Car Hire Warning

[zebo]

When we picked up our fully paid-up rental car at Denver airport, the details were done on an electronic hand set. In the past, with paper contracts, we were asked if we wanted the extra insurances and declined them or they were never mentioned. This time the desk clerk confirmed that I would have to pay the one-way rental of $300 and some taxes, all of which I knew. When the final bill came through it was for over $850, they'd pre-checked all the insurances.
I tackled the car-hire company through the UK agent with whom I'd booked the rental and directly with the company. After claiming that I had accepted them and it was my fault, they eventually refunded the money as a "goodwill gesture".
It's worth bearing in mind now that these insurances are now beiong pre-checked but never mentioned, in my case they actually lied when I queried the final amount I would be paying.
I'll know better next time, even after 18 hours flying!

[Hymie]

Glad to hear that you got your money back – the scam of adding insurance at exorbitant cost has been going on for many years (especially in the USA).

I would highly recommend this outfit to provide comprehensive additional car hire insurance (anywhere in the world) at a very competitive rate:

http://www.insurance4...53lzLMCFYXLtAodoWMAdg

Just make sure that you show the policy on collection of the hire car – advising that no further/additional cover is required.

[zebo]

I know about Insurance4, but the rental we took covered the excess, the ones they stuck us with were things like medical insurance, who goes to the States without it! I'd specifically asked what was due at Tucson and they blatently lied which I think is why they paid up eventually, plus I can get very stroppy. We'll certainly be more on the ball next time, thought others might like the warning.

[jno]

thanks for that - I haven't had an electronic pickup in the States before. I'll definitely be on the alert for it next time.

[lilacben]

We have had trouble for the last two years in America. In Tampa and Orlando. I have used a auto rental company from the UK, from the internet. that also do auto europe car hire. I booked,paid in full and made a point of sending an email to make sure we would be picked up at Tampa cruise terminal on arrival. On the day we arrived to find no car.....or anyone from the company. Waited an hour...rung the number given to be told no we do not pick you up you have to go to the airport to pick the car up.!! So we had to pay $30 by taxi to get there. This year Orlando. Again I made sure I had asked all the right questions...will you be there.? is the car hire office there? all ok I a told.!! Right get to Orlando airport...office is there..great.!! Book in only to find the return office ( which I had already asked about in Fort Lauderdale and was told yes we could return it to the dock terminal ). Was then told no it has to go to the airport. So we into the Dock Terminal office and told them what had happened and the lady said 'No you can return it here and said the reason we was told not to return it there was because they had charged us $100 to return it there.??? Very nice lady refunded our money and we did take it back there. So from now on I will not believe anything this company's tell you in the UK. Now waiting for our credit card statement to see if it has been corrected. When we got back I complained to the auto europe online and just had a 'sorry we will pass it on'. Oh Ya!!sure.!!