thrifty cars and rentalcars.com AVOID

lolo62

Just been ripped off by these guys. Some really shoddy business going on there with both companies wiping their hands of all responsibility, using their affiliation with rather to do so.
Profiteering on peoples naivety is pretty disgusting.

ger664

Can you expand on this with other then that they are scumbags and rip-off. What exactly happened ?

lolo62

ger664 wrote: »

Can you expand on this with other then that they are scumbags and rip-off. What exactly happened ?

I don't have the energy for the onslaught of trolls that will try and pick holes in my storey.
Anyway that's not why I'm posting, it's merely a warning for anyone thinking of using their 'service'

theteal

is it the insurance that they sting you with at the counter after you thought you've paid for everything already?

killbillvol2

lolo62 wrote: »

I don't have the energy for the onslaught of trolls that will try and pick holes in my storey.
Anyway that's not why I'm posting, it's merely a warning for anyone thinking of using their 'service'

You can't just come on here and slag off a company and then refuse to give any details.

Lima Golf

lolo62 wrote: »

I don't have the energy for the onslaught of trolls that will try and pick holes in my storey.
Anyway that's not why I'm posting, it's merely a warning for anyone thinking of using their 'service'

It's not much of a warning if you don't explain what they did to rip you off. People who ask what happened aren't trolling, merely asking for facts rather than sweeping statements.

the_syco

lolo62 wrote: »

I don't have the energy for the onslaught of trolls that will try and pick holes in my storey.

Unless you provide some details, what can we do but call bullsh|t?

lolo62

Lima Golf wrote: »

People who ask what happened aren't trolling, merely asking for facts rather than sweeping statements.

That's not been my experience but I will expand to make sure people are properly warned.

I booked through rentalcars.com last night, my car is kaput and needed a quick and cheap solution.

One of the first that came up was 16 quid a day with thrifty, for me 3 days 50 euro..still more than I can afford at the moment but I thought not going to get better.

Was careful to make sure there were no hidden charges, it included the general insurance that came with it which meant I would be liable for excess of 1500 in the event if an accident. I didn't go for excess cover as I'd be just doing my usual routine, work etc.

Paid with my Ebs mastercard debit card which went through no problems and it was my understanding I could still purchase€18 per day excess insurance when I get there, if I wanted to but this would be to expensive for me.

Called this morning just to double check I wasn't going to be hit with any nasty surprises..the thrifty guy mumbled something about bringing my credit card, I don't have one. He said I can only rent without buying excess cover if I have a credit card for excess. I told him I don't have one so I'd like to cancel my booking as I don't want excess cover.
He said thrifty haven't applied for the payment from rentalcars.com and won't until I bring in my voucher. They don't take mastercard debit cards as they are'new' and not been'phased in' yet.
Asked for the supervisor, he says the booking had nothing to do with them as rentalcars are only an 'affiliate' website (which apparently means they are void of all responsibility of booking through them even though they profit from the booking)

Gave me a number for rentalcars.com which I called. They said it's in the terms and conditions. I didn't read them properly. I have never heard of this before and was looking for hidden charges in the t&cs. I assumed that if I could make the booking with my Ebs mastercard job was done.

Rentalcars.com were like 'tough luck' they won't refund any of my €50.

If the card I was booking with wasn't acceptable to complete the whole process there should have been a pop up or bold lettering warning before you book with it.

It's a disgusting way to make money.

killbillvol2

The bottom line is that the company can't recover any significant costs from a debit card, hence the need for a credit card. It's 100% standard procedure.

As to not allowing you to cancel, that sounds like they're chancing their arm.

jjbrien

I have rented from Thirfty with no issues

I did have issues with a company called payless they stung me for double what i booked for online as they insisted on me taking their insurance.

If you only have a debit card next time book with budget they accept them

lolo62

killbillvol2 wrote: »

The bottom line is that the company can't recover any significant costs from a debit card, hence the need for a credit card. It's 100% standard procedure.

As to not allowing you to cancel, that sounds like they're chancing their arm.

I get that now but I have never rented a car before so would not have been aware prior to booking.

if you ask me they have it set up pretty handy...it's thrifty that don't accept debit card but rentalcar.om that are in control of the booking so they can each pass it off to the other.

Would have thought in this day and age consumers would have a bit more protection in a situation like this.

BuffyBot

If the card I was booking with wasn't acceptable to complete the whole process there should have been a pop up or bold lettering warning before you book with it.

