Ok Peeps here's a little story I got renting a car.
One of my best and oldest mate's is getting married this Sunday the 21st of July. So I decided to hire a car and I did a quick search of the Internet and found a company called UK-Car Rental, here's their website address uk-car-rental.net.
I went on their website trying to find their terms and conditions but no luck, so I rang them up and got the info I was looking for which was how much access was to be paid on the rental car: £500 and then I book the car. At this point I was told that I could pay £10 per day extra that would reduce the access on the rental car to £75 if I had an accident but this could only be done after I had booked the car which I did but when I got the call to say the car had been reversed. Low and behold the price for the rental car had gone up from £98 to £145! WTF I thought after a little haggling I got a Golf manual instead for £90 pound with the their supercover. All I had to do was pay £75 access and pick up the car today. By the way UK-Car Rental is a booking agent for Alamo / National Car rental but when I got to Alamo / National Car rental my wife went to pay the £75 on her Visa switch card and was told because she was paying the £75 access on this card they have to do a credit check but if she had not forgotten her Barclaycard they wouldn't need to do a credit check but as luck would have it she failed the credit check and now she's banned from Alamo / National Car rental for six months cause she failed the credit check. LOL and to add insult to injury they want to charge us £20 pounds as a cancelation charge, so now I am told no rental car. It's 12.30 in the afternoon and all the major rental car companies close @ 1pm on a Saturday, but after some ringing around got a great deal from a company called AutoLinx. Big Thanks to Ian, they did me a BMW 328I for the same period as Alamo / National Car Rental and same £90. I can't say thanks enough to AutoLinx!
The point I am making is UK-Car Rental is a booking agent for Alamo / National Car rental, which is a Major car rental company in the UK / Europe and USA. They can't even be bothered to post the terms and conditions on their sites, and mislead their customers! They come out with crap they think you want to hear, so they can make a sale and treat you like morons. Yes sir the terms and conditions are on the website, where? I must be going blind cause I can't find them and yes I will be speaking to trading standards on Monday. So the next time you need to rent a car from these companies ask them if you pay by cash or Visa switch and if they credit check you. If the answer is yes - can you do that before you take my booking or better still HOW about sticking your terms and conditions on your websites? And I will send a brand new cooler of your choice to the fist person that can find the terms and conditions for the UK on any of these sites! Here's UK-Car Rental's crappy attempt @ saying they do have terms and conditions which you get after they are done with you!
For the avoidence of dought
Date Modified: 10 January 2002
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: UNITED KINGDOM
SERVICE PROVIDED BY NATIONAL CAR RENTAL
LICENCE/ DRIVERS REQUIREMENTS
All drivers must present a clean valid licence held for at least 12 months. An international Licence is not acceptable. Where the new photocard is held, the counterpart to the licence showing details of any endorsements must be presented. For UK residents only - Driver must produce 2 items of ID: this only apply to drivers holding a old driving licence, if holding a new photo ID licence no additional means of ID will be requested.
AGE LIMITS
21, no upper limit Exceptions to theses limits: see appendix 1
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT
UK Resident:
by credit card: (MasterCard, visa, amex) must be in drivers name. £500 will be blocked from customers credit card, so renter must have sufficient funds to accommodate this. By cash: (not allowed if renter under 25). depending of the branches. some location only accept credit card(see appendix 2). At the branch an Equifax credit check will be requested: No cash accepted on Sundays and Public Holidays unless an Equifax credit check is made over the phone .(advise to pre-qualify to avoid disappointment) Equifax opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.00 - 16.00 and Saturday 09.00-12.30 The hire must have sufficient funds to cover the £500 excess if master cover not taken (only £75 if mastercover taken)+ £ 50 petrol deposit . Two telephone references must be taken. One of these MUST be their employer number. If unemployed Telephone numbers must be verified in the telephone directory or by directory enquiries. Mobile, taxi company and unlisted numbers are not acceptable.
Oversea Customer:
By credit card: (mastercard, visa, amex) By cash: £500 excess if master cover not taken (only £75 if mastercover taken)+ £ 50 petrol deposit+ passport and return flight ticket and confirmation of the overseas address.
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY
Cover is unlimited for Personal Injury Cover & £250,000 Property Coverage Extended protection is available @ £3.00 P/DAY+VAT and gives unlimited Personal Injury, £25,000 per person (max £100,000) for Death Benefit, £5,00,000 Property Coverage.
DEDUCTIBLE
£ 500.00. The first £425.00 of which may be waived if mastercover is purchased
ONE WAYS
Please request at time of reservation
CROSS BORDER POLICY
All cars can be driven to EEC countries but not driven or dropped in NON EEC countries. Cars must be returned to the UK mainland An overseas surcharge apply: £18.00 per day +VAT(not to the Republic of Ireland) + RAC Eurocover : £50.00(inc. VAT) regardless of number of days spent abroad . Voucher Eurokit available: £11(inc. VAT) comprising: a warning triangle and a spare bulb kit.
