Car Rental Rip-Offs
Discussion
Anyone been totally done-over by a rental company?
I rent loads of cars, both work and pleasure and have never been so badly blindsided as a certain orange/white company did recently.
Shopping around on-line, I find the cheapest rental for the period I want. I am not loyal to one brand as the prices fluctuate so much; one day one will be 50 pounds cheaper, the next time I rent another company will be similarly so.
This time I go with the orange company. Very 'easy' supposedly. 100 pounds for a weeks rental of a tiny car at Heathrow. Paid in full, up front.
The car is actually supplied by the green European company, so off I trot when I land.
When I eventually get to pick up the car it seems there is no insurance included, 'Collision Damage' is 10 pounds per day, as is theft cover. Both compulsory.
I check back through the Ts&Cs as I thought I had when taking the rental and see that it is not just the excess waiver that is not included, but the actual cover too.
Like. A . Kipper.
My fault for not reading thoroughly, or getting my lawyer to read through it for me. I made the mistake of assuming that, as with renting a car normally, what you pay is indeed the full and final amount. Well it was the full amount for the rental, just not any insurance. Credit cards only cover the excess and they do not allow you to self insure or to arrange your own cover. (It would have cost me half of the amount I was charged for a week to insure myself on that car for a year)
I would have walked away at that point and taken the train (I did not take the train initially as I thought the rental was cheaper!) but I would have lost the paid 100 pounds, been another 100 pounds out of pocket for a train ticket and be stuck without transport for the week.
Of course the orange company tell me 'we told you so', shame they didn't tell me in terminology I'd actually understand.
Anyone else as stupid/naive as me?
I rent loads of cars, both work and pleasure and have never been so badly blindsided as a certain orange/white company did recently.
Shopping around on-line, I find the cheapest rental for the period I want. I am not loyal to one brand as the prices fluctuate so much; one day one will be 50 pounds cheaper, the next time I rent another company will be similarly so.
This time I go with the orange company. Very 'easy' supposedly. 100 pounds for a weeks rental of a tiny car at Heathrow. Paid in full, up front.
The car is actually supplied by the green European company, so off I trot when I land.
When I eventually get to pick up the car it seems there is no insurance included, 'Collision Damage' is 10 pounds per day, as is theft cover. Both compulsory.
I check back through the Ts&Cs as I thought I had when taking the rental and see that it is not just the excess waiver that is not included, but the actual cover too.
Like. A . Kipper.
My fault for not reading thoroughly, or getting my lawyer to read through it for me. I made the mistake of assuming that, as with renting a car normally, what you pay is indeed the full and final amount. Well it was the full amount for the rental, just not any insurance. Credit cards only cover the excess and they do not allow you to self insure or to arrange your own cover. (It would have cost me half of the amount I was charged for a week to insure myself on that car for a year)
I would have walked away at that point and taken the train (I did not take the train initially as I thought the rental was cheaper!) but I would have lost the paid 100 pounds, been another 100 pounds out of pocket for a train ticket and be stuck without transport for the week.
Of course the orange company tell me 'we told you so', shame they didn't tell me in terminology I'd actually understand.
Anyone else as stupid/naive as me?
The Vambo said:
Sounds like one of those people who complain about £15 Ryanairn flights.
You don't get what you don't pay for.
You sound like one of those people who find it difficult to grasp simple concepts.You don't get what you don't pay for.
With advertised rates like Ryanair, you go through the booking process and add everything on, paying for your entire flight etc up front. Then turn up at the airport and fly.
This situation is like paying Ryanair 15 quid up front, then turning up at the airport and being told that you had to pay an additional fare to be allowed on the aircraft.
You can, of course, take out your own annual policy which covers you for rented vehicles so the hirer's offer is not a requirement. And, it seems, the hirer has to provide minimum liability insurance as part of the rental anyway, in Europe.
Examples :
https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/vehicle-hire-e...
https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/
http://www.confused.com/car-hire-excess-insurance
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance...
