WARNING! CarTrawler / Argus Car Hire - PepeCar AVOID!

UsOrThem

If you calculate these extra rip off fees together and add to the hire cost, they work out at the same rental price as a transparent agreement from the main rental companies. And based on the fact they have a reputation to preserve you have more leverage arguing any problems with them if they arise. Don't gamble on a tenner or so as the odds are against you.
The 'return tank empty' extra is an absolute farce to attract the unsavvy, avoid this.
Oh and I can't recommend enough the idea of getting UK based car hire excess insurance. Not only is it significantly cheaper than 'at the desk cover', if they do screw you for damage, just say yup fine and walk away knowing you are covered.

baldmosher

"rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental reservation agency - arranging over 5 million rentals a year in more than 28,000 locations worldwide"

2 pages of complaints is probably pretty good going, and since Argus is just an agent for other rental agencies, I would suggest perhaps that they're not to blame for any of these issues, rather, it's the hire companies themselves.

I think they are all pretty bad, although Hertz tend to be one of the best in my experience, they are also the most expensive. I prefer to use these rent-a-banger type places as you know you're getting a shack to begin with!

I've had a terrible experience with Enterprise (Manchester) in the past where they tried to charge me £750 excess for damage that already existed on the car when I'd collected it. The person checking out the rental had neglected to mark down one particular scrape amongst a catalogue of light damage to the car. "You signed the damage form sir"! Thankfully the manager dug out the previous damage forms that highlighted damage in that rough area, so there was reasonable doubt that the staff checking out the car did so with enough care. After that I always sign the form "N/I" (not inspected) to excuse my position, in case anyone pulls that stunt on me again.

...and that was nothing to do with Argus or CarTrawler but still relevant to the thread I think

cubegame

To add another side to the argument, Cartrawler have just refunded me some additional costs charged by their rental partner which should have been included.


This took one polite email. Excellent service IMO.

beantownbertie

We hired an almost new Ford Fiesta from Noleggiare in Bergamo Airport via Cartrawler/Argus Car Hire which broke down after 20 mins on the A4 autostrada. We managed to arrange for a breakdown truck which dropped us off at the nearest service station and Noleggiare sorted out a taxi to take us back to their rental desk and arrange for a substitute vehicle. However they insisted that we paid the taxi fare (£95.00) which we would then have to recover from "the agent" i.e. Cartrawler/Argus. In spite of a complaint email requesting a refund we have got nowhere. Does anyone have a telephone number for such complaints or any suggestions ??

Sarahgeorgey

Do not use Cartrawler! Nothing is explained prior to arriving at your destination foreign country to collect your car, at which point it is too late! I used car rental provider Drivalia via CarTrawler while in Alicante, Spain and we experienced numerous problems.

Despite being instructed by Cartrawler not to purchase the car insurance Drivalia offers you on arrival and to just put down the refundable deposit instead, we were near-forced to pay the non-refundable insurance premium because a) we couldn't pay the deposit via American Express (despite using the same card to make the initial booking) and b) when presented another credit card of a non-driver, they wouldn't accept it. We ended up paying an extra €151 on top of the approx £300 we had already paid for the booking; it is also of note, that - coincidentally - we were able to pay this with the card of a non-driver.

We also hired a child car seat which we believed to be included in the initial price (it wasn't) and the staff refused to help us fit it in the car - claiming it made them liable. In fact, in my eyes their negligence would surely only heighten their liability?! Staff were extremely rude, abrupt and cold at Drivalia - an altogether AWFUL customer experience!

We are currently in correspondence with CarTrawler, who show a lack of understanding and are refusing to claim responsibility. I will not be using their services again; avoid them like the plague!

