Ripped off by Europcar in Portugal

frankie

I think the op is OK regarding the fuelling issue and is more concerned about the fact that his credit card was debited after returning the car for a service he/she did not agree with.

So, are such issues covered if one were to take out one of the car hire excess insurance products and so could possibly claim from them.

How indeed can you stop a car hire company debiting your card at a later date, as we see in some circumstances on this forum? Do you need to get some sort of final invoice on returning the car?

Finally, I do believe that many car hire insurances do not cover the car's interior anyway?

andygb

frankie wrote: »

I think the op is OK regarding the fuelling issue and is more concerned about the fact that his credit card was debited after returning the car for a service he/she did not agree with.

So, are such issues covered if one were to take out one of the car hire excess insurance products and so could possibly claim from them.

How indeed can you stop a car hire company debiting your card at a later date, as we see in some circumstances on this forum? Do you need to get some sort of final invoice on returning the car?

Finally, I do believe that many car hire insurances do not cover the car's interior anyway?

To be honest, I warned someone months ago on here, regarding car hire in Portugal, and advised them to take out the maximum cover when doing so. I know for a fact, that years ago, the insurance did not cover damage to the - interior, tyres or roof:eek:
I don't personally know how they can get away with this, but "forarmed is forwarned". We were very lucky, because on the last but one day in the Algarve, our car received extensive damage in a car park whilst we were eating lunch. The front wing was totalled (headlamp gone), driver's door caved in. Lots of people must have seen what happened, but nothing was said and no help given. Luckily, we were close to our hotel, so we could drive it there, and then on to Faro in the morning.
When I returned it, the guy looked shocked, until I explained what happened. He then took half an hour looking at the insurance we had taken out. Nothing more was said.

Alias_Omega

We have a similar charge within the UK, where they claim they required to refill 14litres.

We have emailed Europcar informing them we wish to Dispute the charge, and carry out a chargeback.

Is it now up for Europcar to prove that it was not full, or is the onus on us to prove that it was full?

Dom3408

I have just posted on a related thread regarding this. Standard practice for most rental companies for rentals longer than about 4 days is to charge the customer for a full tank of petrol, and at the end of the rental the car has to be returned empty. At least it is so in my experience, which amounts to several dozen rentals in Europe over the last 10 years.

I have just been charged 90 Euro by Europcar in Gran Canaria for a full tank for a 1.0 Litre Kia Picanto with a 35 litre capacity. This would have cost about 40 Euro on the forecourt at the petrol station next to the airport. I chose this deal by using Travelsupermarket, which led me to Argus/Interrent. The small print did not explain that the tank of fuel was what appears to be a fixed cost option, and I have not experienced an excessive charge such as this with any other rental company. I have complained to Europcar and Argus/Interrent to no avail. I have now raised the matter with Travelsupermarket.

I do not expect to have any joy with my complaint, but I do at least want other users to be aware that Europcar are acting in a manner which is disingenuous to say the least.