seb d.

This company is only acting as a broker for actual car rental companies. Be very careful to read their terms and conditions.

Essentially, buying their full premium insurance policy when renting a car do not waive or lower the deposit required by the actual car rental, contrary to what you would normally expect. This isn't clearly communicated during the online booking process and only appears in small print on the confirmation voucher you are asked to print to collect the car. I think that, although operating within the law, the process their implement is misleading, if not downright borderline fraudulent. I felt duped, and mislead, and unable to access the car. I was also unable to get a refund for a car which I didn't end up using.

We went through their online rental process and booked a car to be pick-up from Easyrent in kings cross, london. As we were mindful of both potential damages we wanted to insure against and deposit to be given, we also purchased the full insurance offered by rentalcars.com for an additional £40 for the period. We completed the process, and printed the voucher required to pick up the car.

Arriving at Easyrent desk the next day, I was shocked by being asked for a card to be charge another £ 1,500 deposit to actually access the vehicle (refundable in 15 working days after returning the vehicle!). So, essentially I wasn't able to proceed with the rental, not having the funds in my account. The clerk then proceeded by offering me the possibility to purchase Easyrent's own insurance, for an additional £135 to lower the deposit down to £200 instead of the full £1,500. This is an obvious no choice, as it more than doubles the actual cost of the rental. At that point, it was difficult not to feel scammed When complaining about the lack of clarity about this deposit policy, the clerk told me to debate the issue directly with rentalcars.com customer service, the telephone number of which is neatly saved in his mobile for frequent access. I am saying frequent because both the customer before me AND after me were in the same situation, both unaware and unable to proceed with the deposit and actual rental of their booked vehicle. Both came to Easyrent through rentalcars.com.

Of course, I was then explained over the phone by rentalcars.com that this appears clearly in their terms and conditions and as such, I couldn't get refunded for the car rental cost. They did however refund me the additional insurance policy.

Still, I think the practice is misleading, unclear, and I suspect, purposefully so. I have checked the legality of this practice with the UK trading standards. It is unfortunately legal. I call it an abuse of trust. Then I remembered, if it's too good to be true Don't follow my steps, don't be a fool, just don't do it.