Beware EconomyCarRentals.com Excess Scam

ghostrider203

We recently rented a car from EconomyCarRentals.com in Portugal via a local provider Auto Jardim at Lisbon Airport after being attracted by their website claiming that "PLEASE NOTE! FULL INSURANCE WITH NO EXCESS IN ALL PORTUGAL", If only this was truly the case.

Upon returning our car the car rental company stated there was apparently a small scratch on our car-probably due to a door knock, we returned the car on a different level to the office so did not check,and asked us to pay the excess. I stated that I should not have to pay as my contract with Economy Car Rentals .com stated that there was none to pay as clearly stated. He explained that this was so, but what actually happens is that I should pay the excess to them first and then claim this back from EconomyCarRentals.com, and that he would provide me with a receipt and that is all that would be required to simply get my money back for the excess paid.

After contacting EconomyCarRentals.com based in Greece, they wanted a number of documents such as Rental Contract and Reciept for the excess paid but also a Police Report. I obviously did not have a Police Report as i would not have called them as there was no actual Accident! I contested the need for a Police Report for what would be a VERY minor scratch, in any case as we had hired the car from and returned it to the Lisbon Airport branch, obviously we would have been due to check in for our flight and would not have time to do this.
In reality it is firstly difficult to see how the Police would want to be involved with this and provide me with a Police report for what is probably a commonplace occurence during Car Rentals. Secondly, it is also fair to say if they did attend the scene they would not exactly be rushing round with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring!! So getting a Police report in a timely fashion would probably be extremely difficult when you are already due to check in on your flight.

Needless to say they have not refunded me, so I have decided to warn others about the sharp practices of EconomyCarRentals.com excess scam.

Astaroth

As from their website T&Cs

EconomyCarRentals.com will compensate the client fully for any excess charged by the car rental company for damages caused by the renter, or theft except charges due to the below mentioned “Exceptions To An All Inclusive Insurance”.
In order to do so we need you to strictly follow the below instructions :

You have immediately to inform the car rental company.
In case of theft or damage or an accident with somebody else you have to contact the police and take a written report.
When you return the car you have also to make a theft or a damage report with the car rental company.
To get back the excess, you have to send the below documents to Economycarrentals by post:

Theft or damage report and police report.
Copy of the rental contract.
Receipts of payment, to prove what you have paid, and your credit card statement wherewe can see which amount that was taken from your credit card.

Economycarrentals will not refund the excess, should any of the above documents be missing or not following the terms and conditions on our web page, see "Exceptions to All Inclusive Insurance" and/or the car rental agreement.
The conditions on the car rental agreement are legally binding to the hirer.

Firstly it says that a police report is only required when someone else is involved so you could argue that there is no proof that someone else was involved and it could have been you opening the door into something/ scraping the car on an over hanging bush etc

Secondly there is no requirement for it to be reported in a timely maner so there is nothing to stop you reporting it to the police in Lisbon now and obtaining a copy of the report

Kathryn_K

Actually it says "In case of theft or damage or an accident with somebody else you have to contact the police and take a written report.
When you return the car you have also to make a theft or a damage report with the car rental company."
So what I understand is "In case of a damage (I take away the "or") you have to contact the police and take a written report."
This is what I did. On August I rented a car with EconomyCarRentals in Faro and I took it from their supplier AutoJardim.
Unfortunately one day, when I was parking the car, I scratched it (very minor scratch) and as I had read the terms and conditions I called the police. The police came in 10 minutes and the procedure did not take more than 30 minutes. When I returned from my holidays I sent all the documents to EconomyCarRentals and they refunded the money (250 euro) immediately!
So, I think you should read the terms follow the instructions...

FannyHill

Phoning the police to come out if you scratch your car sounds like complete nonsense don't they have any real crime to deal with ?

traveller78

We rented a car from them as it provided the excess waiver included (so no need for extra car insurances). However, when my family arrived at the airport, the local car provider convinced us that there was not extra excess waiver included and made us paid for another one. When I complained to the company, they simply said we should have not paid for the extra waiver, but would not refund it. It is unfair to have local providers convincing you to buy extra insurance that you have already paid for.
Will never use again!