PANEK RENT A CAR
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1 star – Deeply disappointing experience and questionable practices
I am writing this review to share my recent and extremely frustrating experience with PANEK S.A., which left me not only disappointed but also concerned about the company’s approach to customers from outside the European Union. On 23 March 2025, at around 18:45, I attempted to collect a rental vehicle that I had reserved in advance. However, I was denied the car simply because my driving licence was issued outside of the EU (in a non-EU country). The employee, Mr Gwoździkowski, informed me that I would need to present an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to proceed. Alternatively, I was told I could still take the car if I paid an additional 700 PLN for a “Full Protection Package”. This was completely unexpected and felt like an attempt to force me into a costly upsell. At no point during the booking process was this requirement clearly communicated, and it is not reflected in the official terms and conditions published by PANEK. The company’s own regulations (in force since 24 February 2025) state that a customer must hold a driving licence issued by an EU country to rent a vehicle – effectively excluding citizens of countries like the UK, USA, or Australia. Nowhere does it say that this can be circumvented by presenting an IDP or paying extra for insurance. I called the customer support line and spoke to a representative named Julia, who simply repeated that I needed an IDP or had to pay the 700 PLN. Again, there was no justification for this in the actual rental agreement. After reviewing the terms and conditions thoroughly, I found several troubling issues: • The company does not officially recognise IDPs as valid substitutes for EU licences. • The Full Protection Package is not listed as a way to override eligibility requirements. • There is no transparency or consistency in the way this policy is communicated or enforced. This creates a very real risk of discrimination against customers from third countries. The treatment I received could be interpreted as exploitative, with staff seemingly pressuring me into paying more money rather than simply abiding by the written terms of the agreement. I had travelled with the expectation of a smooth rental experience and instead found myself being misled and excluded based on where my licence was issued. I was left without a vehicle and had to make last-minute alternative arrangements. I would strongly urge other international travellers – especially those from outside the EU – to avoid PANEK unless you are prepared for unclear policies, inconsistent communication, and a lack of accountability. This experience was unacceptable, and I sincerely hope that PANEK will: • Clarify their policy regarding non-EU driving licences, • Update their terms and marketing materials, • Retrain their staff on how to communicate clearly and fairly with customers, • And most importantly, stop applying double standards that leave international customers feeling targeted and discriminated against. Until then, I cannot recommend this company and will not be using their services.