[Closed] Scammed by Car Rental - Any way i can win this?

out of interest, who was the actual rental company?

been through every line of the T&C's you have in the original contract?
Rental cars are only the booking agent as far as I can see, who was the actual provider? Some of the smaller ones have interesting T&C's

You want to take a company in Italy to a small claims court in the UK?

Is this this 'taking back control' lark I've been hearing about?

Good luck with that

By the sounds of it I'd just suck it up. Because in the other direction lies being driven to almost certain madness, after wasting a serious chunk of your life.

[i]I contacted HSBC Mastercard - they said the merchant rejected my claim[/i]

I'd go back to Mastercard, the whole point is that they are responsible, not the merchant.

I've been ripped off a couple of times. One time I did a chargeback and told the bank I'd expect a full explanation about why it had been rejected if indeed it was (i.e. not just saying "Oh, we tried, no go". I wouldn't accept a CC company just saying "No" to the chargeback, you're their customer and you've been missold, in my experience they usually side with the customer. The other time I emailed Europcar first (I'd also emailed Enterprise, the first company but they told me to piss off) and explained the problem and they refunded me the disputed amount.

That said, if you had third party insurance, the usual mode is you pay for the damages IF they happen not give them the excess amount beforehand.

Unless you actually agreed to the charge. I can see why hire car companies are wary of 3rd party insurances as there is nothing to stop you cancelling it, not paying the excess or it not being worth the paper it's printed on leaving them at risk again.
Is it a full charge or a deposit to be refunded within a month or so.

That said, if you had third party insurance, the usual mode is you pay for the damages IF they happen not give them the excess amount beforehand.

It is, but you have to hand the card over on car pick up so they can 'block' the max excess amount from your card.

The car rental company is Maggiore (sorry misspelt above)

https://www.maggiore.it

I contacted them first - no joy (obviously)

I can see why hire car companies are wary of 3rd party insurances as there is nothing to stop you cancelling it, not paying the excess or it not being worth the paper it's printed on leaving them at risk again.

see above - they block the full excess amount on your card at pick up- it is unblocked if the car is returned without damage.

Have you gone through all the documents, did you have a copy when you booked originally? I've had the agree this to agree to the Standard T&C's of the people who supply the car stuff - ie need to go read another layer.

Just to be clear I handed over card to pre-authorise the 'up to 2000eur' excess in case of a accident. I did not pre-pay 2000 eur.

The fact that the card was also used to pay for excess insurance i didn't ask for is the problem.

Quite typical with car rental companies theses days, particularly at airports.

You have a £1000/$1000/E1000 damage excess on a hire care. You can take out an insurance policy with the rental company to cover that excess, typically for a few pounds/dollars/euros per day, or you can pay the excess up front and then claim it back when you return the car undamaged. No other options

To answer the question though is there mention of the excess insurance in any of the online docs you ticked to agree to when booking?
I know wicked campers down here in oz have a clause of mandatory fee per day if you use your own insurance. BS but it's there in the T&C's

I'll re-read the t&c again.

i don't rent cars much but the last time I rented from hertz in 2014, I signed a piece of paper and I had to put initials next to every feature of item on the document.

When the signature is on a tablet - whats stopping adding on anything they want?

When booking I didn't choose to buy any excess insurance from them.

On the rentalcars.com voucher, it says any additional items are between the car rental company and myself.

I gave up on buying insurance from the broker. Now I only rent from mainstream companies with their own insurance. Not the cheapest option, but it makes for an easier life.

I've rented with maggiore in Sicily. Too small and I wouldn't use again.

We were stung for a parking ticket last year, despite having a receipt from the local post office stating we had paid it on the day. The costs incurred by the chasing debt company and fine were refunded to our credit card eventually.

This is a very common practice. The rental company insisted you weren't covered when you were so I suggest you complain on that basis. i.e. the desk staff's 'facts' were wrong and you incurred costs as a result. They will definitely fob you off and dismiss the complaint but escalate beyond them to whichever body oversee them, they are obliged to tell you who you can escalate the complaint to.

EDIT - having read your latest reply it looks like you turned down the extra cover initially then changed your mind at check-in. They really are a bunch of shits, the extra cover should cost much less than you paid at the desk.

Nope - didn't change my mind at check in. I never wanted 'their' extra cover - I didn't ask for it - they did not ask if I wanted it - they just stuck it on hoping i wouldn't notice.

Extra cover is not mandatory. If i don't buy it from the car rental company then if there is a accident/damage then I am liable up to 2000 euro.

The whole problem with rental car industry is that they have your credit card and in many ways it feels like your writing them a blank cheque. In this case its a rental out of country so they think they can get away with a lot more.

In some ways I am careful - on the drop off I bought the daily paper - videoed the date then videoing the condition of the car inside and out inc the full fuel gauge.

Basically if they get away with it, the £120 car rental is going to cost me £320. Complete sh1t!

hey - if anyone can help me get the money back from this I'll happy give the £200 to the charity of their choice.

