Sixt care hire - paying with a debit card

Baileydog421

Hi,

I have started this thread to hopefully help anyone who may have been in a similar situation to mine.

I live in England, and was travelling to Northern Ireland for a couple of days, and I booked a hire car online with Sixt to pick up at Belfast airport.

When I got there, they advised that as I was using a debit card, I must purchase the 'super top cover' to reduce my liability to £100. This cost me around £46 for 2 days rental, the car itself only cost £28 for 2 days!

I contacted Sixt and they advised me this was part of their terms and conditions. I have since gone back through the booking process to establish if this is correct. During your booking, you are asked to agree to 'rental conditions' and 'terms and conditions'.

In the rental conditions, it is advised that if picking a car up in N. Ireland, you must purchase the super top cover. However, in the terms and conditions it states if using a debit card, the deposit will be £250 + expected costs (rental price).

As you can see, the 2 sets of conditions are contradictory. The terms and conditions do not contain anything suggesting I'm going to have to pay for extra insurance if I'm using a debit card.

After much contact with Sixt, they have finally realised this, and agreed to refund the additional payment I made. They also advised they acknowledge the error with their terms and conditions, and will rectify this.

I also contacted trading standards for them to investigate this too.

Essentially, if you have hired a car from Sixt and picked up in Northern Ireland, if they have charged you extra because you have used a debit card, this charge should not apply and you can claim this back.

RyanMcCann90

Hi,

I've literally just got home from the Sixt beside international airport. I had a feeling these guys were chancing their luck so I said I'd come home and check it out. Delighted to have found your post.

I've rented a car today until Friday night and a 64 quid rental became £201.87!

I desperately need the car this week so had no other choice but to pay it.

I don't really understand the contradictions you've stated and I want to be prepared when I return the car.

Can you tell me possibly in a bit more detail what I need to say in order to get my 140 quid back. I just know it's ridiculous and I can't afford it.

Otherwise, I'll just contact a solicitor and get it back that way.

Kind regards and I look forward to hearing from you,
Ryan

RyanMcCann90

Hi,

I've literally just got home from the Sixt beside international airport. I had a feeling these guys were chancing their luck so I said I'd come home and check it out. Delighted to have found your post.

I've rented a car today until Friday night and a 64 quid rental became £201.87!

I desperately need the car this week so had no other choice but to pay it.

I don't really understand the contradictions you've stated and I want to be prepared when I return the car.

Can you tell me possibly in a bit more detail what I need to say in order to get my 140 quid back. I just know it's ridiculous and I can't afford it.

Otherwise, I'll just contact a solicitor and get it back that way.

Kind regards and I look forward to hearing from you,
Ryan

PeacefulWaters

Your post needs a bit more detail. Reread it and amend accordingly.

Breaking down costs.

Providing timescales.

Useful stuff like that.

rboyle

Did any of you guys have success getting a refund. I had this exact problem today from the sixt at the international airport. Im going to try and get the extra money i paid for the additional insurance back once ive returned the car and any advice would be much appreciated