Jack Durling

Aug 2, 2021

Stay clear. Cheap? Not Cheerful

I rented a van from Choice Vehicles Brighton. That was a very unpleasant experience overall. We had to wait almost 50 minutes upon being given the van on the day of hire. The transit van was in an extremely shoddy and poor condition. Duct taped seat belts, extensive damages and loose fixtures like rear bumpers coming away from the actual fuselage. In driving the van down the motorway the rear corner section of the bumper came off. Which I had clearly evidenced as being loose and sticking out by atleast 1 inch upon actual hire. Though something to note very very little conversation is ever held about existing damages between you the customer and the choice vehicles. You wait a really long time to get the vehicle and then are ushered out pretty quickly to avoid discussions surrounding its existing state. And this rhetoric is continued upon return. In trying to hold a conversation. I was actively accused of causing damages to the vehicle. As we 'must have hit something' breaking the rivets. Though this wasn't the case at all and the damage was already there and this was waiting to happen. My initial photographs were not acknowledged and the same employee in question assessed his own images that we were not allowed to view and were actively and aggressively accused of causing this to happen. Infact the tone was very quickly escalated on his part, I wasn't even able to speak it came across very pre emtpted. In the discussion the section in question was stated as 'quite secure' and 'can see from my own photographs'. And as I tried to mention this doesn't imply it was fully secure, and more importantly already documented and aware of. Having got no where, I opened my dispute and a charge was made before an explanation was given via email by the company. More or less encouragingthe idea that they had actually undercharged me for the repair costs and somehow doing me a favour. To summarise I would stay clear from this company they carry out a disturbing practise and in breach of road safety regulations. It is clear things aren't done by the book and there is a lack of care and competence. Most importantly the vechile given wouldn't pass MOT regulations and has put our saftey and the greater public at risk. And to be fobbed off and told the reply email in relation to the seatbelt 'whilst this doesn't look very nice it does not impact the function of the belt. '. Is quite ignorant of what I had evidenced, dangerous and an accident waiting to happen. Something I will also add the paper work given to us the tanks worth of fuel was stated as 3/8ths but was actually a quarter fuel meaning we were manipulated to provide additional fuel and made to wait again for an unbearable amount of time yet again.