WhatsApp from car hire company asking for photo of passport and driving licence - normal?

michaels

Have rented a car in Morocco next month.  Just got a WhatsApp apparently from the hire company asking me to send them a photo of my licence and passport. 
Never had this before with car hire where these are normally taken either at pick up or online in advance.

Does this sound genuine?  They have sent me a copy of my voucher from the online company/agent I booked through.

Thoughts/experience of the same?

eskbanker

Maybe worth naming the company, in case others have direct experience?

michaels

eskbanker said:

Maybe worth naming the company, in case others have direct experience?

Thanks

Company is Alma Car and 'broker' is Enjoy Travel

jbrassy

Were you not able to rent from a more mainstream car hire company, e.g. Hertz/Thrifty, Sixt, Europcar/Keddy, Avis/Budget, Enterprise/Alamo?

michaels

jbrassy said:

Were you not able to rent from a more mainstream car hire company, e.g. Hertz/Thrifty, Sixt, Europcar/Keddy, Avis/Budget, Enterprise/Alamo?

Umm - I went on the boking website and selected at terminal and the type of car I wanted and chose the cheapest, as I do every time I rent a car.  IN general I find even if I chose a local sounding brand it is also an affiliate of one of the International brands

jbrassy

OK, there are lots of stories on here from people who rent from local companies like Gold Car where lots of stuff seems to go wrong. Sometimes choosing the cheapest provider is not the best option. Personally, I would be willing to pay a bit more and use a company that I've heard of as I know things are less likely to go wrong. Avis would never text me on WhatsApp asking for photos of my driving licence and passport. 

jimi_man

jbrassy said:

OK, there are lots of stories on here from people who rent from local companies like Gold Car where lots of stuff seems to go wrong. Sometimes choosing the cheapest provider is not the best option. Personally, I would be willing to pay a bit more and use a company that I've heard of as I know things are less likely to go wrong. Avis would never text me on WhatsApp asking for photos of my driving licence and passport. 

Seconded. The tales of woe on here about this sort of thing go back years!

https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.comhttps://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.com

The reviews for Enjoy Travel aren't great...... 

jbrassy

For what it's worth, I think there's nothing wrong about using a price comparison website. I use booking.com for hire cars as I get a Genius discount. However, I filter out all the rubbish car hire companies and just focus on the ones I've heard of which I listed above. 

michaels

jimi_man said:

jbrassy said:

OK, there are lots of stories on here from people who rent from local companies like Gold Car where lots of stuff seems to go wrong. Sometimes choosing the cheapest provider is not the best option. Personally, I would be willing to pay a bit more and use a company that I've heard of as I know things are less likely to go wrong. Avis would never text me on WhatsApp asking for photos of my driving licence and passport. 

Seconded. The tales of woe on here about this sort of thing go back years!

https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.comhttps://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.com

The reviews for Enjoy Travel aren't great...... 

Mixed reviews - 1x5 star, 25x1 star.....

jimi_man

michaels said:

jimi_man said:

jbrassy said:

OK, there are lots of stories on here from people who rent from local companies like Gold Car where lots of stuff seems to go wrong. Sometimes choosing the cheapest provider is not the best option. Personally, I would be willing to pay a bit more and use a company that I've heard of as I know things are less likely to go wrong. Avis would never text me on WhatsApp asking for photos of my driving licence and passport. 

Seconded. The tales of woe on here about this sort of thing go back years!

https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.comhttps://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/enjoytravel.com

The reviews for Enjoy Travel aren't great...... 

Mixed reviews - 1x5 star, 25x1 star.....

Yes. You’ll probably be fine but having been bitten once before with a cheapo car hire company, I won’t do it again and I always book one of the majors. Avis usually, either direct or through BA as part of a holiday. 

Westin

Question if I may.  Was your flight delayed at all?  I just think it very strange that your reserved car was not available for collection. If you arrived as expected and the car rental firm had no cars and you had to make alternative arrangements then I would also be expecting recompense.  If however you were late and missed the assigned pick-up time (perhaps a flight delay or airport issues) then they may argue that they released the car after xx time in line with terms within the booking agreement.