GOLDCAR RENTALS is SCAMMING US - DON'T USE

Al_Charles

GOLDCAR RENTALS SPAIN

When we had finished with the details, passport and liecence checks ETC the rep asked if I wanted "full CDW insurance" I have hired cars on a monthly basis over many years and I am fully aware of exclusions (tyres/glass/keys etc) and so replied that I did not require any extra insurance as I have a £5000 excess car hire policy that will cover the excess to then be told that the car had no excess as NO INSURANCE was in place other than 3rd party, I pointed out on my car rental voucher that I did indeed have CDW cover to be told that was wrong and did not cover cars hired by Goldcar.

The woman who spoke very good english than said that "if you are involved in a crash then we will need to charge you for all repairs and if no extra insurance was purchased a pre payment of 5000.00EUR euro would be taken (from my card) ". I protested but the insistance was still the same, I needed the extra insurance, i insisted it was already included in the cost I had paid for the hire and highlighted the wording on my voucher which backed up my understanding to be told "it is not correct. if you have a crash you only have 3rd party and we will take a 5000.00EUR excess-deposit until the repairs are worked out" - using these words exactly. The rep was basically telling me I had zero cover whereas the paperwork I had and the website tells me I was fully covered. After ten minutes of this I agreed to take the extra cover to start my very short weekend break stress-free and had to pay up what had started at 100.00EUR but after a few minutes of haggle was reduced to 52.00EUR.

On my return of the car and having time to spare before my flight I stood at the Goldcar desk, and it became very clear the insurance is being miss sold to unsuspecting holiday makers that have hired cars in good faith and being scammed at the disk, one poor chap paid over 350.00EUR for what is un-needed insurance.

Also you are advised to return the car empty of fuel as its pre-paid, if you do you will be charged a fee to re-fill it, take it back full and will be given a full refund, this company is just scamming us.

Another scam this firm is doing is charging credit cards in Pounds, I noticed this and was told it could only be charged in pounds and not Euros, I know this not to be true but had given up the will to live after spending over an hour at the desk. This will cost you an extra 2% on exchange rate mark up.

I never Googled Goldcar before my trip but can't understand on my return why this firm is still trading after all the complaints this company has received over many many years.

Obviously_the_best

No

I have to say, if you book direct through their website, and have your head screwed on at the desk, it's still possible to get a good deal from them, and their cars are generally brand new.

NiftyDigits

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

I have to say, if you book direct through their website, and have your head screwed on at the desk, it's still possible to get a good deal from them, and their cars are generally brand new.

Whilst you continue to repeat this, it is clear that they are a very dodgy company, as evidenced by the high level of negative reports.

Just book with a decent company in the first place, rather than this bunch of criminals.

Avoid all involved

Minimalismo

Yes

I too have been ripped off by Goldcar at Malaga airport in October:

When I picked the car up the attendant Jorge was rude and aggressive and lied about the insurance saying I would have to pay the full value of the car of over 20,000 euros if anything went wrong if I didn’t take out their excess insurance policy and that the excess insurance policy I already had was not valid.
I was given no choice as to whether I wished to pay in euros so a 2% handling charge was automatically added to the cost.
The cost of a full tank a fuel at £96 in no way reflects the average price of diesel in Spain even after allowing for the cost of SDR
There was no handbook, the low tyre pressure warning light had not been reset and the back seats were badly marked, but too difficult to see in the dark underground car park.
There was no inspection sheet for me to sign which should show existing marks and scratches etc.
I returned the car with over half a tank full of fuel and was told I would receive a refund for the unused fuel the following day- I didn't.

After contacting the UK agent rentalcars.com they said they would pass my comment on to Goldcar and I should wait 4 weeks for the fuel refund. 4 weeks later and still no refund so I contacted rentalcars again and was told;

'I have contacted Goldcar on your behalf regarding the refund for fuel you have requested.

Goldcar has advised that the vehicle was returned with a little under a ¼ of tank of fuel and that the refuelling costs superseded the refund of fuel left in the vehicle, and therefore no refund is due.

I have disputed this advising that you left ½ a tank of fuel.

Unfortunately Goldcar have advised on this rental no refund will be issued.'

I wrote back again to rentalcar again saying I was disappointed with their response. This is clearly a scam yet rentalcar continue to use them on their website without adequate warnings. As I said the car was returned with over half a tank of fuel, this could have been easily be verified by a member of staff at the time but is wasn't (deliberately I think) Further, to impose another refueling charge on top of the initial one included in the SDR fee is charging twice for the same thing (Goldcar will charge the next customer a fueling fee yet they have already taken one from me). I believe rentalcar to be jointly responsible with Goldcar for being party to this scam and not providing sufficient information regarding this disreputable company.

The reply I got was not helpful advising me that 'our records indicate that we have already addressed your concern. We understand that you are not satisfied with the resolution.

I shan't be using Goldcar or rentalcar again