beware "deposits" on debit card when renting a car

juliet_Graham

I have just got back from three days in France having hired a car from Europcar in Bordeaux ,I paid via the internet and understood I would need to leave a debit or credit card for "security" Upon arrival I was told I would have to leave £900 eeuros on said debit card,was told it was merely a deposit and would not actually be taken out,which is a very grey description as i have just found out from my bank today that although not actually out of my account 900 euros has been "authorised" by Europcar and I can't get to my money in my account ie although the car went back fine,on time and fuelled my bank account is showing 900 euros unavailable to me!! What can I do is this right and why don't they tell you abou it when you book the car!

Lemonade_Pockets

The money is still blocked out on your card.

You will probably find in the T+C's somewhere that it takes up to 30days for them to remove the block.

I don't know from Europcar car specifically but that has been my experience from other car hire big firms.

juliet_Graham

Thanks,but it does seem outrageous that they can do that without warning and for such a large amount

Lemonade_Pockets

Yup agree completely. It should be mentioned, there is always a massive grey area around deposits whenever i've rented a car which isn't good. See if it is in their T+C's tho. I can't get on their website for some reason.

mikey72

I usually use a credit card for that reason. Deposit shows as a charge pending then, and if they don't take anything it automatically expires.

juliet_Graham

If you don't have a credit card,car hire seems to be tricky,i have looked on t&C for Europcar and it is very vague about what money will be Blocked or "authorised" will try phoning them tomorrow,just good to warn any other broke mugs like me that car hire might seem cheapish but if you have not much cash flow and no credit card,might scupper other payments you had in mind to pay out of your account,i think the car hir e comany should be clearer and you shouldn't have to trawl through stuff on their website to know how much will be taken as a deposit-still can't find any partaicular figure to say how much either

mikey72

I remember when I first hired a car, it was cash deposits only, and about ten times the price of the car hire.

Armengar

Credit cards deposits are also a good idea if magical damage appears on your car afterwards. I *always* take digital photos of the car when receiving and returning. Usually in full view of the people.

Annie01

Beware of Europcar - type in complaints about Europcar into your search engine and be horrified by what you find.

I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole ever again after being stung for £146 for non existent damage.

Their answer to complaints - just dont respond and if you are not in the country of origin what can you do.

Worth noting they are members of the ACCOR group so you could complain very loudly to their Head Office at the disgraceful way Europcar treat customers

vikingaero

Annie01 wrote: »

Beware of Europcar - type in complaints about Europcar into your search engine and be horrified by what you find.

I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole ever again after being stung for £146 for non existent damage.

Their answer to complaints - just dont respond and if you are not in the country of origin what can you do.

Worth noting they are members of the ACCOR group so you could complain very loudly to their Head Office at the disgraceful way Europcar treat customers

I don't think there is much difference between any of the major European car rental companies. There seems to be a "Continental" way of doing things. The worst scams seem to be the franchises of the big major rental companies on the Continent who seem to practice countless immoral and fraudulent acts.

Inactive

Annie01 wrote: »

Beware of Europcar - type in complaints about Europcar into your search engine and be horrified by what you find.

Agreed, they tried it on with me as well in Jersey, they seem to be about the worst of the big companies, luckily for me I did take photo's of the car on it's safe return to them, and it did have all 4 wheel trims on it, not 3 as they implied, and worse wanted to charge me £100 for a single wheel trim.:eek:

Never again.