Hidden Charges – Don’t get taken for a ride when it comes to car hire

There’s an old truism, that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Something that bargain hunters have found out, the hard way, when hiring vehicles at unbelievably low prices. All too often they discover that while they may have paid less up front, they ended up paying more in the long run. No-one likes to be ripped off, but if you ask yourself honestly, given the prospect of a bargain, how often do you take the time to do your research, read the small print or check out the reviews? Perhaps we can change that when it comes to vehicle hire if we can save just one person from falling prey to a scam, we’ll consider it well worth our while.

Comparison Websites – Use with care

Comparison websites are a great thing. They take the effort out of getting a good deal by allowing you to see the products or services offered by all kinds of businesses side by side so that you can decide for yourselves which offer to take and it forces businesses to be competitive – surely a victory for the consumer? Well, not always. Sadly, it’s possible for unscrupulous companies to get themselves listed on comparison sites, offer enticingly low prices to get the business and then recoup their costs by hidden charges and unscrupulous practices.

You may have seen the news in recent months, of a car hire company which is reported to have been removed from comparison websites after a deluge of negative reviews and accusations of excessive charges for minor scratches, even damage which was pre-existing according to the customers who left the reviews. The litany of accusations are horrific to say the least and we would suggest that if you do use a price comparison website for car hire or indeed anything else, be very wary of ultra-low prices offered by companies with which you’re unfamiliar.

Another car rental company in Leicester last year was investigated by Trading Standards after allegations came to light that it was unfairly profiting from overcharging customers for damage, as a result they were forced to set aside £40 million to refund victims of this overcharging. Clearly, the size of that refund fund indicates that it’s not only small companies who should be approached with caution when it comes to car hire.

How to avoid hidden charges with your next car hire

There are a number of easy ways to make sure that when you next hire a car you don’t get taken for a ride.

Use your credit card not your debit card – Credit cards tend to come with enhanced legal protection over and above what might come bundled with your bank account. Essentially, your credit card company is partially responsible for problems with credit card purchases so if there’s a problem, you’ll have legal backup.
Don’t be taken in by casual pre-hire vehicle checks – One of the accusations levelled at the first company above was a blasé approach to pre-existing minor damage, which became an almost forensic attention to (chargeable) detail on return. Don’t be afraid to ask for damage not already noted to be added the list of dents and scratches before you drive away. If it’s dark, or raining when you pick up the car, make sure this is noted on the vehicle card.
Check the fuel policy – While a full to full policy, or asking for a vehicle to be returned with the same amount of fuel as it left with is often the fairest policy for customers, there’s money to be made by charging customers extra for the full tank of fuel in the car comes with on collection, with the understanding that it can be returned empty without additional charge. If you return the car with fuel in the tank, you’re unlikely to get a refund on the remainder and the next customer will still get charged for a full tank.
You’re offered an ‘upgrade’ – If a car you’ve booked isn’t available when you turn up to collect it, you may be offered an upgrade. This is perfectly fine and it’s up to you whether or not you want to drive a larger/better car than you arranged, however, you shouldn’t be asked to pay more for what is essentially their problem – in fact, they’re in breach of contract if they do. If you end up driving a cheaper car instead, they should, of course, refund the difference.

Of course, the best way to avoid hidden charges is to make sure you rent your next hire car from a reputable company which doesn’t have hidden charges to begin with. At Priory Rentals, we’re a family firm with family values. We don’t offer too good to be true deals, just good competitive prices, with nothing hidden or underhanded in the way we deal with our lovely customers. You won’t find us on comparison sites and there are no lengthy and impersonal online forms to fill out, just good, old-fashioned customer service, from a long established company which cares.

Get in touch today to experience the Priory difference for yourself!