Europcar ripped me off! Do not ever hire a car from them.
I booked a small car for 20hr period in Feb from Europcar at Sydney Airport which turned into a disaster. Firstly it was 11pm by the time i was to pick up the car after a late flight of which i was processed by a TRAINEE attendant. This is key to the story because although she had a person looking over her shoulder giving her instructions she still omitted to run through the damage report stage of the booking.
I have hired several cars although this was the first time i had used EUROPCAR (and now the last!). I did not question the missing step of which most car companies scribble the damages of the car on a piece of paper before you sign off on taking the car. This step ensures that you do not get forced to pay for damage you did not do. So i DID NOT see nor sign any damage report for this car.
Long story short i returned the car the next day after really only driving a few kilometers to be told that a stone chip in the windscreen was going to cost me $350!! I assured them it had not happened whilst in my possession but the guy Peter was very smug in saying it was my fault. I argued with him and Penny the manager about the issue and neither of them would provide the UNSIGNED damage report to clear my case. They instead debited my card for $350 to have chip repaired and gave the the number of the Airport Manager Aleem Rafik to follow up the issue with. Needless to say everytime i call him he does not answer and i am given a message that the message bank is full before it hangs up on me!
I am pissed off that Europcar would stand behind this small print condition whilst all the staff sneakily set about not providing the original unsigned damage report to back my claim in an attempt to win the point they were so arrogantly pushing!
This is a warning that when you sign with Europcar you may be signing up for more than you bargained for, money wise! I have rerun the situation over and over again in my head and i am nearly convinced that from the way they handled the situation that there must be bonuses for repair fines!
I am looking for a formal apology, my $350 repaid and compensation for the ordeal before i will cease voicing my distaste for this Europcar experience.
Acintya.
RESERVATION NUMBER XXXXXX
Acintya
Collingwood
Australia
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