Europcar and insurance scam

jonbuoy99

Searching has shown various posts on outrageously expensive insurance from this company, but this seems like it might be a little different.

I booked a 2 week rental online through one of the comparison sites (rentalscars.com or something similar) and was told 3rd party liability was included and no mention was made of extras being mandatory.. When I arrived, I was told I 'must have a collision damage waiver' and theft coverage, and they could offer me the cheapest option for the bargain price of £406!

I then found the link from the telegraph a few years back about rip off insurance, and how insurance could be purcharsed from another company for a lot cheaper:
telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/insurance/motorinsurance/11026566/Why-Ill-never-buy-car-hire-insurance-again.html (sorry can't yet do clickable links)
So i bought this type of cover from worldwideinsure.com and went back to the counter, only to be told with utter finality europcar does not accept this (insurance from any other company) and it says so in their T&Cs.

I then cancelled the whole contract (although lost a fair chunk of deposit) and went with someone else.

However I went through europcar's T&Cs and can't find anything that states insurance can only be taken out through europcar directly, and can't even find anything that says a collision damage waiver is mandatory.

This seems like fraud to me. Has anyone else been told their insurance policy is invalid by europcar (or any other rental company)?

Thanks!
Jon

a&akay

Hired from them twice over the past 2 years and showed them my CDW from Allianz at £37 for a year. They had no issue with that and I don't believe it's compulsory either. Allianz have a UK office in case of Ombudsman involvement down the line. Claimed for a stone chip on an alloy £105.

stevenhp1987

jonbuoy99 wrote: »

This seems like fraud to me. Has anyone else been told their insurance policy is invalid by europcar (or any other rental company)?

Thanks!
Jon

What insurance did you purchase? What country were you renting from? Some countries (e.g. Mexico) won't recognise CDW policies purchased outside that country.

Car insurances in the UK don't cover rental cars, you need to purchase CDW if it's not included. Most companies include some sort of basic CDW (not all) which you can topup with your own private policy.

jonbuoy99

Thanks. I want sure about the cdw, but I had a very strong feeling the part about bit accepting other company's insurance was house sh*t. Now just to figure out the best way to go after them.

jonbuoy99

About NOT accepting, that should read. And merry Christmas!

jonbuoy99

This was in the UK, Manchester airport. The policy I bought was from worldwideinsure.com (sorry, still can't do links).
However, the staff member refused to even look at the policy ('says in our T&Cs that you have to buy insurance from us').
I'm a UK citizen but living in Canada at the moment, hence having to hire a car for visits back here.

stevenhp1987 wrote: »

What insurance did you purchase? What country were you renting from? Some countries (e.g. Mexico) won't recognise CDW policies purchased outside that country.

Car insurances in the UK don't cover rental cars, you need to purchase CDW if it's not included. Most companies include some sort of basic CDW (not all) which you can topup with your own private policy.

brianposter

jonbuoy99 wrote: »

I'm a UK citizen but living in Canada

This may well be the problem. Are not quotations for car hire in North America normally quotations for hire with no insurance ?
As far as I am aware it is also only in America that providing a separate insurance is normal practice, so Europcar may well want to specify how damage is covered.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

The 3rd party insurance policies make a point of saying that their contract is with you. You tell the insurers that you do not want CDW and you provide a credit card to cover the potential loss which you then personally claim back.

If you have agreed to hire and there is no mention of mandatory cover then I would say that that is an unfair condition - bait and switch is the American term. Probably a rogue employee after commission. Formal complaint. ASA might be interested if Euopacar stick to their guns as if they do not make it plain that the minimum cost is 400 more then they have broken lots of rules.

jonbuoy99

brianposter wrote: »

This may well be the problem. Are not quotations for car hire in North America normally quotations for hire with no insurance ?
As far as I am aware it is also only in America that providing a separate insurance is normal practice, so Europcar may well want to specify how damage is covered.

The online quote was for car hire with 3rd party cover. This didn't include CDW or theft cover. Nothing was mentioned about the fact I needed to take this cover out or who with. I can't see how there is any material difference than if I were a UK resident, as nowhere was I asked if I had existing motor insurance of any kind - I could be UK resident who doesn't even own a car.

IanMSpencer - thanks. I am going to complain to the British vehicle rental and leasing association, and see what they make of it! (found them on a Which? advice page).

brianposter

jonbuoy99 wrote: »

I can't see how there is any material difference than if I were a UK resident, as nowhere was I asked if I had existing motor insurance of any kind - I could be UK resident who doesn't even own a car.

Your residence is relevant because the website asks, or makes assumptions about, who is renting. This may affect both the quotations and the terms and conditions.
Were you asked for a credit card ?

jonbuoy99

Yes, paid for with a Canadian credit card, and a credit card provided on attempted pick up. Canadian address provided on booking.

As this was an airport car rental branch, it is a pretty predictable chance that people booking will not be uk residents, yet still no warning of the 400 quid extra compulsory charge (if I want the car) on pick up. That does not seem even slightly reasonable to me.