Yet another rental car fuel rip off!!!!!!!

I never thought it would get even worse for fuel rip off charges than it is at the moment but you guessed it another Company is even worse than GOLDCAR....!!!

AVANTAGE CAR RENTAL which I think may have something to do with Hertz.........AVOID   AVOID  AVOID!!!

DOYOUSPAIN.com also has some responsibility here as it reflects badly on them also

Car hired for 6 days from San Javier Airport via DOYOUSPAIN.com I pre-paid for the car and knew that I would be charged for the fuel on arrival however I was totally gobsmacked that the total charge for fuel for a Kia Ceed (not the biggest of vehicles!!) 102.57 euros................  FFS..!!  86 euros was the fuel charge and they have then charged IVA (VAT) on top of that.

Has something changed as I thought fuel already had the IVA (VAT) included????

A total and utter rip off and it won't happen again as they have just lost as many customers as I can convince...  Why do they damage their business by ripping people off as they will just never come back.  First and last time I will ever use them, what is the old saying 'you only get one chance to make a first impression'  well ADVANTAGE you failed miserably

 That is a ripoff we have a Chryslers Grand voyager which we've just filled from empty and it cost us 80 euro, I would think the tank in it is about the size of a kia Ceed, but enough fun try to hire a car with an empty tank and take it back empty I know this is not easy but it is what we try and do when we go back to the UK.  

Hi smivs,

I understand these car hire company's are just trying to make money, but all these underhand tactics and hidden charges do get on people's nerves.

Still, as you say..........lesson learned and we vote with our wallets.

They may have made a few extra quid off you this time, but they might now have lost hundreds of pounds by just one other person reading your thread and deciding to go with a different company.

ww  

The car hire companies operating from inside the arrivals hall are, more or less, operating a cartel. By which I mean it doesn't matter which one you use, you will be charged for petrol at a very high price. I don't believe it is even legal to charge for a full tank and not at least refund what is left in the tank. (If you are hiring for three days or less you may avoid this but I don't think many of us are coming just for two nights!)
I arrived today, and for the first time, I have used Costa Coches. You meet their rep outside the arrivals hall, you sign your contract and you are away in less than a minute after meeting him. Honestly, it was that easy. All the licence checks were done online before hand as was the payment which is taken two days before the rental starts. The car was waiting a few yards away for me. Tank half full, bring it back half full. They have fixed prices for the rental depending on the season.
When I come back in the summer hols I am using Greg from our resort. His contact details are on this forum. I suggest to anyone who needs to rent a car that you try either of these options and so avoid giving your euros to the rip off merchants in the arrivals hall.

And another hire car rip off.....

We booked through Economy Car and got what appeared a good deal, with pick-up at Murcia and drop off at Alicante. When  my wife picked the car up from Centauro (I'm still in UK), she was informed there was a surcharge of 45 euros for dropping car off at a different airport. Never had this before, no mention at all in Economy Car documents about this extra charge! I will be taking Economy Car to task tomorrow morning!!  

This message was last edited by City on 28/06/2012.

Further to below, having read small print in Economy Car's document in does mention extra charge.  That said, never had this charge before, in the countless times we have picked up and dropped off at different airports, and still maintain that it is a rip off!

I have always been charged a fee for dropping off at differing location, both in the UK and abroard. I can assure £45 isn't a rip off. Charging £85  when collecting car for a fiesta is a rip off for sure, when the fuel light came on I couldn't get 40 euro's in let alone £40's.

I had prebooked with economy cars some months ago................... never again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Advantage are based in the car park in a van thought they might be different!!! once bitten etc....!!

FROM ANOTHER FORUM-----------------Booked as usual with DoYouSpain, arrived at Murcia and proceeded to collect my car at the Europcar desk. Usual hardsell of additional insurance. When I informed the girl that I had annual car hire excess insurance she tried to tell me that this was insufficienrt and became quite aggressive. She told me that if I didn't take the extra insurance I would not be covered for breakdown assistance. I refused again and she became quote stropppy. She then proceeded to take a €900, yes €900! deposit from my credit card saying that the comopaniaes who only took €300 deposit were fly by nights and not as professional as Europcar. She wan't happy when I commented that she could be a little more professional heself! I'll check the terms and condiiotns in futuren before I confirm my booking and never again with Europcar

We always use Economy car hire and because of this we ask them to request a full/full fuel policy for us which they do and is accepted and honoured  by the hire company at both Murcia and Alicante.

I take an annual top up insurance policy from www. iCarhireinsurance.com cost me £35 for this year. Still have to pay the €300 deposit (which you get back) but a lot cheaper than taking the hire company insurance.

I think that all the main hire companies include an admin fee of 20/25 euro in the fuel cost (presumeably for someone taking the the car to a garage and filling it up). This together with the premium fuel price that you normally pay at fuel stations next to airports (same as motorways in UK) makes the fuel charges seem excessive. Kia Ceed fuel tank 53 litres @ 1.50 euro (price last time we were over earlier in year) = 79.50 euro + admin fee 25euro = 104.50euro. Unfortunately it all quickly adds up and we all pay for the 2-5 litres left in the tank, even when the low fuel light has been on for a while, when we return the car. Just wish I could get the 5litre petrol can over in the hand luggage!!!! 

Regards,

David

I always use Sixt. I make my reservation trough sixt.de, the price I pay is the price agreed on the time of booking. Get the car with full tank, return the car with full tank. Never any hassel.

I read the same stories over & over again about the car rental rip offs. When are you all going to learn and start using Gregory on site. I too used to be a car snob but when these companies are constantly stealing your money you just have to bite the bullet and say enough is enough. The service you get from Gregory  is second to none and if we all support him we could all benefit financially. Let this be the last thread about Car Rental Rip Offs PLEASE. 

Hi Guys

How does Gregory work? Do you collect car at airport or on Condado. I'm not a car snob, but must be clean, reliable, and legal (tyres).

Hi City

All Gregory's cars are clean, reliable and legal but they are slightly older models, and I am using him again tomorrow and will not hear of a bad word said about him. I visit Condado several times a year and he has saved me hundreds of pounds just in the last year and is a very hard working honest guy. He even picks you up at the airport (San Havier & Alicante) and drops you back off so you don't have to worry if you've had a drink, or even about getting lost. Just compare his prices to taxis and other rental companies and decide for yourself.

Bee

 Hi

I have been using Gregory since he started his business and his service has always been fantastic.  As mentioned already he charges very reasonable prices and collects/drops off from all local airports which saves you time & money once you arrive in Spain.  Yes, his cars are slightly older but they're all well maintained, come with full insurance and he'll provide booster seats if req'd.

In the past I have also used Record car rentals and Car Hire 3000 - never had a problem with either.  Book early and their prices are competitive.  Sign up to their emails and they will let you know of special offers etc and you can also build up reward points to use as cashback off future rentals.  They charge around 4 euros a day (upto a max of 40euros) for ultra inclusive insurance which - in my opinion - is worth paying as it covers you for absolutely everything and you don't need to even bother checking the car for scratches, bumps etc when you drop it off.  Pretty sure you can book on a full/full basis with regard to petrol.

San

Where can I get in touch with him, ? does he rent out if staying in othere areas near by?

 Hi Bertie

Have sent you a PM in response to your query.

regards