EuropCar
Fraudulent charges

I rented a car from Europcar at Heathrow when I was in UK recently for my mother's funeral. I had prepaid using a voucher from AutoEurope. The price was very reasonable (CAD$178 for seven days rental).

I returned the car and it was checked in by the Europcar agent who said everything was fine and there were no extra charges. However when I looked at my Visa statement on my return to Canada I discovered a charge of GBP496.92.

Apart from the usual surcharges hidden in the small print (Premium station surcharge etc.) and an exorbitant charge for fuel (which I knew they would charge) there was a a charge of GBP350 listed as "other surcharges".

Europcar (UK) did not respond to my e-mails but when I phoned them and spoke to an agent he informed me that it was for a scratch on the rear of the car. There was no scratch on the car - indeed the check-in agent had accepted the car as in perfect condition.

It seems to me that this is simply a scam - no doubt played upon overseas users who declined the collision damage waiver.

I am currently contesting the charge with Visa, but am not sure what they will be able to do about it.

Have other people been scammed in this outrageous way, I wonder?

Company: EuropCar
Country: United Kingdom
Region: United Kingdom

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