Go back to Mastercard, say they are jointly responsible and you are disputing that you signed for the service that you were charged for. Say that it's irrelevant what the merchant says and that you want a chargeback made.

I think the booking company haven't explained what you are booking properly in advance.

I had something similar with doyouspain a few years ago. The website suggested when booking you should take their insurance and that if you didn't the local hire company insurance would be much more expensive. They also didn't explain that you would have to put down a credit card that would be blocked for a large figure with the hire company in case you had an accident. You'd then have to cover the cost of that claim, then try and get it back from doyou.

When I went to collect the car the local company were really funny about the 3rd party cover, and their local insurance actually wouldn't have been any more expensive. It was really awkward.

THey gave me the choice of blocking my card or taking their insurance and made it very clear what the 2 options were.

Sounds like your local company weren't honest and just whacked you for the insurance they wanted to sell you.

Chargeback seems your only option.

I've just been through the chargeback process with HSBC Mastercard over the last 4 months- they said the merchant has rejected my claim and that the £200 charge on my card would remain.

That's why I'm asking for advice here.

Have you thought about chalking it down to experience and getting on with your life?

[img] [/img]

There are lots of airport rental scams, I got done by Goldencar at Bordeaux Airport(again arranged through Rentalcars.com). I think that the only way to avoid it is to hire through the big agencies like Avis.

[i]they said the merchant has rejected my claim[/i]

As I said, you need to remind MasterCard that they are jointly responsible and that they can't just say 'the people who ripped you off have said tough'.

Write to Mastercard with a letter before action.

They all do this in my experience, it's a common tactic.

enfht - Member
They all do this in my experience, it's a common tactic.

On the chargeback if you signed up for something and they can prove it then can they actually chargeback?

Got conned myself. Goldcar wanted €250 for a tiny mark (in reality almost invisble) on a very scuffed Yaris. I had personal XS insurance. Took loads of pictures.

Was ransomed by the car check in that I had to accept / sign for the damage before they would sign the return. If they did not sign the return, then the car was effectively 'stolen'. They knew I had a plane to catch!

Went to claim on my insurance that and was told my my insurance that there was no actual damage was present and wouldn't pay up.

Go back to Mastercard, show them all your contact trails and show them your copy of your excess insurance, showing that you did not need or require this. They are jointly liable and need to understand that you specifically didn't ask for this product and have been charged for it without your consent.

I had similar with my bank a couple of years ago, they said no at first and in the end I just kept escalating it up the chain of command until someone listened and looked at my evidence properly.

Earl - Member
hey - if anyone can help me get the money back from this I'll happy give the £200 to the charity of their choice.

I do sympathise with your predicament, but if, when you get the money back, you're going to give it to charity anyway, why bother? ❓

Afraid it happens all the time in spain with the cheapest quotes. I looked on the local inde operator and thought his prices were q expensive, but include 2nd driver, full full fuel and ability to take out your own fuly comp ins.

Avoid the cheapies you will pay more and feel ripped off.

Sorry btw i hate being ripped off.

We got ripped off by Hertz in Italy so it isn't just the little guys. Sorted by the credit card company mostly due to hertz not replying to requests for more information

you're going to give it to charity anyway, why bother?

principal... and a charity gets £200 at a guess?!

Re the chargeback...

My company takes online payments and when we get chargebacks (invariably as we offer installments and the customer has forgot they set it up!) our merchant bank basically writes to us and says we've had a chargeback we will honor it unless you prove otherwise. We have to send documentation proving the transaction is valid

Not sure if its the same with overseas operators (or its just our merchant bank being shisters ) but if it is, sounds like they think they can prove the charge.

Sorry that doesn't help you much but as said before i'd keep pressing the credit card company.

Booking a rental car out of Alicante next week.

It's a mine field and shouldn't be.

Any tips please ?

Any tips please ?

[url= http://www.carjet.com ]http://www.carjet.com[/url]

Buy their top up insurance

Could you ask Dave to bring it up as part of the Brexit negotiations? This is exactly the sort of thing that forced us out in the first place. Johnny bloody foreigner and his small Euro-print.

Just look at his chubby little patriotic face. He'll definitely get it sorted for you...

[img] [/img]

Ro5ey use an inde like edi, what day you flying i m flying 11 jul my cars at the airport if it helps.

I'd always go with one of the big names, IME, having used a broker site in the past to find that no, despite having had the booking for three months, they hadn't actually bothered to get us a car.

That slight more expense offsets the sort of hassle IME.

Buy the hirers own insurance so their can be no charge to your card. Its more expensive but less hassle when it goes wrong. (It will!)

Unlike one or two on here - you have my sympathy, you've essentially been mugged for £200.

I had an issue with Europcar whereby they added £100 valet charge to my cc after declaring that there would be no charges when I dropped it off. This valet charge was due to sand in the boot - bucket and spade type residue rather than a ton bag from Wickes!