Laurawonder

I have found car trawler almost impossible to contact, they don't represent their customers and feels like they are in cahoots with the companies to scam customers of extra charges. I had a problem with Avis who charged the cost of the car for a sat nav! No explanation, nothing described on the agreement and car trawler will not properly investigate. Would not trust them again despite my own naievness in the situation

[Deleted User]

stoneman wrote: »

Sorry to hear about that but as you will eventually find out you are flogging a dead horse. I am afraid that car hire has gone the same way as air travel, to get the lowest fare you actually pay more. "Most" companies now charge for a full tank of fuel, charge if you damage the underside of the car, or get a flat tyre. And the one that really sticks with me is charging for breakdown. So if there badly maintained car goes belly up on you while you have it you have to pay yourself to get it taken back to them.

Surely this is illegal? You're paying for a service - you pay them and they provide you with a car to use. If the equipment they provide i.e the car is not up to job then surely they are not meeting their end of the bargain.

[Deleted User]

ArgusCarHire wrote: »

Dear Sir / Madam,

Following your recent post on Money Saving Supermarket, I am sorry to hear of your experience concerning charges applied by your car rental provider for the security deposit. The normal policy is indeed for the Car Rental Provider to hold the deposit on your credit card and not to actually apply this charge.

If you have lost on funds between the amount charged and credited to your account, we would be happy to refund you the difference. In order to refund you any difference we would require a copy of your credit card statement to show the charge applied and the credit provided. So that this matter can be dealt with promptly please email your statement to my direct email address [EMAIL][/EMAIL]. Also if you could provide me with your booking details:

Name of reservation
Booking Ref
Dates
Location
Car Rental Provider

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience so I can assist you further.

Kind regards,

Anyone else thinking their only doing this because of the bad publicity on this forum?

£40 is nothing to them knowing full well that 99.9% of other people will just grumble a bit and pay up.

[Deleted User]

DIY_holiday_maker wrote: »

I have just returned from a golfing trip to Florida. Had booked an Intermediate size car to be collectedin terminal at Tampa airport through Argus car hire. When email booking voucher arrived it said I was to collect my car from SIXT on 5th level of terminal. I have travelled through Tampa airport many times and never seen a SIXT desk. Transpired their office was 2 miles from the airport with a shuttle service to their office on W Cypress Street. When I arrived they said they had no intermediate cars available, only car they could provide was a Dodge caravan! Travelling on my own this was not acceptable and I refused. They then suggested a Nissan Verso which "had just been returned". How convenient I thought. They also put a charge on my credit card to cover for possible excess in event of damage to the car although they were aware that I had insurance cover for this. I then had to negotiate my way to their office again through very busy traffic when I returned the car at the end of my holiday. I have to say the return was very efficient and I was taken by shuttle bus to the airport. However I had specifically booked to collect my car in terminal to avoid the delays and difficulties of waiting for shuttle bus etc. After a long day travelling I did not appreciate the almost 2 hours it took to get on my way to my destination.
I have sent an email complaint to Argus Car Hire/Car Trawler but so far had no response.
I would add my name to the others on this forum who advise you avoid Argus Car Hire. Surprised that with so many complaints about them, they are still included on Money Supermarket web search list.

Not being funny but whenever I've used a third party it generally says if collection is on or off airport?

Know what you mean about not having the car in usa. I've had this and they once said I'd have to wait 2-3 hours for cars to come back in or PAY for an upgrade. I kicked off and said no you provide me with a car for FREE at least up to the one I've paid for.

Out of interest what insurance cover did you have? I generally arrange my own but know they have the right to take a deposit. After all, they have no knowledge of your insurance or whether you're lying about it so they have to cover themselves. Not an issue for me.

[Deleted User]

Car rental in spain is a nightmare. Especially via these companies like car trawler.

I've only experience of alicante but there are 3/4 car hire companies there I wouldnt go near. Read the reviews.

They make the price look cheap then you find out you have to pay for a full tank (even if you dont use it) at inflated rates. So its not so cheap then!

Recommendation for alicante. Avoid cartrawler etc and use centauro. They dont do the fuel con or any of that. Decent company. They took a deposit for damage but thats fair enough and it was all clear and plain. Then they refunded it back the same day I returend the car.