AutoEurope/National citer tale of woe
Oct 2nd, 2008, 08:41 AM
#1
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AutoEurope/National citer tale of woe
Waah!
I rented a car through AutoEurope for our trip to the Loire last month, and all through the rental process, the web site kept re-iterating that rail station/airport pickup/dropoff fees were being waived due to a special offer then in effect.
AFTER you agree to the terms and conditions and plunk your money down for the deal with the waived fees, your voucher prints out - stating that additional fees apply for the above.
So when we got to Gare du Nord, we got nailed for an additional 41,05€ to get our car. I expect I will be charged for dropping it off at Orly as well.
I can't prove the deal was as outlined above, because I didn't print out each page as I went through the reservation process.
I recommend that you do.
I rented a car through AutoEurope for our trip to the Loire last month, and all through the rental process, the web site kept re-iterating that rail station/airport pickup/dropoff fees were being waived due to a special offer then in effect.
AFTER you agree to the terms and conditions and plunk your money down for the deal with the waived fees, your voucher prints out - stating that additional fees apply for the above.
So when we got to Gare du Nord, we got nailed for an additional 41,05€ to get our car. I expect I will be charged for dropping it off at Orly as well.
I can't prove the deal was as outlined above, because I didn't print out each page as I went through the reservation process.
I recommend that you do.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 09:29 AM
#3
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I share your grief. We were hit with a 250.00(Canadian) fee after returning our rental. Although happy with AutoEurope in general this was a shock. Basically because our agent told us it was included in our initial rental payment.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 09:44 AM
#5
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1. Your agreement isn't with AutoEurope. It's with the designated supplier - which you don't know until you've paid and the voucher prints. So calling AE is useless.
2. Calling the <b>citer</b> outlet at Gare du Nord to find out what policies will be in effect on the day I pick up the car is beyond impractical.
Print out the web dialog as you go along, and use the document to bounce the charge through your credit card provider. I always do this with SNCF, but this time I didn't think to do it.
2. Calling the <b>citer</b> outlet at Gare du Nord to find out what policies will be in effect on the day I pick up the car is beyond impractical.
Print out the web dialog as you go along, and use the document to bounce the charge through your credit card provider. I always do this with SNCF, but this time I didn't think to do it.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 10:50 AM
#6
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I justed checked my voucher for an upcoming AutoEurope rental out of CDG. The tiny print says that the airport fee of about $50 will be charged on pickup. That is what it also says on their website. What shocked me, though, was it says I will be charged for a tank of gas when I pick up the car and I can return it empty! Never had that arrangement before, and if you hadn't posted I would never have noticed and would have returned the car full. So, thanks Robespierre.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 11:53 AM
#7
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Actually calling AutoEurope with a problem has helped us twice. Once the actual rental company rep at the airport desk (I think it was Alamo or Enterprise) didn't fill out the contract correctly even though I showed him the special deal email from AE. When we turned the car in in Amesterdam, they called AE and after talking with them for a few minutes, the rental agent corrected everything.
Another time the rental company charged us for an automatic transmission car when we got a manual. We got that cleared up when we called AE after getting home from our vacation. AE handled it all and we got the refund on our credit card account a few weeks later.
Another time the rental company charged us for an automatic transmission car when we got a manual. We got that cleared up when we called AE after getting home from our vacation. AE handled it all and we got the refund on our credit card account a few weeks later.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 12:07 PM
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1. Your agreement isn't with AutoEurope. It's with the designated supplier - which you don't know until you've paid and the voucher prints. So calling AE is useless.
I would certainly think it worth a few minutes of your time. It certainly doesn't do AE's reputation any good if their providers don't follow through on specials, etc., posted on their website.
I would certainly think it worth a few minutes of your time. It certainly doesn't do AE's reputation any good if their providers don't follow through on specials, etc., posted on their website.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 01:42 PM
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The agreement IS with AutoEurope; that's who you've paid. We have found the company to be very good when there are problems.
I'm surprised to learn of a rail-station pick-up/drop-off charge, as I've only seen that applying to airports (because the suppliers pay more to rent space at an airport). It's a shame if there are surcharges now for rail-station pick-ups and drop-offs.
Our Nice rental has us picking up the car downtown and returning it to the airport, and there's nothing in our contract about a surcharge for the dropoff--Europcar is usually very happy to have a car to turn around at the airport. But I'm going to call Autoeurope and check.
