Spanish Car Hire Scam?

[Rory]

There's only £23 difference and you neglect to mention that the budget quote is also fully fueled and insured. I really wouldn't be quibbling over £23 for peace of mind.

Sorry, what peace of mind?

Budget are nearly 50% dearer and they will charge for a tank of fuel at double the price it actually costs.

 

[camerafodder]

That looks like a US page - does it apply in Europe?

I did a test booking Malaga - Did you notice the bit where it says re fuel "This option may not be available at all locations outside the U.S. Please check your Rental Agreement at the rental counter before check-out." The snag there is that you don't see the rental agreement in advance and you've got to wade through it possibly while hot/tired/hassled.


I've experienced these things personally, and there have been consumer TV programmes about it. Typically what happens is the person you're dealing with absolutely insists you pre-pay for fuel or you're not getting the car.

The only company that I feel confident about renting from is Hertz, and they're not without issues, but Hertz have always sorted them out. Trouble is their pricing can be bonkers unless you catch a sale price.

The UK T&C's are the same however I tried a test booking and for a non-corporate booking (ie holidaymaker) the Full tank on return is only available for bookings of 3 days or less. Over 3 days and the policy for Spain is to pay and return empty. Please accept my apologies I was wrong about this. It looks as if my terms are only available on corporate account. I should have checkd this first.

With regards to me checking T&C's I always do it as a precaution.

Sorry, what peace of mind?

Budget are nearly 50% dearer and they will charge for a tank of fuel at double the price it actually costs.

Not correct, you need to compare like for like cars for a comparison. A Fiat panda from economy car is actually dearer than Budget for Malaga AND just like Budget if you hire for more than 3 days its pay in advance and return empty. https://www.economycarhire.com/booking/step1.php?id=2r4kdtrt6o4sfsjulre4vdhc94

Spinal I hope you see this before you book! Budget will not do the full tank return jobby if you are booking for more than 3 days from Malaga.

 

[HotJambalaya]

Hertz (and every other car hire co) in jersey do this scam.

Try using up a tank of fuel in an island 9 miles by 5 miles....

As for dents and dings, I have a credit card that covers hire car insurance so always decline it. I refused the £15 a day insurance for a 10 day rental, dinged the car, and they charged me £100, then stupidly said to me "bet you wish you took the insurance..." ummm no...

 

[Spinal]

Found a company (kindly recommended by the landlord of the villa we are renting) that has a "fair fuel policy".

They take a deposit for the tank of fuel (probably at an elevated price, but that's not the point) - then when you return the car, they refund you for every quarter tank that's left. So if you return it with a full tank, you get your original deposit back, which works for me.

Don't remember the name, but if anyone needs it I can grab it off my email

M.

 

[Darrell]

Never heard of this scam before but all the car hire firms in Skiathos state (by mouth and not in the contract) that you return the car with the amount it came with.

E.G, if you pick it up with half a tank you return it with half a tank.

All the big names are there but I suspect they are all franchises.

 

[Spinal]

I went to Glasgow last week, and stumbled across one that really ticked me off...

Rented from Budget (car provided by Avis for some odd reason), and the car had 3/4 of a tank of fuel. Duly, I went back to the hut and informed the chap. He said that the fuel gauge was faulty, and I had to keep the receipt when filling up the car to prove it had a full tank on return.

Not entirely happy, I asked him to write this down on my paperwork, which he duly did. I then headed to the nearest petrol station (1mile or so) and tried putting fuel in, which it happily took almost £10 worth (which in a fiesta sounds like a quarter of a tank) and the gauge went to full.

Headed back to the airport and queried this, to be told that as I drove out (less than 30 minutes before) they couldn't accept any queries.

Chalked it down to experience, but in future, I'm rejecting to drive any car with a "faulty fuel gauge"!

M.

 

[Dryce]

Rented from Budget (car provided by Avis for some odd reason)

There are various regional alliances. Eg.

Enterprise/Europcar/National

Avis/Budget

In some remote locations it's like a franchise operation - you're dealing with a local small rental company that just operates under the brand name.

I've previously had cars from 'Budget' at one very small regional airport that was booked separately from the large company and felt a bit like the Fawlty Towers experience - nice enough people to deal with but a bit of an experience in terms of organisation.