Unauthorized money taken by rental company

448jamie

I recently checked my bank account using internet banking and found over £80 pounds had been taken in payment to 'EC Vehicle Rental Watford'. I had previously hired cars using 'Europcar - National' and new this to be their reference.

As I had not hired a car from them for over a month I contacted my local branch for further information. I was informed that the company was experiencing 'IT issues' and to contact customer services on 0871 384 0235 at 8p per minute (more for mobiles), as I work away from home I had to call from a mobile!

I called customer services and explained the problem and was advised that the company were indeed experiencing 'IT issues' and that I had been charged for a second time for a car I hired in July 2010! I was given a reference number and told that I would be contacted once they had investigated and tried to resolve the situation. I await a response.

I am posting as at no time has Europcar-National contacted me to advise or apologise for the error. How many people have had money taken from their account and not realised? I have been advised by my bank that it may take up to 5 working days for my money to be returned to my account.

Can this be anything other than fraud!!! They have taken payment from my account for a transaction I have already paid for, it was then up to me to discover their mistake and report it.

maninthestreet

Have you contacted your CC provider and asked why they allowed this £80 debit to your card?

Premier_2

448jamie wrote: »

I recently checked my bank account using internet banking and found over £80 pounds had been taken in payment to 'EC Vehicle Rental Watford'. I had previously hired cars using 'Europcar - National' and new this to be their reference.

As I had not hired a car from them for over a month I contacted my local branch for further information. I was informed that the company was experiencing 'IT issues' and to contact customer services on 0871 384 0235 at 8p per minute (more for mobiles), as I work away from home I had to call from a mobile!

I called customer services and explained the problem and was advised that the company were indeed experiencing 'IT issues' and that I had been charged for a second time for a car I hired in July 2010! I was given a reference number and told that I would be contacted once they had investigated and tried to resolve the situation. I await a response.

I am posting as at no time has Europcar-National contacted me to advise or apologise for the error. How many people have had money taken from their account and not realised? I have been advised by my bank that it may take up to 5 working days for my money to be returned to my account.

Can this be anything other than fraud!!! They have taken payment from my account for a transaction I have already paid for, it was then up to me to discover their mistake and report it.

Yes, it sounds like it was probably just a computer error.

Contact your credit card company as the previous poster suggests.

Premier_2

448jamie wrote: »

I recently checked my bank account using internet banking and found over £80 pounds had been taken in payment to 'EC Vehicle Rental Watford'. I had previously hired cars using 'Europcar - National' and new this to be their reference.

As I had not hired a car from them for over a month I contacted my local branch for further information. I was informed that the company was experiencing 'IT issues' and to contact customer services on 0871 384 0235 at 8p per minute (more for mobiles), as I work away from home I had to call from a mobile!

I called customer services and explained the problem and was advised that the company were indeed experiencing 'IT issues' and that I had been charged for a second time for a car I hired in July 2010! I was given a reference number and told that I would be contacted once they had investigated and tried to resolve the situation. I await a response.

I am posting as at no time has Europcar-National contacted me to advise or apologise for the error. How many people have had money taken from their account and not realised? I have been advised by my bank that it may take up to 5 working days for my money to be returned to my account.

Can this be anything other than fraud!!! They have taken payment from my account for a transaction I have already paid for, it was then up to me to discover their mistake and report it.

Saynoto0870 has the following geographic number as an alternative:

01923 811340

:cool:

fred7777

448jamie wrote: »

Can this be anything other than fraud!!! They have taken payment from my account for a transaction I have already paid for, it was then up to me to discover their mistake and report it.

Yes it can. If it was a mistake and it was not their intention to defraud you.

bigbillbert

I have also had £103 taken from my account by Europcar for a vehicle I hired and paid for over 2 years ago. They have never cotacted me .I have emailed the company but recieved no response in over a week.The card was actually cancelled twelve months ago due to theft.This didn't stop Lloyds Bank paying them though.

worried_jim

Why would Lloyds or any other bank stop the transaction? To a bank it just appears as a transaction on your account, there isn't a little person in a box checking every transaction that goes through your account!

Premier_2

bigbillbert wrote: »

I have also had £103 taken from my account by Europcar for a vehicle I hired and paid for over 2 years ago. They have never cotacted me .I have emailed the company but recieved no response in over a week.The card was actually cancelled twelve months ago due to theft.This didn't stop Lloyds Bank paying them though.

Don't faff about with emails, don't faff about joining internet forums, don't faff about posting on t'internet.

Go directly to your bank and inform them of this apparent unauthorised transaction. Do not pass go, do not collect £200.

:cool:

bigbillbert

As the card used had been cancelled 12 months earlier I would have thought it reasonable for the bank to stop payment. If not what is the point of reporting any stolen or lost card.

bigbillbert

I did go directly to my bank and was told to get in touch with Europcar but thanks for the useless advice i guess i'll go directly to jail

Premier_2

bigbillbert wrote: »

I did go directly to my bank and was told to get in touch with Europcar but thanks for the useless advice i guess i'll go directly to jail

How rude? :mad:

If the bank did indeed give you that advice, I would have advised you what to do next, but I won't with your attitude.

Bye.