Car Hire Scam

Hi

Thought I would post about a problem I have just experienced with car hire.  I booked a car for last week from Do You Spain to be picked up at Murcia airport. I was given a car through Dickmanns.  I also booked Do You Spain full insurance. On arrival I was told by Dickmanns they would not accept the DYS insurance so I had to take out their additional full  insurance.  I used the car for a week and was told to put the key in their van letter box as the office(Van) would not be manned when we departed. This we did.  I have now been emailed by Do You Spain to say Dickmanns state I have damaged the car and because I did not report it are charging me Euro's 150.  This an obvious scam and despite emailing DYS to that effect no reponse from them. They have now taken the money from my credit card, has anyone had this done to them and what recourse have I.

Thanks

. 

Hi,

It has been happening more and more - and not just with Dickmanns.

Notify your credit card company and they will put it 'under dispute'. Also mention the 'double insurance' scam.The vast majority get their money back. 

I have used DoYouSpain on many occasions and make sure I go for Goldcar rental option. Never had a problem with them at all.

The clue may be in the name!! LOL

I always keep insurance4carhire policy going and never have had a problem and even if I do the policy would cover it or fight it. £49 a year well spent I think.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/Car-Hire/Dickmanns-Rent-a-Car-www-dickmannsrentacar-com-review_2515393

David 1 - love your pun.

But I don't think the problem stems from DoYouSpain - I know people who have used them happily.

It looks as though many of the car hire companies are trying to make a fast buck out of renters by saying there is damage.

I have used DYS myself and had no problems. After saying that Ive probably used every car hire outfit in Spain (or it feels like that) with no problems at all.

Now if we want to talk about scams and car hire what about the fuel policy?

The companys that state they are doing you some sort of a favour by offering a full to full policy are always more expensive to the point it makes no difference!

If anyone knows of a company that offers a genuine fair fuel policy with reasonable rates please let us know but I feel it is a hens teeth task.

We have a number of clients who have used Al Andalus Car Hire. Based out of Almeria they also offer a service out of Murcia and Alicante. They offer full-full fuel, a personal meet-and-greet at the airport (so no queues to wait in) with 2 drivers included as standard.

They seem to be about €60 pw more than the full-empty companies which I think works out the same or marginally cheaper. Our clients who ahve used them say they are good so we recommended them to friends who came to stay with us last October and they have nothing but praise for them.

And no - I have no asssociation with them whatsoever!

Can someone explain how paying more for a full-full works out cheaper? Surely the fact you have paid extra already at the time of hire, and then have to fill up the tank again and pay for it yourself (probably costing another €80 or so) when returning the car can't work out better value?

I reckon on the standardcar hire that by paying less for the car at the time of hire and using the tank of fuel already provided (albeit over priced), and then just giving it back without having to pay extra to refill it again on return works out cheaper? Plus some firms even refund any fuel you bring back. Even including the fact that the initial tank of fuel you get is overvalued (including the fueling charge fee I see that is now often included), it is never an additional €60 on the cost of a full tank of fuel, and then have to pay again to refill it on return.

This message was last edited by Frank11 on 07/04/2014.

It all depends on how much you use the car. The whole point is that most people DON'T use a whole tank of fuel.

If you only want it for the convenience of getting to & from the airport and going shopping then it will only be about €20 to fill it before you take it back. Whereas there is a huge cost at the start of the holiday for fuel - usually about €80 even for a tiny car - which is where the hire companies make their money.

Full/Empty hire cost = €100 for 1 week plus €80 for fuel to hire company = €180
Full/Full hire Cost = €160 for 1 week plus say €20 to reffill = €180
So about the same.

Yes if you do lots of miles and use a whole tankful without having to drive "manufactured" miles then full/empty would work out cheaper. But most people don't do this sort of mileage and hate having to give the car back with very little fuel used.

We now use the Centuaro Gold Club (3 hirings plus a points scheme that gives discounts or free hirings as we had last trip). The other advantage as a Gold Club member is that they do not take a security deposit if you refuse their 'Additional' Insurance.

Also Centuaro Gold Club members get a FULL/FULL fuel policy. Their car hire rates are only slightly above the rates advertised on the 'search' web sites such as do you spain for a full/empty option with other companies.

For the add-ons I have a policy with icarhireinsurance.com  which gives 12 months worldwide cover for less than the figure goldcar quote for a few days. If you use this (unless with the Centuaro Gold Club) membership you will still have a security deposit to pay. Google them if you are unsure - my nephew used his global policy in the US to claim and there were no problems at all in doing so. The additional insurance excess for his trip there was $450! so he saved a fortune. the cover is also valid in the UK. I did have a problem with a car last year that could have resulted in a claim against this policy but Centuaro's insurance covered the issue with out recourse to a claim.

When hiring a car ALWAYS take pictures with time & date of any damage AND show the representative BEFORE you drive away.There usually is a report sheet that will be filled out.