THIS COMPANY SCAMMED ME FOR AUD 591.92 ON SEPTEMBER 26

We booked an SUV on the EconomyBookings website, where it was clearly stated that the car came with "unlimited kilometers" (I have screenshots to prove this). However, when we arrived at the airport to pick up the car, Europcar informed us that they had received different information, stating that the car was limited to 100 km per day according to their system—completely different from what was agreed upon on the EconomyBookings reservation. So, we decided to cancel the reservation as it was only logical.

After about 20 attempts, we finally reached EconomyBookings by phone to resolve the issue and request a refund. The representative told us she could NOT help and that we needed to submit a complaint via email, which I did the SAME DAY.

We received an email saying we would get a response within 10 business days. Two and a half weeks later, there was still no response, and their phone number was unreachable. OVER A MONTH LATER, STILL NO RESPONSE. I then set aside a morning to try calling them again. I finally reached someone who told me they STILL COULD NOT HELP, to which I insisted they escalate the matter to the responsible team, warning that if there was no response within a few days, I would file a complaint.

Finally, I received an email on Monday, October 28—what a message! A certain Kerry from EconomyBookings informed me that they would not issue a refund, claiming they were "not informed of my inability to pick up the vehicle"? This is probably the biggest joke I've ever heard!

Kerry even sent this email in response to the very email I sent on September 26! How could they possibly say they weren't informed? I replied to this email, providing all phone records and screenshots showing I had emailed them on the SAME DAY AS THE RESERVATION.

Still today, two weeks after Kerry's email, I have received NO RESPONSE.

I have no choice but to alert the ACCC, file a complaint with Europcar, and consider filing a complaint with the police as well.

DO NOT USE ECONOMYBOOKINGS.

Theo Wavrin
Booking Number: B*******

Found Economy Booking, or Booking Group, online when thinking about renting a car for a Cozumel vacation. The price for the rental car was going to be about $27/day for five days so we thought that would be a great deal. We had never heard of Fox Rent a Car but "how bad could it be?" The rental info said they offered what looked like Full Coverage insurance for a nominal price. After checking with my State Farm rep, I learned that my insurance in the US would not cover me in Cozumel so I decided to take the Full Coverage from Economy Bookings. Even though the rental and the Full Coverage where on the same website page when I checked out, the email receipts/vouchers were separate. One stated the rental rate and total while the other stated I had "Full Coverage!"

Once I arrived at the Cozumel airport, we looked for the "Fox" rental stand but none of the stands had that name. We asked several people in the airport who told us to go outside to the end of the parking lot to a portable building in one direction, then back to the terminal, then back out to the other end of the parking lot... Finally, we were told that EuropCar was the Fox rental agency. What a waste of time. We waited in line and overheard another group complaining about "buying" insurance on line but had to buy additional coverage at the rental desk. Our turn came up and sure enough, the agent said the "Full Coverage" I bought was not what was required to rent from them. Even though our rental was $137.95 for five days, the mandatory insurance would another $35 per day to take the car. I cancelled the rental. Once at the hotel, I contacted American Express about what I thought was bait and switch. I sent AMEX the two emails I received from *******@bookinggroup.com and explained what I had just gone through. I then sent emails back to Econobookings by responding to their two receipt/voucher emails explaining what I experienced as bait and switch. After that, I tried to call them at their *******795 number and a rude young man told me "sorry, there is nothing he can do." I also sent the email threads to *******@bookinggroup.com as I was instructed but the AMEX rep. I received an email response from Megan stating I had a chargeback status and I should go back to my credit card company for the claim outcome. Today, a week later, I receive notice from American Express that the chargeback was overturned and we WILL have to pay the $137.95 after all.