FREESALE
A-D cars 24 hour freesale (within standard operational times)
MPV:14 days notice if more than 5 days, on request if less than 5 days. Minimum of 5 days rental is required during the period 1st June to 31st September. Minimum of 5 days rental is required during the period 19th December to 10th January 2002. For payment on arrival only: a credit card number will be requested when the car is confirmed by Alamo reservation Department. A charge of £25.00gbp + VAT will be incurred if the car is cancelled within 3 working days before the rental commences or if there is a now show.
ACCIDENTS
Customer must complete a report form at time of incident. These are provided with the car. Dependant on the circumstances we reserve the right not to replace the vehicle.
CONDITION OFVEHICLE
Vehicle must be returned, normal wear & tear expected, in the same condition as when rented. If special cleaning is required a separate charge will be made directly to the customer.
ADVANCE RESERVATION PERIOD 24 hours (except MPV which requires 5 days)
VAT 17.5% VAT subject to change
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS: UNITED KINGDOM
ADDITIONAL DRIVER
£2.50 per Day +vat, no maximum charge MUST be over 25 For UK Residents only - additional drivers must present TWO forms of ID in addition to drivers licence which shows their home address
YOUNG DRIVERS
Ages 21-23 surcharge of £12.75 per day +VAT (can't drive an MPV) Age 23-24 surcharge of £6.00 per day + VAT (can't drive an MPV)
PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
PAI is not sold as a separate item ( see mastercover)
MASTERCOVER
£10.00 per day inc VAT (reduced to £5.50 per day inc Vat for rental of 7 days and over) waives first £425.00 of excess and gives added personal insurance cover against injury and possessions for driver & passengers + 24 hour helpline.
INFANT SEATS
Availability: seat will be "on Request" only. Unable to guarantee availability. Seat suitability: from 9 months to 4 years old. Cost: £5.00+VAT per day to a maximum of £65 + £50 refundable security deposit. For refund of the deposit customer MUST bring the seat back to the rental desk at check in, otherwise the £50 will be forfeited. Fitting of seats: customers need to fit seats themselves
FUEL POLICY
A £50.00 petrol deposit will be held against the credit card. If the car is not returned full, the cost of the refuelling will be debited from card. If cash deposit:customer will receive his deposit back by cheque - the cost of the petrol (takes 7 to 10 days)
SECUIRTY SYSTEM
If the branch has the photographic equipment, then photographs of all drivers must be taken before the vehicle is rented out.
MEET & GREET
"Meet & Greet" must be arranged at the locations as appendix 2, if not customer will not receive vehicle. Customer must pay a cost of £17.50 + vat. Flight number must be entered in reservation. Parking charges will be incurred, see appendix 2
APPENDIX 1 AGE REQUIREMENTS (UK residents only)
One of my best and oldest mate's is getting married this Sunday the 21st of July. So I decided to hire a car and I did a quick search of the Internet and found a company called UK-Car Rental, here's their website address uk-car-rental.net.
I went on their website trying to find their terms and conditions but no luck, so I rang them up and got the info I was looking for which was how much access was to be paid on the rental car: £500 and then I book the car. At this point I was told that I could pay £10 per day extra that would reduce the access on the rental car to £75 if I had an accident but this could only be done after I had booked the car which I did but when I got the call to say the car had been reversed. Low and behold the price for the rental car had gone up from £98 to £145! WTF I thought after a little haggling I got a Golf manual instead for £90 pound with the their supercover. All I had to do was pay £75 access and pick up the car today. By the way UK-Car Rental is a booking agent for Alamo / National Car rental but when I got to Alamo / National Car rental my wife went to pay the £75 on her Visa switch card and was told because she was paying the £75 access on this card they have to do a credit check but if she had not forgotten her Barclaycard they wouldn't need to do a credit check but as luck would have it she failed the credit check and now she's banned from Alamo / National Car rental for six months cause she failed the credit check. LOL and to add insult to injury they want to charge us £20 pounds as a cancelation charge, so now I am told no rental car. It's 12.30 in the afternoon and all the major rental car companies close @ 1pm on a Saturday, but after some ringing around got a great deal from a company called AutoLinx. Big Thanks to Ian, they did me a BMW 328I for the same period as Alamo / National Car Rental and same £90. I can't say thanks enough to AutoLinx!
The point I am making is UK-Car Rental is a booking agent for Alamo / National Car rental, which is a Major car rental company in the UK / Europe and USA. They can't even be bothered to post the terms and conditions on their sites, and mislead their customers! They come out with crap they think you want to hear, so they can make a sale and treat you like morons. Yes sir the terms and conditions are on the website, where? I must be going blind cause I can't find them and yes I will be speaking to trading standards on Monday. So the next time you need to rent a car from these companies ask them if you pay by cash or Visa switch and if they credit check you. If the answer is yes - can you do that before you take my booking or better still HOW about sticking your terms and conditions on your websites? And I will send a brand new cooler of your choice to the fist person that can find the terms and conditions for the UK on any of these sites! Here's UK-Car Rental's crappy attempt @ saying they do have terms and conditions which you get after they are done with you!
