markis. I have also been taking a photo of the gauges and odometer following several instances where the fuel gauge was not showing totally full on pickup. Hertz tried to blame the fuel gauge initially, until I was able to produce the photograph which showed the difference in needle position at pick up and when returned full, after which they processed a credit to my card.

I notice that hey have been asking for fuel receipts more in recent times when returning cars with low distances travelled over the hire period.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I notice that hey have been asking for fuel receipts more in recent times when returning cars with low distances travelled over the hire period.

How do they justify that? I don't see what benefit a $0.50 fuel receipt would prove to them if the car's been driven only 5kms..

 

[markis10]

How do they justify that? I don't see what benefit a $0.50 fuel receipt would prove to them if the car's been driven only 5kms..

Under 100Km generally they are asking, it would be rare to return a car with 5km on it! At 80km thats $10 worth of fuel that might end up with the next renter.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

One of my choices of rental mobs is Avis. I note not too many issues are raised about them (hence my choice) but coincidentally, they are the only ones that I've really noticed the fuel issue. At one pick-up at PPP, the needle didn't even make the "full" indicator. I rang Avis immediately and they (upon checking apparantly) argeed the fuel would be low as they had to relocate the vehicle from MKY :shock:.....at my expense??? They credited a token fuel amount. Another potentially problematic rental with Avis happened in Perth in 2010. Picked up the car, drove to a friends house and he (not me ) noticed a large dint in the guard.....complete with rust, so it had been there for a while. It wasn't noted on the condition report so I begrudgingly assumed I'd be wearing that repair (I've often got a busy schedule and forego the check of the car, assuming the rental crowds are honest and perceptive......seems often that neither are true). Dropped it back a week later and never heard anything more of it.

 

[markis10]

One of my choices of rental mobs is Avis. I note not too many issues are raised about them (hence my choice) but coincidentally, they are the only ones that I've really noticed the fuel issue. At one pick-up at PPP, the needle didn't even make the "full" indicator. I rang Avis immediately and they (upon checking apparantly) argeed the fuel would be low as they had to relocate the vehicle from MKY :shock:.....at my expense??? They credited a token fuel amount. Another potentially problematic rental with Avis happened in Perth in 2010. Picked up the car, drove to a friends house and he (not me ) noticed a large dint in the guard.....complete with rust, so it had been there for a while. It wasn't noted on the condition report so I begrudgingly assumed I'd be wearing that repair (I've often got a busy schedule and forego the check of the car, assuming the rental crowds are honest and perceptive......seems often that neither are true). Dropped it back a week later and never heard anything more of it.

I think it all comes down to the branch, in TSV they are all bad as they are all off site, this is Avis's version of a full tank: