Problem with car hired on our stolen credit card

Slinky

Earlier this year my partner had his credit card stolen out of the post. Despite the fact it wasn't activated, somebody managed to buy a whole load of mobile phones and airline tickets to Belgium. First we knew about this was when MBNA called to enquire about suspicious amount of activity on the card. A couple of weeks later we got a letter from Europcar in Brussels asking him to return a hire car which had been rented using the card. Now MBNA reckon they never took a transaction of 650 euros from Europcar, but the paperwork we've seen shows the stolen card number on the hire car paperwork. Eventually the car has obviously been found, and now they are demanding another 1100 Euros.

We've reported this stolen card to the police, my partner has phoned and faxed to Europcar in Belgium, but still we keep getting these letters turning up asking for 1100 Euros. I've just refused to sign for one this morning sent by recorded delivery.

My partner has tried to speak to Europcar in the UK to see if they can help, but can never get hold of the right people.

We are going on holiday to Spain in a few weeks, and of course the hire car firm the package company use is Europcar. We're worried about this 'debt' stopping us picking up the car we've paid for.

Has anybody else had a problem like this?