I'm surprised to learn of a rail-station pick-up/drop-off charge, as I've only seen that applying to airports (because the suppliers pay more to rent space at an airport). It's a shame if there are surcharges now for rail-station pick-ups and drop-offs.
Our Nice rental has us picking up the car downtown and returning it to the airport, and there's nothing in our contract about a surcharge for the dropoff--Europcar is usually very happy to have a car to turn around at the airport. But I'm going to call Autoeurope and check.
Oct 2nd, 2008, 04:12 PM
#11
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I checked the credit card account. The merchant is <b>citer</b>. So you're fos.
Fees for rail/air pickup/dropoff are spelled out in the voucher. They're different from what you agree to on line.
Are you getting this?
Fees for rail/air pickup/dropoff are spelled out in the voucher. They're different from what you agree to on line.
Are you getting this?
Oct 2nd, 2008, 08:14 PM
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vedette
I noticed that change about paying for a full tank and returning it empty.
It brings to mind a couple of issues.
If everybody succeeds in doing this, they will not have sufficient fuel supplies at the rental locations to fill all of their cars.
Imagine the congestion on an airport approach road as renters push their cars the last mile back to the dropoff.
Ok. So I have a wild mind and too much time on my hands.
I noticed that change about paying for a full tank and returning it empty.
It brings to mind a couple of issues.
If everybody succeeds in doing this, they will not have sufficient fuel supplies at the rental locations to fill all of their cars.
Imagine the congestion on an airport approach road as renters push their cars the last mile back to the dropoff.
Ok. So I have a wild mind and too much time on my hands.
Oct 3rd, 2008, 06:23 AM
#13
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We had to pay an extra charge when we picked up our Hertz car (booked through Autoeurope) at the Stratford on Avon rail station.
On another trip, Autoeurope did help us resolve extra billing issues after we returned home. But they were not the kind of issues Robespierre is talking about (discounts promised during the booking process).
On another trip, Autoeurope did help us resolve extra billing issues after we returned home. But they were not the kind of issues Robespierre is talking about (discounts promised during the booking process).
Oct 3rd, 2008, 06:52 AM
#14
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At least currently, the airport pickup surcharge is mentioneed on the AutoEurope web site as you are making your reservation. So you could/should be aware before you book, not just after you receive your voucher. Of course, on both the web page and the voucher this info is in very small print.
Oct 3rd, 2008, 08:24 AM
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>Your agreement isn't with AutoEurope. It's with the designated supplier - which you don't know until you've paid and the voucher prints. So calling AE is useless.<
No it isn't Robe.
They will tell you if there are any extra charges and the approx cost.
.....................................
Hi U,
>I'm surprised to learn of a rail-station pick-up/drop-off charge, as I've only seen that applying to airports ...<
Since at least Aug of 2007, I have been seeing pickup fees at rail stations.
No it isn't Robe.
They will tell you if there are any extra charges and the approx cost.
.....................................
Hi U,
>I'm surprised to learn of a rail-station pick-up/drop-off charge, as I've only seen that applying to airports ...<
Since at least Aug of 2007, I have been seeing pickup fees at rail stations.
Oct 3rd, 2008, 10:56 AM
#19
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You people aren't listening, are you?
1. The money that was charged to my card account went to citer, not AutoEurope.
2. I'm the kind of person who would gladly ride the Métro to a city storefront to avoid a rail station pickup charge. Believe me, when I booked, the web site said it was waived - whether <u>you</u> ever saw such language or not.
3. Yes, the pickup/dropoff fees are spelled out on the voucher and in the contract. So what? By the time you see either, they've got your money.
1. The money that was charged to my card account went to citer, not AutoEurope.
2. I'm the kind of person who would gladly ride the Métro to a city storefront to avoid a rail station pickup charge. Believe me, when I booked, the web site said it was waived - whether <u>you</u> ever saw such language or not.
3. Yes, the pickup/dropoff fees are spelled out on the voucher and in the contract. So what? By the time you see either, they've got your money.
Oct 3rd, 2008, 12:15 PM
#20
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Underhill,
We returned our Europcar rental at Nice airport a couple of weeks ago, and they charge us an extra $42 over our rental contract for "fees". They didn't mention anything when we returned our car, just mailed us the receipt of the extra charges they put on our credit card. I'm very unhappy with this. I hope you fair better.
We returned our Europcar rental at Nice airport a couple of weeks ago, and they charge us an extra $42 over our rental contract for "fees". They didn't mention anything when we returned our car, just mailed us the receipt of the extra charges they put on our credit card. I'm very unhappy with this. I hope you fair better.