Examples :
https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/vehicle-hire-e...
https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/
http://www.confused.com/car-hire-excess-insurance
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance...
The Vambo said:
Sounds like one of those people who complain about £15 Ryanairn flights.
You don't get what you don't pay for.
There's a difference between paying a pittance and getting something cheap and sYou don't get what you don't pay for.
tty and being mislead about the price which it sounds like the OP is saying.If I "paid" for a weeks car hire in the UK I'd expect it to be inclusive- there are rules banning hidden extra charges. Other countries are different but you're not evan allowed to advertised non VAT inclusive prices to joe public.
Seems odd. I've just gone through the booking process and it's clear at every stage that CDW and theft cover is included. You can 'upgrade' protection at the counter, but it's not mandatory.
http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
bigandclever said:
Seems odd. I've just gone through the booking process and it's clear at every stage that CDW and theft cover is included. You can 'upgrade' protection at the counter, but it's not mandatory.
http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
ditto did the same. scammed by the counter monkeys?http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
You can't really compare the rental to a Ryanair seat.
I've had similar, with one of the big companies, where the van division sounds like a Dutch footballer H---z Van Rental
I was loyal to them, always a cheap deal, often a free upgrade car, and the price included insurance that you would expect.
Due to my loyalty, I was upgraded with Gold membership, then Platinum, offering slightly cheaper hire, regular free car upgrades etc.
Then I read the small print.
Insurance dropped to the most basic 3rd party cover, hidden away in the print, the excess was the value of the bloody car!
Haven't used them since!
I've had similar, with one of the big companies, where the van division sounds like a Dutch footballer H---z Van Rental
I was loyal to them, always a cheap deal, often a free upgrade car, and the price included insurance that you would expect.
Due to my loyalty, I was upgraded with Gold membership, then Platinum, offering slightly cheaper hire, regular free car upgrades etc.
Then I read the small print.
Insurance dropped to the most basic 3rd party cover, hidden away in the print, the excess was the value of the bloody car!
Haven't used them since!
oilydan said:
You sound like one of those people who find it difficult to grasp simple concepts.
bigandclever said:
Seems odd. I've just gone through the booking process and it's clear at every stage that CDW and theft cover is included. You can 'upgrade' protection at the counter, but it's not mandatory.
http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
Can't grasp simple concepts. http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
oilydan said:
This situation is like paying Ryanair 15 quid up front, then turning up at the airport and being told that you had to pay an additional fare to be allowed on the aircraft.
BTW that does actually happen with Ryanair. I went to Latvia last year with them, and on the way back all Ryanair passengers have to pay an £~8 "security fee", which other airlines include in the cost of the flight.That was a new one on me.
Mine was a different set of Ts&Cs, it seems.
Wording of mine was:
Package Pricing Includes
Third-Party Liability (TPL)
Local Taxes
Unlimited kilometres.
Then later in the document:
Not Included in the Rental Price
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) limits the driver’s liability in the event that the rental car is damaged, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.
Rather than the full cost, the driver is generally only responsible for the first portion, known as their ‘excess’.
This protection applies to all authorised drivers of the rental car.
Theft Protection (TP) limits the driver’s liability for costs incurred by the theft of the rental car – or damage incurred by the theft or attempted theft – to an ‘excess’ amount, subject to the terms of the rental agreement. TP does not cover personal effects, which may be covered by the driver’s own travel or household policies.
Being stupid/ignorant I took that to mean the excesses that I never take out as my card company covers them. I thought that the law was that TPL was all that was needed? Seems I was wrong?
It does not mention anywhere that these are compulsory though.
Wording of mine was:
Package Pricing Includes
Third-Party Liability (TPL)
Local Taxes
Unlimited kilometres.
Then later in the document:
Not Included in the Rental Price
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) limits the driver’s liability in the event that the rental car is damaged, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.
Rather than the full cost, the driver is generally only responsible for the first portion, known as their ‘excess’.
This protection applies to all authorised drivers of the rental car.