Chargeback via Santander intially met with the same repsonse that you have received - they say no so we can't be arsed. Go back as advised above and insist. FO would be the follow up I think if they dig their heels in.

Remember, most people will simply give up at first refusal so keep at them.

Doing my own research ... doesnt look good for you OP ... sorry

8. Once the contract is issued read it carefully before leaving the office. If there are charges you don’t understand ask about them. If the total shown is more than that printed on your voucher you may, unwittingly, have signed up for optional insurances you do not need. You must dispute these items immediately otherwise you will have to pay for them.

taken from here ... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/Holiday-car-hire-an-essential-guide-to-save-you-money/

Obviously, I would rather give £200 to any charity than let the thieving rental car company have it.

In fact its only £185 but if i get it back I'll happily stick £200 in a donation box.

After being shafted in various ways by car hire over the years, I vowed only to ever use Enterprise (who are excellent btw).... but I've just used rentalcars.com to book a two week rental in Manchester. You do have to be a bit selective with them - lots of the attractive headline rates are from Fred-in-his-shed type operations which often come with loads of hidden charges.

To the OP: I think your beef is with your CC company. "Merchant rejected my claim" is a non-response designed to get you to drop it. You made no claim to the merchant, they did - your claim is with the CC company. If the merchant isn't cooperating with the CC company, then thats their problem, not yours. Your protection against fraud with the CC company is not contingent on whatever happens between them and the agent.

I've had similar in the UK when not wanting the (about the same amount again as the hire itself) collision waiver insurance. They tried to add it on after me repeatedly stating I didn't want it -when booking, and in front of them. I only got to reject it as the amount on the card reader was incorrect when they asked me to enter the PIN.

This was a mainstream UK hire place. They're all at it, but get onto your bank and get it reversed, or escalate as necessary.

Reading what Rosie has found.. grr...

They have effectually opted me in for the extra insurance and its up to me to OPT-OUT by reading the contract which I received after it has been issued and signed (digitally).

Surely there has got to be a legal way out of this? it must happen all the time.

point taken batfink.

Another reason to rise it here is I want this detail on the internet so it might help someone else one day... grr...

Enterprise being "excellent" is something id have to disagree with. We had a different but shocking experience with them and a rental supplied whilst our car was off the road!! Caused stress and nearly a court date as they tried to rip off the other drivers insurance for our costs. Doubling the usual hire charge to try and fleece them..

Theyre all shite and right up there with estate agents!!

I have nothing of value to add apart from rental stations within a car rental company can act very differently. Some are wholly owned, some franchised and the quality can differ massively.

So one Enterprise/Europcar/Hertz local office can be great, and the other one down the road rubbish.

I also say dispute the charge with HSBC (assuming it was a *credit* card).

Sounds like you've been had by the agent at the rental station sadly- I don't think they'll suddenly admit "oh yes, true, we added it without you noticing".

The guy at the desk is likely on commission and tries this trick on everyone.

Sorry the above sounds harsh, I actually have sympathy.

It's not just at pickup when you should check paperwork. Europcar once gave me a return receipt with the wrong time on and charged me an extra day as a result! Unfortunately for them I had plenty of evidence like tickets etc and got the money back. Unfortunately you just need OCD (or better still outright paranoia!) at pickup and collection. Leave plenty of time if possible.

All the best with it.

Sorry to hear about your difficulties OP. It does sound like you have been mis-sold an opt out or misunderstood the explanation. Either way it is a difficult case to argue on a charge back. Have Maggiore actually said this amount is for excess insurance. Did you read theirFAQ before raising a dispute [url] https://www.maggiore.it/en/faq/faq.html [/url] They state a refund time which is already long. If you are already disputing before this period you will have confused a possible refund.

We have always booked through a third party online and gone with an annual excess policy. I have never heard the question about excess framed as you put it though we tend to go for a mid price on the rental options. Maybe they are better I don't know. At the end of the day these are businesses trying to attract customers not have scam against every review.

If you don't take their insurance you still need to hand over your card and they retain the full excess amount, ie you need enough credit on the card to cover the full excess. It is only charged if they claim damage and you have to then reclaim from insurer. If you don't take their insurance and something goes wrong there is going to be hassle somewhere along the line.

Indeed with Avis, Europcar and the like the experience (bar queues) is very slick. We recently returned from Portugal and cannot be happier with Europcar drop off at Porto. We read all the "scam" reviews on Portugal and realise how few people do any research before going abroad.

That said they will always try to upsell - special upgrade price/ excess/ satnav etc but have never had any hassle turning it down.

One thing I would say is the annual insurance is worth it even if you take the hire companies insurance - or at least insurance4carhire if not just for the Text HELP for English assistance option 🙂 also for any bits you discover even the car hire still don't cover,

If you're giving it to charity anyhow, I suggest you just buy a cheapo flight back to Italy and burn their office down. Far more satisfying.*

*possibly