advice needed.

geoff_gamblin

hi. my partner and i hired a car from budget car rental last weekend (paid for in advance over the internet). We booked it over a month ago. When we arrived they told us they would not rent us the car as my partner had a european driving license and had been resident in the uk for nearly 3 years. It was an international one which we had used to rent from budget before. When we then asked for our money back they stated there was a £50 fee and a 25% charge leaving us with £20 from £100. Nowhere in their terms and conditions did it mention this. Budget then stated theat if my partner got a uk license they would then rent to her so we re booked for later in the year intending to change her license. They then stated they would refund the money and we could pay when we picked up the car. I would like to know where we stand as we discovered that my partner would have to surrender her license and she does not wish to. As far as i can see they have failed to provide the service we have paid for. Thank you in advance for any help.

damienuk

geoff_gamblin wrote: »

When we arrived they told us they would not rent us the car as my partner had a european driving license and had been resident in the uk for nearly 3 years.

Do they comply with the rules regarding using that licence to drive in the UK?

As far as I can see it seems likely that they made a mistake, confusing it with rules for other foreign licences, as in that case they wouldn't be allowed to drive in the UK after living in the UK for over 12 months (without getting a UK licence).

So unless they have something in their terms stating that they require you to have a UK driving licence, it sounds like they were in the wrong.

geoff_gamblin wrote: »

so we re booked for later in the year intending to change her license

Why did you decide to rebook with them after this!???

geoff_gamblin

hi
we rebooked as we didn't wish to lose all that money. it seemed at the time that this was the only way to get the money back. Thanks for the advice though i will explore that avenue. Personally i'm for waiting until the cash is paid back and then cancelling. let them try and chase us for any money they owe us. I should also state that we were going to my brothers wedding the next day and i was the best man so sense was probably not at the forefront of my mind at the time. by the way we got there as we went over the road and rented from avis without any problems. infact for the same money give or take a couple of quid. Needless to say budget will not get our business anymore.

damienuk

If after checking the driving licence and re-checking their terms you don't find any legitimate reason for rejecting your custom, AND you have out-of-pocket expenses arising from it (either money not refunded in full by them, or additional hire charges from an alternative etc.) then I would:

• write a letter (sent via recorded delivery) to their head office detailing your experience and the out of pocket expenses you want them to reimburse
• if no satisfactory response, then consider lodging a small claims case for the above (plus the court fee of course)

Also, if you cancel the next one, do their terms include some cancellation fees (I assume that's what the £50 + 25% was?) - in which case I think you might be in a poor position regarding that: if you can't legitimately cancel that booking without incurring charges then make sure to include that point in your letter (i.e. the only way to recover the charges was to make a subsequent, unwanted, booking which you require to be cancelled without charges), and likewise in subsequent court case should that be required.

geoff_gamblin

thanks a lot for your help. i can't find it written anywhere in their terms and conditions. if they refund the money in full we will not of lost out so that is the outcome we are hoping for. thanks again for the advice, and i think your right about the cancellation fee.

geoff_gamblin

hi
just wanted to let you know they paid up. said as a "goodwill gesture." thanks again for the advice.