Theft Protection (TP) limits the driver’s liability for costs incurred by the theft of the rental car – or damage incurred by the theft or attempted theft – to an ‘excess’ amount, subject to the terms of the rental agreement. TP does not cover personal effects, which may be covered by the driver’s own travel or household policies.
Being stupid/ignorant I took that to mean the excesses that I never take out as my card company covers them. I thought that the law was that TPL was all that was needed? Seems I was wrong?
It does not mention anywhere that these are compulsory though.
The Vambo said:
oilydan said:
You sound like one of those people who find it difficult to grasp simple concepts.
bigandclever said:
Seems odd. I've just gone through the booking process and it's clear at every stage that CDW and theft cover is included. You can 'upgrade' protection at the counter, but it's not mandatory.
http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
Can't grasp simple concepts. http://booking.easycar.com/DriverExtrasTermsPopup....
oilydan said:
Mine was a different set of Ts&Cs, it seems.
oilydan said:
Mine was a different set of Ts&Cs, it seems.
Wording of mine was:
Package Pricing Includes
Third-Party Liability (TPL)
Local Taxes
Unlimited kilometres.
Then later in the document:
Not Included in the Rental Price
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) limits the driver’s liability in the event that the rental car is damaged, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.
Rather than the full cost, the driver is generally only responsible for the first portion, known as their ‘excess’.
This protection applies to all authorised drivers of the rental car.
Theft Protection (TP) limits the driver’s liability for costs incurred by the theft of the rental car – or damage incurred by the theft or attempted theft – to an ‘excess’ amount, subject to the terms of the rental agreement. TP does not cover personal effects, which may be covered by the driver’s own travel or household policies.
Being stupid/ignorant I took that to mean the excesses that I never take out as my card company covers them. I thought that the law was that TPL was all that was needed? Seems I was wrong?
It does not mention anywhere that these are compulsory though.
It says Third party liability is included, so I would assume you could take the car legally, but were left with very high excesses for other stuff?Wording of mine was:
Package Pricing Includes
Third-Party Liability (TPL)
Local Taxes
Unlimited kilometres.
Then later in the document:
Not Included in the Rental Price
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) limits the driver’s liability in the event that the rental car is damaged, subject to the terms of the rental agreement.
Rather than the full cost, the driver is generally only responsible for the first portion, known as their ‘excess’.
This protection applies to all authorised drivers of the rental car.
Theft Protection (TP) limits the driver’s liability for costs incurred by the theft of the rental car – or damage incurred by the theft or attempted theft – to an ‘excess’ amount, subject to the terms of the rental agreement. TP does not cover personal effects, which may be covered by the driver’s own travel or household policies.
Being stupid/ignorant I took that to mean the excesses that I never take out as my card company covers them. I thought that the law was that TPL was all that was needed? Seems I was wrong?
It does not mention anywhere that these are compulsory though.
It turns out that there was a mention of it being mandatory in the 'click here to see our Ts&Cs', but not in the wording of the agreement (just that it was not included).
Trading Standards has regulations against mandatory fees that are not clear and transparent. I would argue that indication that an insurance cover above the legal requirement is not included yet mandatory might well infer that this will need to be paid for, but Trading Standards specifies that the fees should be specifically outlined (ie how much it is) and specifically agreed to (not by a pre-filled check box or 'by clicking to book you agree to our terms')
The CAB also uses and example to show this and uses the airline excess baggage case. Simply saying that there will be an excess charge is not good enough, the fees must have a specific value and be agreed to.
My guess is that the modus operandi of this rental company, along with their terms were put together before the OTS brought in the regulations and they have not been challenged on them yet? Plenty of people on Trustpilot have been had by them though...
I'm going to check with the CAB...
Trading Standards has regulations against mandatory fees that are not clear and transparent. I would argue that indication that an insurance cover above the legal requirement is not included yet mandatory might well infer that this will need to be paid for, but Trading Standards specifies that the fees should be specifically outlined (ie how much it is) and specifically agreed to (not by a pre-filled check box or 'by clicking to book you agree to our terms')
The CAB also uses and example to show this and uses the airline excess baggage case. Simply saying that there will be an excess charge is not good enough, the fees must have a specific value and be agreed to.
