Beware - Goldcar Car Rentals Spain

nickcc

As I'm sure you can see CM66 most posters complaining about the dirty tricks Goldcar use are first time posters. I'm sure you and other experienced car rental travellers are used to these dirty tricks, unfortunately many others are not. Like most experienced MSE members I learnt my lesson the hard way, perhaps a little compassion along with suitable advice would assist the poster far more than making them look like fools.

CM66

nickcc wrote: »

As I'm sure you can see CM66 most posters complaining about the dirty tricks Goldcar use are first time posters. I'm sure you and other experienced car rental travellers are used to these dirty tricks, unfortunately many others are not. Like most experienced MSE members I learnt my lesson the hard way, perhaps a little compassion along with suitable advice would assist the poster far more than making them look like fools.

I'm pretty sure me saying to check what you sign is suitable advice, along with them trying to get a charge back through their CC company.

I do have some sympathy, but i also think they have to take some responsibility. They have chosen to hire with the cheapest companies out there and expect the same service as those charging much more. They are cheap for a reason, and yes unfortunately most people have to learn the hard way.

brianposter

Most people have little option but to sign. However if you ask for a complaint form at the same time, you have evidence that you have signed simply to mitigate your loss.
The complaint form does not have to be filled in on the spot.

Bengt

Some more positive experiences of Goldcar.

I travel to Barcelona from Sweden about five times per year. For many years I have used Hertz without any major problems (and no unexpected charges). The last year Goldcar has been far cheaper (for an estate or semi MPV like Citroen Berlingo). In July 2016 I had a car for four weeks at €250.

So far during three rentals I have nothing to complain about. No unexpected extra charges. I do not take full insurance as I have full insurance on a credit card that I only use for car rental.

Every time the damage report has been blank at arrival and I have been asked to fill it in myself. Strange but I have done it with care.
This July I paid around €700 for four weeks. A comparable car at other rentals were around €1200. Seemed to be a shortage of rental cars in Barcelona this summer.
I did make a mistake and scratched the rear bumper. This was noticed when I returned the car and on My Goldcar I could later see an invoice for €250 for damage and €50 for non-availability of the car for rental.
Nothing to argue about really. But what surprised me was that three days later the invoices were credited Really strange but I did not mind.

So next week I have another rental with Goldcar in Barcelona. 1 week for €45. Not bad at all...

martynh99

I holiday a few times a year abroad and tend to use whoever is the cheapest at the time for a full/full , on airport and never ever take the additional insurance out. Over the years i've probably used all the major spanish car hire companies, record / goldcar / hertz / europcar / avis / interrent / firefly etc. and never really had any issues at all apart from of course the hard sell on insurance.
Last week I rented a Focus sized car via DoYouSpain from Goldcar at Barcelona airport. €22.31 for 8 days.
Arrived at the desk 5 minutes after scheduled pickup time and was 3rd in the queue. Spent around 30 minutes here during which time they were doing the hardsell on everyone and managed to get the 2 in front of me to part with €160 on each car.
When it was my turn, the insurance would have been €185 on the class of car I had and I rejected it. Next was the airport tax, that came to €3 so no concern over that but the next 'addition' they hit me with was diesel surcharge - €4 per day totalling €32. I challenged this as I had not booked a diesel car and the DYS contract stated diesel surcharge was only €2 per day, but Goldcar were not budging - either pay it or have no car so I ended up paying it with the intention of letting Mastercard take it back from them on my return.
So in total €1400 deposit, €122 fuel fee inc tank (fuel is about €1.20 and it's a 50 litre tank at most so a rip off again but I would be returning it full so no issue).
Went over to the carpark to pick the car up, not ready yet. All in it was 1.5 hours past the pickup time before the car was made available and it was a bit of a wreck. 3yr old, 80000km on the clock, dings & dents all over it, a few of them not on the damage report so that was updated and signed off by them.

I returned the car 8 days later, they didn't want to inspect it but I made them and got it signed off as no damage and full fuel. 2 Days later i've checked my credit card statement and instead of placing a hold on the deposit funds they actually took the money on day 0 then refunded it on day 9 - in that time the exchange rate has got better (€1.12 on day 0 €1.13 on day 9) which has left me out of pocket by around £12.
I'll give Goldcar the opportunity to make up this difference and if I get nowhere will pass it onto Mastercard to sort out as they should only have placed a hold on the deposit so are in breach of contract and possibly their merchant agreement.

