ira

> I didn't have any fault in Europcar's dishonesty.<

The problem, my dear Images, lies in our broker, not in our rental car agency.

You should also consider paying up front, to ensure that the price doesn't change.

TexasAggie

To revisit the thread now that we are back...

We used Gemut, who used AutoEurope, for the rental of 2 vehicles in Germany on our family trip. The rental car company we ended up with was EuropCar. We were charged over $350 more than the contract rate received from Gemut. Supposedly Gemut and AutoEurope are looking into the matter. I faxed them all the documentation they required last Thursday and have twice asked Gemut for confirmation they received it and have heard nothing. The problem is likely with EuropCar and not with AutoEurope and/or Gemut... but I am not pleased with the lack of a status update or even confirmation of the receipt of the documents I paid to have faxed to them.

lpsmith

TexasAggie-
can you give an update about this when you find something out?

I just did 3 rentals with Gemut/AutoEurope and the rental car place is Europcar. I paid a deposit on 2 of them and the full amount on 1 of them. I'd be interested in hearing what happens.

I was happy with the people at Gemut, who come highly recommended, from this forum. Hopefully they work it out in your favor!

Good Luck! and Hook 'em Horns.

TexasAggie

Hi lp,

I'll report back as soon as I hear anything. We had also prepaid the deposit for both cars with Gemut. I called Citi, our credit card company, today and was able to discern that the overcharge came directly from EuropCar and not from Gemut or AutoEurope. So perhaps that is why it is taking a while for me to hear anything in that Gemut has to work with AutoEurope... who has to work with EuropCar... and so on.

DH went to UT by the way, class of 1995.

robjame

TA - was AutoEurope able to tell you what the charge was for?
I know I was once charged adter the fact for dropping off a car at a railway station.
I think that thie overcharging by car rental companies is s very common practise everywhere in the world and why I am always happy to have AE in my corner.

Images2

I'm so sorry this happened to you TexasAggie. I'm also interested in how this gets resolved. It sure looks as though Europecar has raised it's rates across the board and isn't honoring it's previous reservations.

scrb

OK, I returned my rental from Europcar Nice when they were closed because I had a real early flight.

They just sent me an invoice for 32.41 Euro, including VAT for something they call "Premium Station Surcharge."

Anyone have any idea what that is?

I filled up gas in Cannes and then parked it the night before. Then early in the morning, drove straight to NCE and dropped it off.

The fuel indicator showed completely full.

This was a Toyota Yaris so it got very good mileage.

Maybe it's gas for like half a gallon.

Otherwise, I'm stumped and thinking of telling my credit card company to contest the charge.

This was a prepaid rental through Kemwel.com.

robjame

Again that is why you use a broker. Phone Kemwell. They will either tell you what it is for or they will reverse it. Don't call the company. Let Kemwell do it. Don't muddy the water until you have to.
Even if it is a legit charge, they may reverse it to keep you as a client.

scrb

Emailed Kemwel yesterday, no response.

I then emailed Europcar from their website.

mari5

This is the main reason why we "always" prefer to prepay and have the paid voucher in hand when we approach the rental desk overseas.
Makes life easier!

scrb

This WAS a prepaid rental.

I had a voucher but they require your credit card.

Problem is I had an early flight so I had to return the car when the office wasn't open.

Michael

scrb,

Your 31 euro charge may have been an airport tax if that is where you dropped off the car.

I rented from Europecar (via AutoEurope and Kemwel) twice this summer with no problems. In one case, there was no one to accept the car and I was wondering if some extra charges would appear on my credit card. None did, although I scratched the side mirror housing.

Cimbrone

I am presently in a dispute with Europcar as they charged me for an extra two day's rental. My fault for not having them complete the paper work when I turned it in (a day early), but the agent assured me, when I handed her the key, that was all I needed to do. That's all I've usually done in the past.

I also booked through AutoEurope--which wanted me to do the dispute through them. But Visa promptly gave me a refund, so I'm letting them deal with it.

Bottom line is I also have a bad taste in my mouth for Europcar. "Sloppy" is right!

scrb

32 euro for a dropoff at an airport?

I picked up at the same location BTW.

If there was a dropoff charge or a tax, shouldn't Kemwel have charged me when they made me prepay for the rental?

robjame

I am at a loss as to why you haven't phoned them rather than stewing over this.

Kemwel
39 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine 04102
Phone: 1-207-842-2285
Fax: 1-207-842-2286

Headquarters: 1-800-678-0678
Reservations & Customer Service: 1-877-820-0668

scrb

Ugh, it's a location surcharge.

My voucher says in the fine print that rentals starting in airports or railroad stations have an approximately $42 surcharge.

Europcar billed me a total of $45 and change including VAT.

I can't recall if before I booked the rental, that was spelled out.

So be wary.

So many rentals in Europe of course start at airports and rail stations. That's some string.

StuDudley

It's been that way for many years.

Used to be only airports, but within the last few years train stations are included. If you tried (which I never have) picking it up at a "downtown" office, I'm guessing that cars would be scarce.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley

Michael

The downtown office probably would have had the car. When I discovered that it would cost extra to pick up the car at the Nice RR station--and that was in the contract--I changed the location with AutoEurope with no problem.

explorefamily

Having just returned from Germany, we are dealing with the same issue with AutoEurope. Pre-paid 100% for car through broker - Gemut. Picked car up at Munich airport (no outlying areas were open on Sunday), dropped of at an Avis office in Garmisch... Not the train station but a street several blocks away. No damage to car, full tank of gas, and 1 hour early.
Week after returning home, charges of $150 are charged to credit card by Avis Munich - no explanation.
Gemut is handling getting an explanation as there is nothing in any fine print in the contract... charges will be disputed if they aren't valid. Gemut was completely unaware of the additional charges and disappointed to hear about them as well.
Wondering if TexasAggie ever received a response/validation for charges?

LMGSONIC

I, too, am wondering about this. We booked a car through National (their web site) for pick up and drop off in Munich (downtown). I just got an email from National saying that location has closed and they are trying to transfer my reservation to another location nearby. However, they are now quoting me a higher price (about 31 Euros higher) and the rental is being serviced by Europcar! I'm not sure if I should go through with this reservation, or if I should try to find another one. My original reservation was "confirmed", and I have no problem with the change in location, but I don't like the price changes. Makes me worry they are going to double it by the time we get there in October and we'll be screwed. Any thoughts?