This is just bad business. Booking Group, or Econo Bookings pushed their "Full Coverage" and the fact that you "owe nothing" at the rental car pick-up. But what seems to be the real kicker is nowhere in their "Full Coverage" voucher does it say it is actually INSURANCE. Had I known the low, low price rental rate would have a mandatory insurance charge, more than doubling the price, I might have still gone with them. Not knowing the insurance charge would be more than the rental amount seems a little shady to me but finding out AT THE RENTAL DESK was not right. Just like their marketing of "Fox Rent a Car" without mentioning the name change, buy out, whatever, to EuropCar is just poor customer service.

Be VERY careful about using Economy Bookings or Booking Group for your next international car rental. If you are like me, you want the professional service providers to be professional, and/or provide service. Not explaining the insurance requirements for their car rental partners is not good business. I'm sure they don't care but I will be booking with more reputable services in the future.

They chance the valeu of location in my credit card, be carefull...

I booked an rental car back in Oct 4 2023 for Italy; for the week of Oct 18 - 26 2023. Booking #B******* wich included full coverage. Unfortunately the morning of my fly (Oct 26) I discovered somebody has scrach the rental wich i wasnt to worry since I HAVE FULL-COVERAGE. The rental company (italy rental) that owns the car explained me the same (Economy Booking) did, i will have to pay a deductible (€288 = $299) and the booking company will reimburse me after i file a claim. Next day (Oct27) when i get home, i get on my PC file my claim and all i get its an automated "knowledgement email, that my email was recieved). A week later (Nov 6) and i havent recieved anything. I try to call and discover its all a recording not one option to leave a mesaage nor talk to a human, i try an email, same exact automated email of knowledgement. Today, Nov 15 still no way to get a hold of someone nor an answer of my claim. I WANT MY DAMN MONEY BACK! And PEOPLE BE WARE! My situation was a simply scratch, imagine if you would've been in a actual colision!?

My experience and interaction with Economy Bookings below.

Hi there,

I previously booked a rental car from Thrifty rental through Economy Bookings at Chicago O'Hare Airport on the 22nd of September (Booking B*******).

This rental was successful and at no point did they tell me that they would not accept my debit card but instead said they would take a $500 holding deposit from my debit card in order to complete the rental.

I then had another booking through Economy Bookings but this time at Fort Lauderdale Airport and when I presented my debit card they flat out refused to take my debit card and provide me with the rental car by taking a $500 holding deposit like they did from their branch in Chicago.

I then read through ALL of the fine print of the Economy Bookings voucher for my rental from Thrifty in Fort Lauderdale and in very fine print near the bottom I saw that it said they would only accept credit cards.

With that said I understand that the T's and C's stated that it had to be a credit card but because I had no issues with the exact same rental company just 9 days ago in another state I did not expect to have this issue today when I went to collect my new rental car from Thrifty.

For this reason I would like to please request a full refund for the amount of €994.92 for the car rental (Booking B*******) that I was refused by Thrifty due to them deciding that they would accept a debit card in Chicago but not accept a debit card in Fort Lauderdale.

Your understanding in this matter would be highly appreciated.

I look forward to your favorable response.

Many thanks,

Joe Cattaneo

Dear Mr. Cattaneo,

Thank you for booking through Economybooking.com

We're sorry to hear you couldn't pick up your hire car.

You did not inform us about the cancellation of your booking prior to your pickup.

You failed to pick the car up at the arranged time and date.

You failed to provide the documentation that is required to pick the car up.

You failed to provide a credit card with enough available funds and with the main driver's name printed on it.

If you were blacklisted by the car rental company.

Unfortunately, because we didn't know that you weren't going to pick the car up, we cannot give you a refund.

As well information regarding was available during booking process, as well in your voucher:

https://www.economybookings.com/en/voucher/Qjk0MDYzOTAyfGpvZS5jYXR0YW5lb0BnbWFpbC5jb20=

When you complete the reservation, you have read, understood, and agreed to the Cancellation and Non-refundable Policy disclosed during the process of booking, therefore, you accepted and agreed to the transaction, made the reservation and received confirmation.

We're sorry you couldn't enjoy your rental this time, and we do hope that your experience hasn't put you off.