Not really: most car rental companies/providers will allow you to book with a debit card. Why wouldn't they?

However, when picking up the car, the game changes somewhat. Unfortunately, you made an assumption - not really their fault.

As for a refund: it will really be down to the T&C's: if you booked a non-refundable rate, then it will probably be that. It's up to the renter to have all the required documentation/cards etc before making the booking.

Alas, you may have just learned a lesson that's cost you on this occasion.

lolo62

BuffyBot wrote: »

Not really: most car rental companies/providers will allow you to book with a debit card. Why wouldn't they?

However, when picking up the car, the game changes somewhat. Unfortunately, you made an assumption - not really their fault.

As for a refund: it will really be down to the T&C's: if you booked a non-refundable rate, then it will probably be that. It's up to the renter to have all the required documentation/cards etc before making the booking.

Alas, you may have just learned a lesson that's cost you on this occasion.

If there are more cards required to complete the booking than the one used when the booking was made then that should be made really clear during the booking process, not in the fine print.

You say 'why wouldn't they allow you to book with a debit card' ok but I say 'why wouldn't my debit card be enough'

I get there's a system in place, that's fair enough. What I don't get is why it's impossible for them to refund my money, unless that is, it's in situations like this that affiliate websites make their profit.

schemingbohemia

How have thrifty cars done anything wrong here? You booked through someone else, not with thrifty.

To be honest, when renting a car, you really have to have a credit card.

keithclancy

Or:

- Take the full insurance to reduce your excess to zero (with Thrifty)
- Leave a deposit of the excess

DieselPowered

glasso wrote: »

To be honest, when renting a car, you really have to have a credit card.

Yes, you (usually) need a credit card in your own name to book a car and be the primary driver on the form. If you decline the excess reduction insurance during the online booking, you have to pre-auth the excess amount in the office when you turn up (usually €1200-€1500) on your credit card.

so if you use someone else's credit card to book the car and you have a crash/accident without the excess reduction place, the other person's credit card could be deducted by the pre agreed amount ie, €1200, and this person could dispute the amount as they were not the driver who crashed, however it won't usually get this far as they (rental company) check your card details match the person who will be driving the car at the desk before you even get to the car in the first place.

I don't know if you an pre-auth a Visa Debit card?

jjbrien

DieselPowered wrote: »

Yes, you (usually) need a credit card in your own name to book a car and be the primary driver on the form. If you decline the excess reduction insurance during the online booking, you have to pre-auth the excess amount in the office when you turn up (usually €1200-€1500) on your credit card.

so if you use someone else's credit card to book the car and you have a crash/accident without the excess reduction place, the other person's credit card could be deducted by the pre agreed amount ie, €1200, and this person could dispute the amount as they were not the driver who crashed, however it won't usually get this far as they (rental company) check your card details match the person who will be driving the car at the desk before you even get to the car in the first place.

I don't know if you an pre-auth a Visa Debit card?

Yes you can pre-auth a visa debit card that is why budget car rental will take them. They wont however take a pre paid card which is understandable. Budget if you pre pay only pre auth $100 or if you dont pre pay they pre auth $300 on a visa debit

keithclancy

jjbrien wrote: »

Yes you can pre-auth a visa debit card that is why budget car rental will take them. They wont however take a pre paid card which is understandable. Budget if you pre pay only pre auth $100 or if you dont pre pay they pre auth $300 on a visa debit

Some Companies (Thrifty for example) actually debit the money and then refund it rather than do a Pre Auth.

E.G.
When I rent with Hertz it just shows as a pending transaction.
When I rent with Thrifty its actually debited and then credited a few days later.

ncmc

lolo62 wrote: »

They said it's in the terms and conditions. I didn't read them properly. I have never heard of this before and was looking for hidden charges in the t&cs.

So it was in their T&C's, you didn't read them properly and somehow it's their fault?

lolo62 wrote: »

I get that now but I have never rented a car before so would not have been aware prior to booking.

Caveat emptor, ignorance is no defence, it was in their T&C's, it's standard procedure. You should really not post thread titles like this when neither company have done anything wrong.


I have used rentalcars.com for car rental for the last five years and have never had an issue with them. They are always by far and away the cheapest when I check and I have had nothing with good experiences. I have always found them very helpful when I’ve had a query and they have regularly given me a better price when I called and they saw my booking history than I could have got online. Ditto, I have also used Thrifty and again, never had an issue with them.