Sixt Rent a Car Rip-off Scam

eifgriff

I recently reserved a van from Sixt Rent a Car by completing their on-line application form. I was quoted £233.99 for the hire which I paid for it on-line. When I checked my current account moments later, it was apparent that £467.98 had been debited from my account by Sixt. I queried this with Sixt who informed me that it is standard policy to authorise twice the cost from the account although there is no mention of this in their terms and conditions. Immediately, I cancelled the reservation and expected the amount to be credited into my account. This has not been the case.
Five days later and the amount is still absent from my account. Surely the fact they have taken twice the agreed amount without informing me first constitutes to fraud and the fact they are stalling its return adds insult to injury. I am disgusted that a company should be allowed to behave in this manner. I have complained, and numerous phonecalls have not provided a satisfactory response.

Has anyone else had unsavoury experiences such as this? What course of action was taken and what was the outcome?

dzug

Seems quite a common practice these days, not only with car hire but with hotels and flights as well. When you make the booking they 'reserve' the money but don't take it immediately. They later actually take the money but 'forget' to cancel the reservation. It does drop out of the system automatically if not claimed after a few days (not sure how many).

Didn't realise it was 'policy' with some companies though - thought it was just carelessness.

eifgriff

It's a policy which they seem to have neglected to mention in their T & C's. Quite sure it still is a form of fraud to remove more than an agreed amount from one's account. I fanyone has any advice on the course of action to reclaim this money please let me know.

Keldin

I have had it i the past when renting a car that the hire company want a deposit to cover the excess in case of damage. They take this by authorising the deposit amount on my credit card which does not mean that the money is charged to my credit card but since it is authorised they are guaranteed it is available and I cannot cancel it. If I return the car damaged they simply charge this amount to my to my credit card.
Not sure how this works when using a debit card as they don't do the same authorising system as credit cards.

K

eifgriff

When using a debit card they authorise the amount from your current account which means you cannot access the money from your account. Fact of the matter is that I cancelled the reservation and the money still has not been credited back into my account AND it's not in the terms and conditions that they take this. I have booked another van with another company. I rang around to get the best deal and also asked what amount would be debited from my account, none of the other companies said they take any additional amount except one who take an extra £100 as a deposit refundable on return - but at least I was made aware of that before proceeding. I pride myself on not using credit cards but I think for occasions like this it is best to have one.

Hertz = Pay when booking plus £100 (Credit Card only)
U-Drive = Pay on collection (Any method)
Sixt = Fraud, Fraud, Fraud!

eifgriff

Finally got the money credited back into my account today after a rather heated phone conversation with Sixt customer services. All they had to do was fax details of the transaction to my bank, then the bank claim the money back by midnight. So if anyone else gets a similar problem, get a fax number for your bank customer services, then call Sixt customer services on 01246 506220 (say no to 0870) and request a fax to your bank.

I'm a bit happier now but still annoyed at this company for their poor management of this issue. It should not be allowed to happen.

PBA

You're getting confused between taking money from your account and authorising it. No money has been taken from your account, so no fraud has been committed. They just authorise funds so they know it's available in case you damage the vehicle when you bring it back. Pretty much any rental place will do this, though it would more commonly be done when you pick up the vehicle rather than when you reserve it.

eifgriff

If no money was taken then why couldn't I access it?! My point is, why is there no warning that they are going to "authorise" twice the agreed amount, nor is it in their T & C's. If they quote 233.99 you expect 233.99 to go out not 467.98! And that my friend is unauthorised activity of one's account ie FRAUD.