"Free" car hire with package holidays

rose_red

I was hoping someone on here could help.

I recently booked a package holiday to Florida which claimed to come with "free" car hire.

When I asked about this at the travel agency they said that the car hire is free but you have to pay for the insurance. When I asked them to tell me how much that would be they proceeded to access the AVIS website and do a new car hire quote. The price they quoted for just insurance was actually the price that popped up on the screen for the full car hire, leaving me wondering what exactly I am getting free.

I was further annoyed when I discovered that when I visit the AVIS website I can actually get a car for less than they quoted, insurance and all.

I was not really expecting to get the best price from the travel agents but it seems like a blatant rip off.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Is this fair?

Who can I complain to?

richardw

Might be cheaper through https://www.uscarhire.co.uk and with excess insurance from https://www.insurance4carhire.com

rose_red

It's not so much that I have a problem finding a good alternative deal - I just have an objection to being charged more for "just insurance" that the complete car hire.

MSE has got me sorted on finding the best deal for my holiday but not everyone has that advantage (more's the pity) and I just feel bad that they can get away with conning people like that.

HXDave

Hi there,

what do you see as unfair, and why do you feel the need to complain?

THe holiday gives you what it states - a free hire car. if it had said free hire car with insurance included, then fair enough.

As far as saying the travel agent is ripping you off - why do you think that? They are only quoting prices that are quoted to them. Although i cannot understand why they went onto the AVIS website to get prices for car insurance, as most tour operators have specially negotiated rates for including car hire insurance within the same holiday. Alternatively, you are not compelled to take the free hire car - you can do what we did with a lot of holidays to the states & book car hire with another operator who might be cheaper. You can also, as reccommended by others on this site (although i personally would look into it a lot further) take the car hire insurance through specilised companies.

However, despite all that, i hope you still have a good holiday.

HXDave

rose_red

HXDave wrote: »

Hi there,

what do you see as unfair, and why do you feel the need to complain?

THe holiday gives you what it states - a free hire car. if it had said free hire car with insurance included, then fair enough.

As far as saying the travel agent is ripping you off - why do you think that? They are only quoting prices that are quoted to them. Although i cannot understand why they went onto the AVIS website to get prices for car insurance, as most tour operators have specially negotiated rates for including car hire insurance within the same holiday. Alternatively, you are not compelled to take the free hire car - you can do what we did with a lot of holidays to the states & book car hire with another operator who might be cheaper. You can also, as reccommended by others on this site (although i personally would look into it a lot further) take the car hire insurance through specilised companies.

However, despite all that, i hope you still have a good holiday.

HXDave

I think you cover why I feel the need to complain in your post.
The agent did not give me a quote for insurance to go with my "free car" but went straight onto the AVIS webiste and did a new car hire quote. So although they state free car hire there isnt even a discount. And you cannot make use of the free car and get your own insurance so there is no way to get your hands on the mythical free car at all.

My objection is that there seemed no attemp to find me a price for just insurance at all so what is advertised int eh brochure is not a true reflection of what you get. If they got me a quote for insurance (that they could prove was just that) and it was expensive I would say it was a fair cop and go get the best deal I coudl online. I don't believe they did this so I dont think they are deliovering what they say they will.

I have no intention of taking it so they are not taking money out of my pocket; it's just the unfair practice that I have an objection to.

HXDave

And you cannot make use of the free car and get your own insurance so there is no way to get your hands on the mythical free car at all.

Whilst in theory i would not reccomend it, there have been a number of posts on here where people have advised of companies that will offer car hire insurance as a stand alone product.

as far as customer service, and checking a price for insurance, it may be that they know it's automatically cheaper to book a seperate car with full insurance rather than use the insurance of the company booked through. this could depend on who the operator, or possible the experience of the clerk you booked with.

HXDave

richardw

Would the 'free' car have been big enough for your holiday party?

rose_red

HXDave wrote: »

Whilst in theory i would not reccomend it, there have been a number of posts on here where people have advised of companies that will offer car hire insurance as a stand alone product.

as far as customer service, and checking a price for insurance, it may be that they know it's automatically cheaper to book a seperate car with full insurance rather than use the insurance of the company booked through. this could depend on who the operator, or possible the experience of the clerk you booked with.

HXDave

Sorry if I wasnt clear : I know there are sites that allow you to purchase insurance as a stand alone prouct but the travel agent will not allow me to purchase one to enable me to use the free car. I have to buy the expensive one through them.

rose_red

richardw wrote: »

Would the 'free' car have been big enough for your holiday party?

yes - it is just the two of us.

HXDave

Sorry if I wasnt clear : I know there are sites that allow you to purchase insurance as a stand alone prouct but the travel agent will not allow me to purchase one to enable me to use the free car. I have to buy the expensive one through them.

I find it strange that the travel agent will not let you purchase stand alone car insurance independantly. I would question this, and ask why (although as i mentioned before, double check the stand alone policy). If they insist that the insurance does have to be provided through them, then ask why it was not included in the original price as clearly it was not an 'optional' extra.

BTW, who is the travel agent, and which tour operator have they used?

HXDave

rose_red

The Agent is Thompson and that they are using Alamo car hire.

They have stated that we MUST purchase insurance for the free car through them and they are quoting £262 to purchase the insurance for the "free" Alamo car or we can book the exact same spec car through Thompson WITH Insurance for £ 255, also with Alamo.

That just doesnt seem right to me.