EuropCar
Europcar Are Exploiting Their Customers

Rental Agreement No.: 2075622009

I pre-booked a small van for a day hire via the internet from Europcar UK Ltd at a quoted 40.25 euros to be collected 19.09.09 from their Etoile Foch depot in Paris France, this quote subsequently morphed into a total of 109.71 euros with CDW insurance and other sundry extra charges and insurances, but not to worry you live and learn.

I was sent to pick up and check the vehicle from reception unaccompanied, the sheet detailed no panel damage and only one small scratch, the reality however was somewhat different with dents, scratches and other defects which took me twenty minutes to list, after which back to reception to get the damage verified and counter-signed.

The van was returned after six hours and the hire desk assistant after having the vehicle checked informed me that everything was O.K. and bade me "au revoir", I insisted that before I was prepared to go anywhere I required a printed final invoice and also return of the credit card authorisation slip for the security deposit of 700.00 euros, which he had told me at the time of the hire would not be processed and would be destroyed after the vehicle had been brought back in the same condition as it originally had left the agency, he point blank refused my request for return of the slip but did eventually and after a great deal of fuss on my part print out a final invoice, and again insisted that the security deposit would not be processed.

Over three weeks later I now find that a total of 809.71 euros has been taken from my credit card account for a six hour hire of a small van, and Europcar, their central office and the Paris depot are ignoring all communication.

I have informed my credit card issuer of the unauthorized charge in respect of the security deposit, which according to Europcar`s own terms and conditions is refunded at the termination of the hire, I am currently taking advice on possible civil and / or criminal proceedings against this company along with reporting them to the Office of Fair Trading and European Trading Standards.