Spaceships Rentals (UK & Europe)
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Unsafe and sexist experience
I rented a verhicle from this compagny, the second time to do so, the first time around 2018. Unfortunately, the vehicle broke down within close range of the pick up point due to a broken clutch, which I noticed was acting weird already from the pick up point. I waited for help for over an hour. This can happen. But how the dealt with the situation was sexist and unsafe for (female) solo travellers. When help arrived, they looked under the hood, and, without telling me what the problem was, descided to test me, as they assumed I can't drive manually. At that moment, I was cold and distressed, and was told to drive an unknown vehicle in an unknown neighbourhood whithout a reason and navigation. They did not told me why, but I felt unsure and was confused by this weird to me approach. Safe to say, this was not the best it could go. I should say at this point, I drive manually for overmore than 10 years, although at the different side of the road. Then I was told I couldn't drive and that they would fully reimburse me for the rent, as they would not rent me any vehicle, nor give an replacement van. They dropped me of at the picking up station and I was initially told to go to the bus and try to find accommodation for the night in the city. I found this really distressing, it was after 17.00 pm and I was essentially just hoping some hotel had a spot to take me in for the same night. Although the guy who told me this was telling me nicely, the way I was treated was really rude. At that moment, I was shocked and panicking because I now had to find somehow a place to stay for the night. They then did pick me up at the bus stop and told me I could sleep in a van for the night and that somebody would call me the day after. Having no other option, I did, and in the morning I left. By then there was no other solution offered, they only told me I would be called bij their customer service. I left, and arranged for another van with another compagny, which I picked up the same day, thanks to help from friends. This other van, also manually, cost a lot more, but I had no other option. The costumer service from Spaceships offered another vehicle later that day, if I would pay £2,000 damage deposit for it. Since I felt I had a unsafe, rude and sexist experience, I declined, and asked fro my money back. They did so, eventually. And I drove the other manually geared van from another compagny for the remainder of my time there, without any problems. This experience with Spaceship Rentals was really bad and in the end costed also a lot of money, since I had to find another accommodation on the spot. I can't recommend this compagny, as I felt unsafe and felt they treated me badly. I doubted to write a review, but this went really bad and I want to warn fellow solo female travellers. Edit as a reply to spaceships: -It is true that my first hire was an automatic, and this second was a manual. And it is also true that before hiring the van I've had more than ten year of active drivers experience with a manual car, and after the experience with spaceships, I drove around in another manual campervan for the remainder of my holiday without troubles. Also true: no clutch/ manual gear problems with all the cars I drove before or after. -The collegue that arrived did not ask for an demonstration or mentioned that the clutch was broken, he just asked me to drive his vehicle without explanation. -The replacement with disposit was only offered the day after, not on the same day, hours after I left. If you look back in your emails, you'll find that information in your own answer. When I left the following day/the day after, I talked to the person at the location, and nothing was offered, there was only stated that I would recieve a phonecall from customer service. Because the day before was clearly stated by this person that no hire would be possible, I left. -I would not call it 'going an extra mile' if you tell your clients they have to find accomodations elsewhere for the same night, even tell them which bus to take, and only after they left and went to the busstop, only then you decide to step in and offer a accommodation for the night. -You're well in your right to decide if you want to hire something to someone or not. However, this review reflects my overall experience with your compagny. Unfortunatly, the way this situation was handled was far from a positive experience. I would not recommend it to any solo traveller. Reaction to edit : For me it felt unsafe to be sended away without accommodation for the night and not to be told what was wrong in the first place.This I shared at the time. To be clear on the sexist title, I felt then and still feel strongly I was treated as I was because I am a woman. The fact that it was not meant as unsafe or as condecending doesn't mean that it was'nt.