Beware - Goldcar Car Rentals Spain

SW17

jonnymonny wrote: »

So, what lessons do I draw? Use the forum before hiring (!); avoid Goldcar (and Delpaso, who are just as bad); take out excess insurance with icarhire.:mad:

Although I haven't been to Malaga for a couple of years, on regular trips prior to that I mostly used a local company called Helle Hollis.

Just off airport on the approach road, about 3 mins in their shuttle bus. Good prices, fair fuel policy, 2 drivers included. They do sell excess waiver insurance, but from what I recall it was not at extortionate rates and not a "hard sell". Cars and service were good. Don't think they tried to charge my card in GBP either, though almost every car hire company seems to do that at one time or another (including Hertz recently in Geneva).

Hope this helps.

NiftyDigits

jonnymonny wrote: »

Having just returned from Malaga after hiring through Goldcar I sat down to write a letter of complaint. But first, I checked this forum (of course I should have checked it before) to find that all of my issues have been reported here countless times. It is obvious that they attract clients via brokers with low upfront prices but then load on extras when you are in a vulnerable position at the airport - fuel charge, extra insurance, converting to £ without asking. All this after a long wait, very rude service and the fuel gauge was one pip below full. There seems to be no point in writing to Goldcar since the same tactics have been used for years and they obviously feel under no pressure to change them since there are always new mugs to fleece. So, what lessons do I draw? Use the forum before hiring (!); avoid Goldcar (and Delpaso, who are just as bad); take out excess insurance with icarhire.:mad:

To illustrate balance, Goldcar are also expensive to book direct. You don't need to go via a Broker to avail yourself of their hidden delights.
Once you go to their website, you might find a choice between their FlexFuel option with lots of hidden charges and an offer to waive them all, but the expensive fuel, with their ludicrously expensive Relax Cover or the Classic option that brings them in line with the major brands Full/Full policy, but is even more expensive.
So for me, Goldcar is a big NO!

racdlogduarf

To anyone venturing into renting from goldcar pleeeaase read this before you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to collect my car on the 15th of October from Fumiccino airport(by the way their offices are 10 minutes drive from the airport and you need to wait for at least 40 minutes for their bus to collect you).
When i arrived to their office i was greeted by 2 member of their staff who were quite friendly and chatty.
As usual they tried to use the old trick of pushing you to buy their extremely pricey excess insurance but i refused it saying i already have one with rentalcars.com so they were not very happy about this.
Took the car which was ok and returned it on the 19th, the person inspecting the car said that there was a cigarette burn on the driver side seat which is less than quarter of an inch(0.5cm) in diameter.
i told this person that i am not a smoker and hardly used this car and that this burn was there before but she said she will speak to the head office and they will call me.
Next day i receive an email saying that they were charging my credit card a whapping 550 euro for this damage.
i called them to complain about this but the lady on the counter was literally shouting at me and telling me to email customer services who by the way never reply.
I called my credit card company to dispute the transaction and guess what??? they said that gold car charged my credit card another 110 euros they were meant to charge only in case i returned the car with an empty tank which wasn't the case cause i filled up the tank before handing over the car.
I went on the internet and checked the reviews about gold car and apparently i wasn't the only one they have used these dirty tricks on.
Please beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rmelly

I placed an order for an Audi A1 at Murcia, this was a specific car booking not group car. On arrival I was told they had no Audi, in their key box was a hand full of Audi keys. Then I told they were all faulty, PLEASE NOTE AUDI.
I was given a Renault Megan and told I could either take it or they would cancel the booking. With no option and as I had just waited over 1 hour at the desk. I was left with no choice.
Not only is the company based on LIES they take money off you and fail to provide what they are contracted too.
I did complain but guess what not even an apology just fobbed off.
Avoid at all costs.