My guess is that the modus operandi of this rental company, along with their terms were put together before the OTS brought in the regulations and they have not been challenged on them yet? Plenty of people on Trustpilot have been had by them though...
I'm going to check with the CAB...
,only people I know who have lawyers on speed dial are gangsters or billionaires, wonder which camp the OP falls into.oilydan said:
Anyone been totally done-over by a rental company?
I rent loads of cars, both work and pleasure and have never been so badly blindsided as a certain orange/white company did recently.
Shopping around on-line, I find the cheapest rental for the period I want. I am not loyal to one brand as the prices fluctuate so much; one day one will be 50 pounds cheaper, the next time I rent another company will be similarly so.
This time I go with the orange company. Very 'easy' supposedly. 100 pounds for a weeks rental of a tiny car at Heathrow. Paid in full, up front.
The car is actually supplied by the green European company, so off I trot when I land.
When I eventually get to pick up the car it seems there is no insurance included, 'Collision Damage' is 10 pounds per day, as is theft cover. Both compulsory.
I check back through the Ts&Cs as I thought I had when taking the rental and see that it is not just the excess waiver that is not included, but the actual cover too.
Like. A . Kipper.
My fault for not reading thoroughly, or getting my lawyer to read through it for me. I made the mistake of assuming that, as with renting a car normally, what you pay is indeed the full and final amount. Well it was the full amount for the rental, just not any insurance. Credit cards only cover the excess and they do not allow you to self insure or to arrange your own cover. (It would have cost me half of the amount I was charged for a week to insure myself on that car for a year)
I would have walked away at that point and taken the train (I did not take the train initially as I thought the rental was cheaper!) but I would have lost the paid 100 pounds, been another 100 pounds out of pocket for a train ticket and be stuck without transport for the week.
Of course the orange company tell me 'we told you so', shame they didn't tell me in terminology I'd actually understand.
Anyone else as stupid/naive as me?
those aren't compulsoryI rent loads of cars, both work and pleasure and have never been so badly blindsided as a certain orange/white company did recently.
Shopping around on-line, I find the cheapest rental for the period I want. I am not loyal to one brand as the prices fluctuate so much; one day one will be 50 pounds cheaper, the next time I rent another company will be similarly so.
This time I go with the orange company. Very 'easy' supposedly. 100 pounds for a weeks rental of a tiny car at Heathrow. Paid in full, up front.
The car is actually supplied by the green European company, so off I trot when I land.
When I eventually get to pick up the car it seems there is no insurance included, 'Collision Damage' is 10 pounds per day, as is theft cover. Both compulsory.
I check back through the Ts&Cs as I thought I had when taking the rental and see that it is not just the excess waiver that is not included, but the actual cover too.
Like. A . Kipper.
My fault for not reading thoroughly, or getting my lawyer to read through it for me. I made the mistake of assuming that, as with renting a car normally, what you pay is indeed the full and final amount. Well it was the full amount for the rental, just not any insurance. Credit cards only cover the excess and they do not allow you to self insure or to arrange your own cover. (It would have cost me half of the amount I was charged for a week to insure myself on that car for a year)
I would have walked away at that point and taken the train (I did not take the train initially as I thought the rental was cheaper!) but I would have lost the paid 100 pounds, been another 100 pounds out of pocket for a train ticket and be stuck without transport for the week.
Of course the orange company tell me 'we told you so', shame they didn't tell me in terminology I'd actually understand.
Anyone else as stupid/naive as me?
3rd party cover is included
you were sold extra insurance to cover the excess
Just been to Republic of Ireland...landed friday morning, picked up car at Airport, returned it monday morning...brand new Passatt diesel, 90 miles on it...total cost £57, yes £57 with Hertz, booked via a comparison site online......ridicously cheap, would be that + more here per day
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