'Required fuel purchase' - Just claimed back from flight centre

confused_vorlon

I bought tickets and car rental from flight centre.
They sent me a quote, I paid. The next day, they sent me my car rental voucher.

I didn't read the smallprint of the voucher - but it turns out that there was a hidden clause requiring me to purchase a full tank of petrol from the rental company. I discovered that when I got to pick up the car.

I complained to my agent. She initially knew nothing about it and implied it must be some mistake - then she fell back on the smallprint that was sent after I had agreed the price and paid.

I sent various emails and a letter, but flight centre refused to budge.

My complaint was that
1) this was an additional charge
2) it was not in the quote
3) it was hidden in smallprint which was sent after the quote was agreed and paid (and even that didn't say how much it would be).

So - off to the small claims court where I claimed for the petrol charge, two hours of my time and the court costs.

Flight Centre didn't respond - so I got a default judgment in my favour.

I'd have quite liked to see an argued ruling on this - but it was a win nonetheless. Flight Centre assure me that a cheque for £132 is on it's way.

If they had just agreed up-front that the charge was unfair, then they could simply have refunded the £32.80 for the fee.

Anyway - I'm sure I'm not the only one who got stung by this - so please take 'em on!

jamesbrownontheroad

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and congratulations for seeing it through... hopefully you'll have given others the encouragement to make the effort to claim back these lazy attempts to profiteer off the small print of rental contracts.

poet123

So, given that it was in the small print, I wonder if you would have won had it not been a default win?

confused_vorlon

poet123 wrote: »

So, given that it was in the small print, I wonder if you would have won had it not been a default win?

I think I would. The issue is that the small print wasn't sent until after the quote had been sent, agreed and paid. The charge was not mentioned in the quote.

of course, I can't know for certain.