Captain_Ebay

When you sign the contract, while in a busy airport, at the start of you holiday (ready to relax) you are signing the following:-

1. Charge me a 2% commission as a payment to Goldcar for exchanging my sterling to Euro's.

2. Charge me 83.47 Euro plus for a 60 Litre fuel tank capacity (Renault Kangoo) and fuel is just over 1 Euro per Litre.

3. Charge me 11.57 Euro's for more fuel for "Vehicle Logistics" ???

4. Charge me a 21% Vat (IVA) on the whole lot.

The Final Straw:-

5. Agreement "We will pay you back for the fuel you do not use"
Each 1/8 of fuel will be reimbursed to the customer.

I must of had a leaking fuel tank - on my return to the drop off zone - Goldcar Malaga - a friendly Goldcar employee confirmed to me that I had 6/8 of fuel remaining in the vehicle, but I was only offered 5/8 of fuel. What's another 10+ Euro's matter any more??

On attempting to log into the Goldcar web site to give feedback to the company - guess what my Contract Number and Client number from my invoice do not match up and I cannot log on.

I will not be using Godcar rentals again.
I will not be recommending Goldcar rentals to anyone (including people that I do not like)

I feel that they have squeezed every last cent out of me on this deal and all this at the start of a holiday.

Brollyboy

Brollyboy wrote: »

Hi NiftyDigits

How have you been suckered? Did you offer to pay the deposit via your credit card to Goldcar on arrival?
YES I DID

If you refused to leave a deposit, then full cover with Goldcar was your only option.
SEE ABOVE

It's simple, buy a 'reimbursement policy'(from a broker or online) and leave a deposit or buy full insurance from the hire company.
CHEERS FOR INFORMATION

UPDATE - 13/02/15
With help from the European Consumer Centre I have now had a full refund from GOLD CAR for the excess car insurance they charged me. For me the money was not the main issue - the main issue was being blatantly ripped off. It goes without saying i will never use GOLD CAR or Holiday Autos again

portgrimaud2

Hi all

Just a warning to you all DO not use DoYouSpain/Goldcar car hire. I recently hired a car from Lanzaotte Airport through this site.

On arrival the Goldcar attendant made me pay by VISA Card 107eur(£86.65) for the 'full' tank of 95 octane petrol provided with my FIAT Punto - despite my contract that stipulated a cost of 58eur to 79eur (including a 16eur to 19eur service charge) - I understand that the capacity of the Punto's tank is 45L - Many attempts to recover this rip-off (theft as far as I can see) falls on deaf ears at DoYouSpain/Goldcar - I'm going to try and get them blacklisted through the VISA

eDicky

When you search for a car rental in Spain, Goldcar is usually by far the cheapest quote. This is reflected in the length of the queue at their airport arrival hall desk - by far the longest. If you have already booked a Goldcar and only now come across this long list of horror stories, or you are adventurous enough to have a shot at saving money by using them, here are a few tips.

1. Before booking (if you haven't already) try to calculate whether you can make a worthwhile saving over the next best quotes. You cannot escape their extortionate charge for a tank of fuel, but if you return it with a full tank they will automatically refund you at the normal fuel price, so add the difference between the two, say €40 for a small car, to the initial booking cost. If you don't have an independent zero excess insurance to avoid having to buy Goldcar's extortionate extra insurance (one or the other is needed in case you DO prang the car), you have to factor in that cost and might as well avoid Goldcar - see previous posts. Actually, all rental companies will try to add their extra insurance, but more reasonable than Goldcar's, so it is hard to compare beforehand - let's assume you have an annual £40-odd policy to cover everything. I also assume you will have a euro-denominated card of some kind for fuel and deposit, to avoid conversion charges.

2. Arrive as quickly as possible to the Goldcar desk at the airport, to reduce time queuing. Many airports at Spanish holiday destinations have the car rental counters in the baggage hall, so in the knowledge or hope of this, or if you are travelling hand-baggage only, try to be seated on the plane near the door to be one of the first off, leg it as fast as possible to immigration and go directly to the Goldcar desk. If you are lucky and there is not a long queue from previous flights you may get your paperwork done before your luggage arrives to the carousel, otherwise after a while have someone in the queue or your travel companion keep the place and go retrieve bag(s).

3. Be polite and friendly to the counter staff, regardless of their sour demeanour and your fatigue from waiting. Try to crack a joke or be sarcastic about the procedure and charges, to lighten up their day and let them know that you know the score. This can result in less severity in treatment. At some point when they are softened up, say "give me a nice car". Maybe they will - it is to some extent up to them which car you get.