For the avoidence of dought
Date Modified: 10 January 2002
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: UNITED KINGDOM
SERVICE PROVIDED BY NATIONAL CAR RENTAL
LICENCE/ DRIVERS REQUIREMENTS
All drivers must present a clean valid licence held for at least 12 months. An international Licence is not acceptable. Where the new photocard is held, the counterpart to the licence showing details of any endorsements must be presented. For UK residents only - Driver must produce 2 items of ID: this only apply to drivers holding a old driving licence, if holding a new photo ID licence no additional means of ID will be requested.
AGE LIMITS
21, no upper limit Exceptions to theses limits: see appendix 1
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT
UK Resident:
by credit card: (MasterCard, visa, amex) must be in drivers name. £500 will be blocked from customers credit card, so renter must have sufficient funds to accommodate this. By cash: (not allowed if renter under 25). depending of the branches. some location only accept credit card(see appendix 2). At the branch an Equifax credit check will be requested: No cash accepted on Sundays and Public Holidays unless an Equifax credit check is made over the phone .(advise to pre-qualify to avoid disappointment) Equifax opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.00 - 16.00 and Saturday 09.00-12.30 The hire must have sufficient funds to cover the £500 excess if master cover not taken (only £75 if mastercover taken)+ £ 50 petrol deposit . Two telephone references must be taken. One of these MUST be their employer number. If unemployed Telephone numbers must be verified in the telephone directory or by directory enquiries. Mobile, taxi company and unlisted numbers are not acceptable.
Oversea Customer:
By credit card: (mastercard, visa, amex) By cash: £500 excess if master cover not taken (only £75 if mastercover taken)+ £ 50 petrol deposit+ passport and return flight ticket and confirmation of the overseas address.
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY
Cover is unlimited for Personal Injury Cover & £250,000 Property Coverage Extended protection is available @ £3.00 P/DAY+VAT and gives unlimited Personal Injury, £25,000 per person (max £100,000) for Death Benefit, £5,00,000 Property Coverage.
DEDUCTIBLE
£ 500.00. The first £425.00 of which may be waived if mastercover is purchased
ONE WAYS
Please request at time of reservation
CROSS BORDER POLICY
All cars can be driven to EEC countries but not driven or dropped in NON EEC countries. Cars must be returned to the UK mainland An overseas surcharge apply: £18.00 per day +VAT(not to the Republic of Ireland) + RAC Eurocover : £50.00(inc. VAT) regardless of number of days spent abroad . Voucher Eurokit available: £11(inc. VAT) comprising: a warning triangle and a spare bulb kit.
FREESALE
A-D cars 24 hour freesale (within standard operational times)
MPV:14 days notice if more than 5 days, on request if less than 5 days. Minimum of 5 days rental is required during the period 1st June to 31st September. Minimum of 5 days rental is required during the period 19th December to 10th January 2002. For payment on arrival only: a credit card number will be requested when the car is confirmed by Alamo reservation Department. A charge of £25.00gbp + VAT will be incurred if the car is cancelled within 3 working days before the rental commences or if there is a now show.
ACCIDENTS
Customer must complete a report form at time of incident. These are provided with the car. Dependant on the circumstances we reserve the right not to replace the vehicle.
CONDITION OFVEHICLE
Vehicle must be returned, normal wear & tear expected, in the same condition as when rented. If special cleaning is required a separate charge will be made directly to the customer.
ADVANCE RESERVATION PERIOD 24 hours (except MPV which requires 5 days)
VAT 17.5% VAT subject to change
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS: UNITED KINGDOM
ADDITIONAL DRIVER
£2.50 per Day +vat, no maximum charge MUST be over 25 For UK Residents only - additional drivers must present TWO forms of ID in addition to drivers licence which shows their home address
YOUNG DRIVERS
Ages 21-23 surcharge of £12.75 per day +VAT (can't drive an MPV) Age 23-24 surcharge of £6.00 per day + VAT (can't drive an MPV)
PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
PAI is not sold as a separate item ( see mastercover)
MASTERCOVER
£10.00 per day inc VAT (reduced to £5.50 per day inc Vat for rental of 7 days and over) waives first £425.00 of excess and gives added personal insurance cover against injury and possessions for driver & passengers + 24 hour helpline.
INFANT SEATS
Availability: seat will be "on Request" only. Unable to guarantee availability. Seat suitability: from 9 months to 4 years old. Cost: £5.00+VAT per day to a maximum of £65 + £50 refundable security deposit. For refund of the deposit customer MUST bring the seat back to the rental desk at check in, otherwise the £50 will be forfeited. Fitting of seats: customers need to fit seats themselves
FUEL POLICY
A £50.00 petrol deposit will be held against the credit card. If the car is not returned full, the cost of the refuelling will be debited from card. If cash deposit:customer will receive his deposit back by cheque - the cost of the petrol (takes 7 to 10 days)
SECUIRTY SYSTEM
If the branch has the photographic equipment, then photographs of all drivers must be taken before the vehicle is rented out.
MEET & GREET
"Meet & Greet" must be arranged at the locations as appendix 2, if not customer will not receive vehicle. Customer must pay a cost of £17.50 + vat. Flight number must be entered in reservation. Parking charges will be incurred, see appendix 2
APPENDIX 1 AGE REQUIREMENTS (UK residents only)
