I rented a car from Europcar UK in Belfast for one week. The car was fine, like any other hire car.
The trouble started when I was wrongly charged for £4.94 for 4L of fuel that the tank was apparently short when returned. Despite me filling the tank before leaving for the airport (I have proof of this action in my bank statements) and also checking the gauge when I dropped it off.
I was not informed of any issue with the car after my hire period by Europcar, they took the money from my credit card without asking or informing me of the reason. I only discovered the problem a month later when my credit card statement came. Meaning all receipts/evidence could not be found. Luckily I paid by bank card, and I have evidence of me filling the car up on my statement.
It took me over a week to get any sense out of their customer care team, with one person completely getting all the figures wrong. I was informed there was a mistake made in Belfast, but not given any apology and they tried to claim I had already been refunded the extra money.
After many emails and phone calls, I finally got the money refunded, without a proper explanation for what had gone wrong, but I did get an apology for the inconvenience. After basically demanding one.
I have now just received a phone bill for over £10 for all the calls I had to make to their customer care line, as the person handling my case hadn't a clue what they were doing!!!
I am disgusted that they have charged me so much just to sort out their own mess, and that they feel they can take money off people's credit cards without any prior notification, system of appeal and apology. Basically a kind of theft.
Simon Fullerton read more