4. Don't even talk about currency of payment, pay for your tank of fuel with your euro-denominated card, to which the refund will also be made in euros. You will probably be told to return the car empty - don't discuss, just bring it back full.

5. Then we come to the attempt to sell you the extra insurance - this is where Goldcar make their profit and the counter staff make their commission. After they have made their pitch, just firmly and calmly say that you already have separate insurance and decline theirs. You will then be required to have a hefty deposit blocked on your card, maybe €800, so be prepared with enough load or spend limit for this block and any further needs during your stay. You are counting on having the amount unblocked/returned to this card a few days after returning the car (in one piece).

6. Finally you will be given the key, location of the car, rental contract and, very important, the check-in/check-out form with a car panel diagram and details of existing damage. Make sure you have this last item and do not sign it yet. They don't bother giving this to customers who buy the extra insurance.

7. Locate your car and get one of the attendants to check it with you, thoroughly, scrutinising every panel for the slightest scratch, roof, interior, radio antenna etc. Everything not already mentioned and marked on the check-out diagram must be added, then the form signed by the attendant and yourself. Make friends with this attendant, exchange names, find out if he or she will be on duty when you are due to return the car, or the name of their friend who will be. It's even worth bringing a nice British chocolate bar or can of beer to pull out and give them as a present, they will be very pleased and remember you. It's always nice to begin a foreign visit in a pleasant way with people, but initiating a good relation with these attendants is important and I will now tell you why. Your €800 deposit is effectually in their hands. Anyone who does not purchase the extra insurance from Goldcar will have their car thoroughly checked for any damage on return, and their deposit will not be returned if any can be found. Usually there is something overlooked on check-out, but if none can be found, the staff usually inflict some themselves, a scratch or broken antenna etc. This fact was confirmed to me by a Goldcar attendant who happened to also be a participant of a seminar I attended recently. So it is good to have them on your side.

8. If you do have a scrape and inflict some minor damage to the car during your stay (let's face it, it's easily done), you can take the chance that it won't be noticed or have to go through the laborious process of claiming on your separate insurance later, or you can try to get hold of your new friend(s) at the car lot to amend the check-out/check-in form for you - although they might expect a bit more than a chocolate bar for this service.

9. Otherwise, return the car with full tank, have your friendly attendant check and mark the form 'all ok', sign it and give it back to you, adios and see you next time.

Your fuel refund will appear the same or next day probably, the deposit unblock will take a bit longer. Was the saving worth all that extra hassle, did you have a bit of fun foiling Goldcar's underhand tactics and even spread some good feeling around..?

Hope I didn't bore you. Even if you choose to avoid the cowboys, some of the above advice could still be useful in general.

jonnymonny

In reply to point 7 (thoroughly check the car and make friends with the attendant), I would like to point out that at Malaga airport, the cars are stored in a gloomy underground carpark, making a close inspection impossible. Also, there are usually no attendants to be seen. Also, if you do find damage, this means returning to the desk (which means going through security) and joining the back of their long queue again. My conclusion: avoid Goldcar and instead rent from one of the companies recommended in this forum.

eDicky

jonnymonny wrote: »

at Malaga airport, the cars are stored in a gloomy underground carpark, making a close inspection impossible.

Thanks for this info, I have never yet been to Malaga. So anyone brave enough to rent a Goldcar at Malaga airport may need a good torch or led lantern with them. Perhaps the attendants use them or their eyes are accustomed to the gloom.

Yes you sometimes have to look for an attendant, hanging out in a cubicle somewhere perhaps, they often don't have much work because most customers are bullied into the extra insurance so their cars don't need checking.

I stress again the importance of obtaining the check-out/check-in damage report document from the desk before going to collect your car. They should give you this anyway if you have declined their extra insurance, otherwise ask for it. Then your friendly attendant can enter any existing damage that it doesn't already list, sign it and give it back to you to keep until you return with the car. Then you DON'T need to return to the desk for any reason.