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Fuel 'Theft' Policy
gmespana
Posts: 24 Forumite
Does anybody else think the the policy that most of the car hire companies have adopted, of charging you for a full tank of fuel and telling you to bring the vehicle back empty, is sharp practise?
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old system of full tank out and return with a full tank, other than that the hire companies didn't have the opportunity to sell you tank of fuel, get some of it back for nothing, then sell the same fuel again to the next customer.
It is virtually impossible to take a car back empty, how can you possibly judge it? Where as filling up at the garage just before returning the car was easy and fair. I'd love to know how the hire companies defend what amounts to fuel theft, every time they hire a car. It's a win win for them, some cars must come back with half a tank or more, and I don't imagine many will be returned with much less than a gallon or so. They then top the car up, and charge the next customer for a full tank.
I wonder if this practise would stand up as fair and equatable in law. I bet if someone took them to court, they could get the practise outlawed. It just 'aint fair!
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old system of full tank out and return with a full tank, other than that the hire companies didn't have the opportunity to sell you tank of fuel, get some of it back for nothing, then sell the same fuel again to the next customer.
It is virtually impossible to take a car back empty, how can you possibly judge it? Where as filling up at the garage just before returning the car was easy and fair. I'd love to know how the hire companies defend what amounts to fuel theft, every time they hire a car. It's a win win for them, some cars must come back with half a tank or more, and I don't imagine many will be returned with much less than a gallon or so. They then top the car up, and charge the next customer for a full tank.
I wonder if this practise would stand up as fair and equatable in law. I bet if someone took them to court, they could get the practise outlawed. It just 'aint fair!
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Comments
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Use another company.0
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There are companies that do full/full rental. They are usually more expensive though.
You just need to do the maths. Full /empty will work fine for someone touring.0 -
yes it certainly works better than if you're only going to use half a tank. But you still are paying the inflated price per litre and are unable to recoup it whereas with full-full you only pay the actual price of the petrol with no surcharge. With doyouspain and carjet at Alicante for this summer there were various options and we've chosen a full-full with Solmar although don't know if they offer this option at all airports.0
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It would help if they told you before how much premium you are paying for the tank full, usually they will only give you a spread of prices and then hit you for more. Very unfair practice .My infallible way around this and the insurance excess insurance is do not hire a car. Public buses work a treat and you can have a drink lunch time0
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It would help if they told you before how much premium you are paying for the tank full, usually they will only give you a spread of prices and then hit you for more. Very unfair practice .My infallible way around this and the insurance excess insurance is do not hire a car. Public buses work a treat and you can have a drink lunch time
Errrr.... what if you want to a visit places where public buses don't run?0 -
The whole car hire thing really concerns me.
Extended and over-priced insurances, hideous fuel policies, multi-national companies issuing agreements in local language only at the airport, no official systems to take before and after photos of a car's condition and stupidly sized excesses.
Can a €2,000 excess really be justified? I know things have to be paid for but more up front premium and less small print is the honest way to do business. The "cheapest" up front price is not always the best value.0 -
I wouldnt mind paying for a full tank of fuel of they produced the fill up receipt and it was at local market rates. I wont pay for a full tank of fuel at inflated rates when it isnt a full tank and you dont know how much has gone in there. I always search for a full/full supplier but they are getting thin on the ground.
If visiting ibiza i recommend Motos Luis.. a fab company who dont rip you off.Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..0 -
Bob_the_Saver wrote: »Use another company.
Not as simple as you think. Using a comparison site, you don't know which hire company you are getting until you complete the transaction, plus the fact that most of them seem to be doing it these days.0 -
budgetflyer wrote: »There are companies that do full/full rental. They are usually more expensive though.
You just need to do the maths. Full /empty will work fine for someone touring.
I don't believe full/empty is ever fine. You can't take a car back empty, and there is really no need for this arrangement. Full/full should always be an option.0 -
Not as simple as you think. Using a comparison site, you don't know which hire company you are getting until you complete the transaction, plus the fact that most of them seem to be doing it these days.
Don't book through a comparison site then? To be honest, if you don't know who it is or what fuel policy it's not much of a comparison is it? Find a local company, not one of the chains like GlodCar, as the local ones are always the fairest.I don't believe full/empty is ever fine. You can't take a car back empty, and there is really no need for this arrangement. Full/full should always be an option.
As it's been said before, it's your choice whether to book the car from that website. If you don't like it take your business elsewhere.0
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