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Car Hire deposit exchange rate scam?
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I recently hired a car at Shannon Airport with Irish Car Rental. It was booked through Holiday Autos and I paid £2.50 per day for Collision Damage Waiver.
When I picked up the car they wanted a deposit on my Visa card for 1000 Euros. I returned the car full and in good condition and they refunded the 1000 Euros. However the deposit was taken at 0.70 and the refund was at .66, making me £30 out of pocket.
This seems like sharp practice. Is this a scam, or is there a way to avoid this profiteering?
When I picked up the car they wanted a deposit on my Visa card for 1000 Euros. I returned the car full and in good condition and they refunded the 1000 Euros. However the deposit was taken at 0.70 and the refund was at .66, making me £30 out of pocket.
This seems like sharp practice. Is this a scam, or is there a way to avoid this profiteering?
Regards
Mark
Mark
0
Comments
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It's not clear who charged you what.
Did you sign a card slip for €1000, or for £700?
In the former event you should take it up with your CC company - it's nothing to do with the car hire firm. However some CC companies do make a conversion charge both ways, so it is legitimate -or at least in their T&C
If you signed in ££ you have been a victim of dynamic currency conversion - it's legitimate, provided you have been given the choice. It's allegedly convenient for you, but it costs you.
To avoid it use a hire company that only authorises the deposit on your card, but doesn't take it until after the hire and only if it's needed.
Probably worth compalining to Holiday Autos - I doubt if you'll get anything but if they get enough complaints they'll switch to a different company.0 -
Hardly any car hire companies actually take a deposit. They normally just want your credit card details to ensure they can get the money if you do prang the car.
Was it a debit, not a credit, card? If it was, and you didn't offer them a credit card, I can understand why they'd actually take the money.
If it was debited and credited in Euros, it's not the car hire company profiteering but a fact of life. You should have used a Nationwide card and there wouldn't have been very much exchange difference at all.0
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