Best Regards, Anna

Hi Anna,

Note the following:

- How can I inform you about a cancelation of my rental car when I had no intention of canceling my booking? The rental car company refused to give me the rental car that I paid your company €994.92 for.

- I was there at the exact pickup time and date. You can call the rental car company and they will tell you exactly when I tried to collect the car.

- I provided the rental car company with ALL of the necessary documentation. Just like I did 10 days prior when I collected a different car from their branch in Chicago and they had NO issues giving me the rental car then.

Further to this, I provided them with my debit card which had my name on it and +/-€10 000 available in my cheque account which is linked to my debit card which would have covered way more than they needed, AGAIN, I used this debit card at a Thrifty branch in Chicago and they happily gave me the rental vehicle that I booked through your company just 10 days prior.

Now, Thrifty made it clear that they would not be receiving any of the money that I paid because they did not allow me to pick the car up, which means that Economy Bookings has essentially TAKEN €994.92 from me and given me absolutely nothing in return for it and you are telling me that you won't even consider giving me a refund because "we didn't know that you weren't going to pick the car up".

If your company is serious about keeping its clients happy and having them return and not sharing their negative experiences on social platforms and websites which is exactly what I am going to do if I do not receive at least a refund minus a minimal penalty admin fee for your company's time and effort to process the refund, then I would appreciate you taking the necessary steps and reversing your decision so as to keep me as a loyal customer and to not have your poor service and decisions displayed for other potential customers to see.

I look forward to a favorable response.

Regards,

Joe Cattaneo

Hice un arriendo de auto con ustedes en la empresa álamo de ORLY y la pague anticipada
Termine mi arriendo y álamo me cobro de nuevo el arriendo y el doble del monto reservado
Nose que hacer para que me reembolsen mi dinero
Mi reserva B******* esa era mi rerva por 891Euros y la empresa ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ORLY me cargo ademas u$1,953.- es muchísimo dinero, como me pueden ayudar a solucionar el problema
Yo confie en arrendar el auto a través de ustedes para que me respeten el precio que tome el día 2 de septiembre y cancele anticipado a mi arriendo de auto, he mandado mail y no tengo respuesta y tengo los cargos pendientes en mi tarjeta de crédito
Porfavor ayúdenme

I made a car rental with you at the Alamo de ORLY company and paid it in advance
I finished my lease and Alamo charged me the rent again and double the reserved amount.
I don't know what to do to get my money refunded.
My reservation B******* that was my reservation for 891Euros and the company ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ORLY also charged me u$1,953.- it is a lot of money, how can you help me solve the problem
I trust in renting the car through you so that you respect the price that I take on September 2 and cancel my car rental early, I have sent an email and I have not received a response and I have the charges pending on my credit card
Please help me

I booked the car in advancer, specifically because it's had unlimited miles, included insurance (basic) and it was a fair price.

I paid EUR$177 for the reservation and supposed to pay an extra EUR$26 when picking up. All good so far.

I made sure of taking screenshots a of what I was paying to be sure that it included unlimited miles and nothing more.

As soon as picking up we start with the weird charges.

I was supposed to pay only $26 for picking up the car but I was charged $47 because whatever fake reason that didn't make any sense. They explain everything in the most confusing ways.

Then he explains that the car actually DOESN'T have unlimited miles, because it was rented in Madrid and it was one of the rules. I rented the car FROM Madrid specially BECAUSE of the unlimited miles! That was the reason I booked it in the first place.

So because of this, now I have to pay $160 EXTRA to really get unlimited miles.

Then, the classic insurance scam. They trick me into not using my credit card insurance (which I have the highest coverage) because this and that bs reasons, so they ended up charging me an extra $550EUR

Final Charges on receipt (to my surprise) were:
(tax included- EUR)

- "Cargo Oficina Premium": $47.19
- "Gastos Operación y Logística": $18
- "Upgrade": $120
- "Cobertura Super Relax": $237
- "Contribución Medio Ambiente": $7.5
- "Cargo Transfronterizo": $90 (Only charge that makes sense)
- "Mega Relax Cover": $24.79

Total $550.38 EUR... that is $524 EUR more than agreed upon reservation.
Let's take out the multi-city chagrge wich I think is valid we're talking about $434 EUR more. This is completely insane.

