1) Before renting a car in Dublin I emailed EuropCar to confirm that there would be "no additional charges" when I picked up the car." I received an email that indeed stated, "There will be no additional charges ..."

When I picked up the car ... the charge was $170 higher than the price I'd been quoted! When I complained the clerk refunded approximately $50 - $60. I was too exhausted to argue any further. When I got home I sent three emails -- that included the response from their employee stating that there would be "NO additional charges ..." These were not unsuccessful. But a letter to the head of customer service resulted in the remaining overcharge being removed -- although I never received any other response.

2) When I returned the car I was told I'd caused a scratch under the bumper. It was virtually impossible to see --unless one crouched on the ground--so I don't know whether it was there when I rented the car. It certainly is possible that I caused the scratch (although I doubt it)--but it was so minor I thought it would simply be normal wear and tear. FYI, this car was virtually covered with scratches and a large dent on the bumper (that were all noted) when I rented it.

EuropCar charged $1,058 to my credit card for the repair. Luckily, I was covered by my World Elite MasterCard. I let them know that the bumper in question had an enormous dent in it that had been noted when I rented the car. They negotiated with EuropCar and EuropCar agreed to accept half the amount in light of the pre-existing damage. Several emails later the $1,058 charge was removed from my credit card.

I was VERY impressed with how the representative at World Elite MasterCard handled this claim.

I was left feeling as if EuropCar tried every angle to rip me off. Be forewarned ...

pretty scarey.

You mean that now we have to lay on the ground to check under the bumper.
Ridiculous.

There seem to be a lot of problems with car rentals in Ireland, I don't know what is going on there. I thought Mastercard wouldn't cover car rental damages in Ireland, am I wrong on that? I've just heard that no credit cards will for so long.

"<i> I thought Mastercard wouldn't cover car rental damages in Ireland, am I wrong on that? I've just heard that no credit cards will for so long.</i>"

Just the one type of Master Card that the OP has (world/world elite MC) - no others that I know of.

We will be renting a car in Ireland for 18 days this September, my anxiety level was already on the rise from other threads about car rental problems.

I don't know how you can protect yourself any better than songdoc did. I hope we come away with a "happy ending" as well.

Maybe there should be a fodors master check list for car renting in Ireland Deborah

DeborahAnn. I fear the rules change so fast we cannot keep up with them.
Who puts a hold on your credit card for the excess? Who actually charges the card and then removes it when you return but you still get socked with the foreign transaction fee?
Every car rental company seems to have its own agenda.

Europcar double charged me for over $300. My credit card company was great, but Europcar called me in the U.S. on several occasions. It's over! I don't have to pay them and they stopped calling... I would rent again in Ireland...it's good to read all the fine print! Good luck to all.

I think the moral of the story is to stand up for yourself--and not back down if you're overcharged--by ANYONE.

Can't the rental car company visually check the car when you turn it in and give you back and "OK", the same as you did when you rented it?

There has GOT to be more protection than this.. somehow.

Well done Songdoc. Let's not let the rental agencies roll over us. If you are too tired to fight a problem on the spot , document it with pictures and give customer service a nastygram when you get back home.

<<Can't the rental car company visually check the car when you turn it in and give you back and "OK", the same as you did when you rented it?>>

yes, they do usually do that if you want them to and wait for them to sign off. In fact, they DID tell the OP he caused damage when he returned the car, so it isn't like this happened later. He just didn't cause the damage at all.

thanks janis for the info on MC

Songdoc - It's for the very reason you stated about the Credit Card that we paid over the deposit to the Hire Company by bank transfer and finally the amount owing by B/T as well. The company we rented from had absolutely no recourse to any funds of ours! All we did was sign that we would pay the first 1,000euros damage - How they thought they would get the money out of us I don't know.
One is not obliged to have a credit card so should never feel you should give them access -
The bumper story is so 'created' on the part of the vehicle hire! What a lot of Bull S--T! Good for you sticking to your guns!

I never have problems with Europcar in France, even if I add a minor scratch or two. Here at least, a scratch is never considered the same as a dent.

I've started a campaign - if all the Ireland travelers decide to email this guy on Bord Failte (Irish Tourism), '[email protected]', perhaps he can push legislation to regulate the industry?

Also, Michele at www.irelandyes.com has a thread on her forums that discuss the requirements and rules for each of the car rental places. She's very helpful with questions. Having visited over 40 times, I imagine she's seen it all

christina.. I had caught that ..thanks.

Would never use Europcar again, especially in France with their never before mentioned extra charges when returning the car. Richard

P.S. We prepaid for the gas in Ireland with 'Thrifty'. When we returned the car, we were refunded for an estimate of unused gas. Something we did't expect.

iris1745 - that is astounding. We left on a full tank and returned it on a full tank!

People also do not tend to realize that each and every car agency, even of the same brand, often operates differently. An agency of the same company in the next town can be 1000% better (or worse) than the one you are using. Absolutely no way to know that ahead of time.

I have my pet peeve agencies as well, but they have nothing to do with the name of the company or the city -- but very specifically with the agency I dealt with.