I also challenged Goldcar customer service on the diesel surcharge and they confirmed that the diesel surcharge is ' an environmental fee however if there are not petrol cars and we provide a diesel one this fee is not applied'. They tell me they will be refunding the €32 but as yet that hasn't appeared on my account.

nickcc

martynh99 wrote: »

I holiday a few times a year abroad and tend to use whoever is the cheapest at the time for a full/full , on airport and never ever take the additional insurance out. Over the years i've probably used all the major spanish car hire companies, record / goldcar / hertz / europcar / avis / interrent / firefly etc. and never really had any issues at all apart from of course the hard sell on insurance.
Last week I rented a Focus sized car via DoYouSpain from Goldcar at Barcelona airport. €22.31 for 8 days.
Arrived at the desk 5 minutes after scheduled pickup time and was 3rd in the queue. Spent around 30 minutes here during which time they were doing the hardsell on everyone and managed to get the 2 in front of me to part with €160 on each car.
When it was my turn, the insurance would have been €185 on the class of car I had and I rejected it. Next was the airport tax, that came to €3 so no concern over that but the next 'addition' they hit me with was diesel surcharge - €4 per day totalling €32. I challenged this as I had not booked a diesel car and the DYS contract stated diesel surcharge was only €2 per day, but Goldcar were not budging - either pay it or have no car so I ended up paying it with the intention of letting Mastercard take it back from them on my return.
So in total €1400 deposit, €122 fuel fee inc tank (fuel is about €1.20 and it's a 50 litre tank at most so a rip off again but I would be returning it full so no issue).
Went over to the carpark to pick the car up, not ready yet. All in it was 1.5 hours past the pickup time before the car was made available and it was a bit of a wreck. 3yr old, 80000km on the clock, dings & dents all over it, a few of them not on the damage report so that was updated and signed off by them.

I returned the car 8 days later, they didn't want to inspect it but I made them and got it signed off as no damage and full fuel. 2 Days later i've checked my credit card statement and instead of placing a hold on the deposit funds they actually took the money on day 0 then refunded it on day 9 - in that time the exchange rate has got better (€1.12 on day 0 €1.13 on day 9) which has left me out of pocket by around £12.
I'll give Goldcar the opportunity to make up this difference and if I get nowhere will pass it onto Mastercard to sort out as they should only have placed a hold on the deposit so are in breach of contract and possibly their merchant agreement.

I also challenged Goldcar customer service on the diesel surcharge and they confirmed that the diesel surcharge is ' an environmental fee however if there are not petrol cars and we provide a diesel one this fee is not applied'. They tell me they will be refunding the €32 but as yet that hasn't appeared on my account.

So you're saying that Goldcar are rip off merchants ? Not sure what the alternative would be.

martynh99

nickcc wrote: »

So you're saying that Goldcar are rip off merchants ? Not sure what the alternative would be.

I'm saying in this case they have ripped me off yes. Despite them telling me that they will refund the €32 diesel surcharge they have now backtracked and say they won't.

I have used them before and not had any issues, seems on this occasion the took the €1400 deposit as a payment then refunded it whereas previously they just put a block / hold on the deposit amount and release it at the end which doesn't cause the exchange rate issues.

So currently I am €32 + £12 down on a car that cost €22 to hire.

nickcc

I think if you read this thread you would realise what a load of scum bags they are. There initial charges are usually far lower than the major rental companies but after they screw you for everything possible then going with one of the majors is now my choice.

Raduceo

I've made mistake and booked car from Goldcar in Gran Canaria via Ryanair, before reading reviews. The original cost was €43.30, but actual cost was €900. This is what everyone should know before renting with Goldcar.

I've booked and paid for a VW Polo like car in advance £36 via Ryanair car hire and was supposed to pay €2.32 at the desk, but they charged me additional €29. I was supposed to leave deposit of €1100, but they took €1213 for some reason. Actually, the money was taken and not just blocked which cost me additional £31 non sterling transaction.

Well the nightmare started with thieves breaking rear door window. They charged me €150, which is supposed to be excess, but this actually covers new window and labour in London, so I assume the labour is either the same or cheaper in Spain plus the window should cost about the same. Well I paid that. Anyway, they gave me a new car with two damages. I was able to find additional two damages despite very dim light in the underground car park in Gran Canaria airport and had it signed.

The car was booked to be returned at 5:30 and no one was serving out of hours, so I had to push the key through the letter box on the office door as I had a flight to catch. This means I had no signed check in document. Two days later I got email from Goldcar claiming I've done three scratches. One on bonnet which cost €250, one on front door €200 and one on rear door €200. Well, I've been parking in underground expensive car parks to avoid this as on street parking in Gran Canaria is worse than in London. Funny enough they did not find any of the damages which I had signed.

However the scratches are so shallow you can easily wipe them with T-cut or any paint polish. Actually, if I knew about them I would polish them with toothpaste and clean cloth. The whole car could be painted for €650. I definitely did not do the scratches.
I've contacted Goldcar with complain and they responded I was offered collision damage waiver CDL and refused. I asked for proof of damages and real cost after repair with no response from them.

Chwaraeteg

I hired a car from Goldcar in Palma, Majorca at half-term. I purposely took out insurance in the UK to cover excess charges so I wouldn't have to take out extra insurance from Goldcar. When I got to the airport to collect my car, they took my credit card details for the deposit (as expected) and when I queried this they said "Don't worry, when you return the car you'll get the money back". However, back in the UK I see that I had been charged £272.05 and had £113.58 returned to me because I returned the car full of fuel. That leaves me £158.47 out of pocket. When I queried this I was told it was for Super Relax Cover (148.45 euros) AND Mega Relax cover (16 euros) and Premium office fee (13.15 euros). I was neither offered nor asked for extra insurance - this has been added without my consent. How do I get my money back? Goldcar are not answering my emails. Should I try and claim it from my bank under Section 75?