charged for excess insurance even with third party insurance

paulwp

Hi

I rented a car for about £150 for 7 days, but when I went to collect the car, they said I needed a credit card in my name to avoid paying their excess insurance. Even though I have rental car insurance that I got from Questor, after reading about renting cars here on MSE.
I called Questor who spoke to the desk clerk of the Easirent office, but they couldn't help me...
So what's the use of getting this third party insurance if I don't have a credit card?
I've rented from Europcar several times before and they haven't done that, they just put a hold on my debit card.

Is there any chance I can get my money back? I paid about £400 in excess insurance and cross border fees as I'm going to Belgium.

Also, it said unlimited mileage, but apparently only valid in the UK??

Thanks
Paul

NiftyDigits

A hold on your debit card? I'm sure that it is stated in the T&C that you will need a CC for the excess of up to 1200€. Did you have the equivalent of 1200€ on your debit card for them to take? You need a CC for that or you need to pay the hirer's excess waiver.
So you won't be getting your money back. Though you can ask Questor for your money back if you didn't require their insurance....

paulwp

ok, I just completely misread the info on this site. sorry

However to do this you NEED A CREDIT CARD as if you don’t use their excess insurance the car hire firm will often ask for a €600+ deposit on the card – and they may also say you don’t get breakdown cover.

well actually, they also took a deposit on my mum's credit card.
Guess I should've read the google reviews, look at Easirent Manchester Airport

callum9999

paulwp wrote: »

ok, I just completely misread the info on this site. sorry



well actually, they also took a deposit on my mum's credit card.
Guess I should've read the google reviews, look at Easirent Manchester Airport

Well if they did take a deposit from a credit card and still forced you to buy the excess insurance you have a case for them to refund it - but I'd imagine that would be pretty hard to prove. Their conditions state that if you have a credit card then you can reject the Super CDW insurance. You'd have to have paid the cross border fees either way though.

eDicky

paulwp wrote: »

So what's the use of getting this third party insurance if I don't have a credit card?
I've rented from Europcar several times before and they haven't done that, they just put a hold on my debit card.

You happened to pick a rental firm who insist on a credit card for pre-authorisation when their own excess cover is not purchased. Some may accept a debit card or even a prepaid card, perhaps putting whatever card you present in their terminal to see if it is acceptable.

Any separate cover you have from a third party such as Questor is of no concern to the rental firm, so it is of no use if you don't have a card acceptable to them to guarantee the excess.

You could have avoided the cross border charges by flying to somewhere on the continent and renting from there.