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John B.

Contributor Level

Total Points
166

2 Reviews by John

  • Rentalcars.com

8/31/16

I booked a Ford Fiesta via Rentalcars.com, for collection at Newcastle Airport, and was directed to Easirent. What was advertised on Rentalcars.com as a GBP21/day rental ultimately cost GBP505 (GBP168/day) when factoring in the insurance, extra driver, GPS, wrongly applied fuel charge and GBP305 deducted from our deposit for a small scratch on an alloy wheel rim.

It was not made clear on the Rentalcars site that the Easirent office was off-airport (in fact, a 10-minute drive away). My return flight was at 0600 on a Sunday morning, so I was looking for an on-airport rental which would allow me to drop the car and walk to the terminal. Because of this, my wife had to take a later flight so she could return the car when Easirent was open.

When we arrived at the airport at 11.10am and tried calling for a pick-up, the phone rang out with no reply. We were finally picked up at 11.45 35 minutes later.

At the Easirent office, the assistant could not tell us what insurance or other services we had paid for and said we should have printed out a receipt. We made the booking from our hotel and did not have access to a printer.

We asked if we could use the wifi network to get online and check our booking through Rentalcars.com (my overseas mobile does not have a UK data package). We were told the wifi service was "unavailable" even though there was a strong connection. He gave us some $#*!-and-bull excuse about network security.

I then asked if we could use his phone to call the Rentalcars hotline, but he refused, telling us that Easirent couldnt call Rentalcars directly. This was clearly nonsense, but I then had to call from my overseas mobile. After waiting for 10 minutes listening to call holding music (and incurring roaming charges), I hung up.

We asked for a GPS, but as the Ford Fiesta did not have it, Easirent wanted, GBP10 per day to rent one. The assistant offered an upgrade to a Skoda Oktavia with GPS for the same price. He then told us that it was "policy" to charge for the fuel in the tank, and we could return the car empty.

I have rented more than 100 cars around the world in my time - every other rental company I have ever used offered a return full option. We only needed the car for local driving, probably 50-60km in total. When we complained, the assistant grudgingly phoned a superior and finally agreed to let us return the car with the same amount in the tank.

Despite this, the fuel charge of GBP30 was charged to my credit card and has not been refunded, although we were told the transaction was cancelled. We finally drove away from Easirent at 12.45 more than 90 minutes after we arrived at Newcastle Airport.

When my wife returned the car, a scratch was found on the nearside front wheel alloy rim. For this, an additional GBP250, plus a GBP55 administration fee has been deducted from our deposit.

We will never use Rentalcars.com or Easirent again. I strongly recommend anyone considering either company to check the hidden costs very carefully - and read the small print. Then go to Budget, Avis, Hertz, Eurocar or Sixt, which is what we should have done.

  • Easirent

8/31/16

I booked a Ford Fiesta via Rentalcars.com, for collection at Newcastle Airport, and was directed to Easirent. What was advertised on Rentalcars.com as a GBP21/day rental ultimately cost GBP505 (GBP168/day) when factoring in the insurance, extra driver, GPS, wrongly applied fuel charge and GBP305 deducted from our deposit for a small scratch on an alloy wheel rim.

It was not made clear on the Rentalcars site that the Easirent office was off-airport (in fact, a 10-minute drive away). My return flight was at 0600 on a Sunday morning, so I was looking for an on-airport rental which would allow me to drop the car and walk to the terminal. Because of this, my wife had to take a later flight so she could return the car when Easirent was open.

When we arrived at the airport at 11.10am and tried calling for a pick-up, the phone rang out with no reply. We were finally picked up at 11.45 35 minutes later.

At the Easirent office, the assistant could not tell us what insurance or other services we had paid for and said we should have printed out a receipt. We made the booking from our hotel and did not have access to a printer.

We asked if we could use the wifi network to get online and check our booking through Rentalcars.com (my overseas mobile does not have a UK data package). We were told the wifi service was "unavailable" even though there was a strong connection. He gave us some $#*!-and-bull excuse about network security.

I then asked if we could use his phone to call the Rentalcars hotline, but he refused, telling us that Easirent couldnt call Rentalcars directly. This was clearly nonsense, but I then had to call from my overseas mobile. After waiting for 10 minutes listening to call holding music (and incurring roaming charges), I hung up.

We asked for a GPS, but as the Ford Fiesta did not have it, Easirent wanted, GBP10 per day to rent one. The assistant offered an upgrade to a Skoda Oktavia with GPS for the same price. He then told us that it was "policy" to charge for the fuel in the tank, and we could return the car empty.

I have rented more than 100 cars around the world in my time - every other rental company I have ever used offered a return full option. We only needed the car for local driving, probably 50-60km in total. When we complained, the assistant grudgingly phoned a superior and finally agreed to let us return the car with the same amount in the tank.

Despite this, the fuel charge of GBP30 was charged to my credit card and has not been refunded, although we were told the transaction was cancelled. We finally drove away from Easirent at 12.45 more than 90 minutes after we arrived at Newcastle Airport.

When my wife returned the car, a scratch was found on the nearside front wheel alloy rim. For this, an additional GBP250, plus a GBP55 administration fee has been deducted from our deposit.

We will never use Rentalcars.com or Easirent again. I strongly recommend anyone considering either company to check the hidden costs very carefully - and read the small print. Then go to Budget, Avis, Hertz, Eurocar or Sixt, which is what we should have done.

John Has Earned 6 Votes

John B.'s review of Rentalcars.com earned a Well Said vote

John B.'s review of Rentalcars.com earned 2 Very Helpful votes

John B.'s review of easirent.com earned 3 Very Helpful votes

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