Plus, remember I have a $82 EUR deposit for returning the car fueled up, and the car was not fueled up completely when picked up. Also the car was crashed on the side and no one even reviewed the car or told me before I took it...

We tried to rent a car with Economic Bookings, and we started having problems since the beggining to pay for the renting, for some reason their website was not accepting my card anymore, even when I've already rented a car with them and the same card.
We tried to rent a Jeep Compass, they sent me the confirmation, they debited from my account the amount, and finaly the day arrived, traveling to other country, I received the confirmation in the day that I supposed to take the car. I though everything was fine, untill I arrive in the car rental company. The car rental company told me that the Compass was already rented to other person, that they didn't confirm my rental. I rented the car for 10 days, I was not expecting for that at all. I call Economic Bookings to try to solve my problem, was a satuday, they told me to SEND AN EMAIL TO THEIR SUPPORT, in other country, with hotel reservations, with no way to go to the places that I planned to go and with the car payed. I sent the email, and the answer was that they were going to answer me 5-7 working days. I didn't want my money back, I want a car. It took me the entire day to find another car, worst one ( Fiat 500L), also smaller and MORE EXPENSIVE. I travelled to other city to have it, I spent the entire day trying to have the cara, as my flight arrived at 10:30 and I got the car at 17:30. After 8 working days they answered me saying that they are eveluating and it can take up to 28 days. Now they are with my money, I spent more money that I was expecting, I loose 2 days of travel with hotels and everything, as I need to take public transport to go to the rental place in other city to take and return the car, and the are EVALUATING my problem.

UPDATE: TODAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REFOUND ME

BOOKING MY CAR RENTAL THROUGH ECONOMY BOOKINGS WAS A HUGE MISTAKE!

I had to pay Economy Bookings upfront for my car reservation. My flight was delayed into Melbourne AU. Couldn't pick up the car before the rental agency closed for the day. I contacted the rental car agency to let them know the situation and that I would pick up car the next morning. They said not a problem, they would have the car waiting for me. When I showed up the next morning to pick up the car they said Economy Bookings had canceled my reservation, they assumed since I didn't pick up the car the previous day. I could not get in touch with Economy Bookings since they have no Customer Service phone number that you can call. I had to pay the rental agency for another car rental. The rental agency said I would have to contact Economy Bookings for a refund since I had paid Economy Bookings and Economy Bookings doesn't pay them until the car is picked up. But since Economy Bookings had canceled the original reservation, they did not pay the rental agency any money. You cannot call Economy Bookings and talk to a real person. I had to contact Economy Bookings by email and let them know what happened and requested a refund. After 4 months, and numerous automated emails from them, they declined to refund my money and declined to give me an explanation as to why they would not give me a refund. AND YOU CAN NEVER TALK TO A REAL PERSON AT ECONOMY BOOKINGS! THEY ONLY COMMUNICATE BY EMAIL, AND MOSTLY AUTOMATED EMAILS!
So basically, I paid Economy Bookings upfront for the full amount of my car rental. They automatically canceled my reservation without contacting me, did not pay the car rental agency any of the money, and refused to give me a refund.
I would never use Economy Bookings again, and would STRONGLY advise against anyone else ever using them. If you do, you are taking a big chance on losing all your money if you are delayed in any way in picking up your vehicle on the designated day of your reservation, EVEN IF YOU NOTIFY THE RENTAL AGENCY THAT YOU WILL BE DELAYED IN PICKING UP THE VEHICLE AND THEY CONFIRM THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM!

I had to give a rating for this review because this website will not let you leave a review without giving a rating and you have to give from 1 to 5 stars. MY ACTUAL RATING WOULD BE MINUS 5 STARS!

Excelente Service!