Europcar UK

Europcar LCY very much operates a fraud scheme here as they charge customers for "damage" that is non existent or that they claim is the customer's fault. In my case, I received emails after my rental that there was “damage” to the car. Photos were provided, but I am unable to see any damage in the photos. I have attached a photo they sent, apparently there is a scratch on the front bumper but I do not see one, especially at the resolution provided. Not to mentioning claiming "damage" on a bumper - a bumper! - just screams scam. I was not asked to inspect the vehicle prior to the rental. I was not given any evidence of the condition of the car prior to the rental. (However, the pickup attendant tried to upsell me to cars that were 8x and 6x more expensive than my rental.) Upon return (to London City), the attendant required me to drive to a remote part of the parking lot for the return - far from the Europcar office and designated return area, with no other cars around, and extremely far from the terminal. I now know why - to be out of view in order to execute a damages claim scam. The car was only driven 4 times during the rental, and did not impact anything during those 4 trips. Claiming that I am responsible for damages is scam-like, inefficient, inappropriate, and terrible customer service. When I stated so to the claims rep, they claimed I should've read the 49-page Terms and Conditions prior to the rental. Highly advise renting elsewhere.

DO NOT USE. I WASNT TOLD I NEEDED MY DRIVING LICENCE (they have photos of it) SO I WAS ANNOYED AND STORMED OUT. BECAUSE THE DOOR SLAMMED HE CAME OUT AND SHOUTED THAT HE WILL CANCEL MY BOOKING. SO ON MOVING DAY IM LEFT £70 OUT OF POCKET AND NO VAN. RUDE. DO NOT USE. Edit: Received a refund 3 days later.

Very good car hire experience from the Gloucester (Hempsted Lane branch). Helpful staff. Minimal hassle to hire and helped through initial car inspection check. Upon car return no fuss car inspection and OKed. Highly recommended

I had booked to pick up a car with Europcar at Birmingham Airpot in England through an online website. I found the sales person very arrogant he refused me the saying they could not verify me through there credit agency search. Which I found difficult to understand considering I had taken a car from the same location twice in the past few months prior to the last refused rental. Nevertheless I got charged for the rental, I was told that as Europcar didn’t take me payment the third party will refund the money. I got the feeling it’s because I was happy to sign the contract even after been told that I would be liable to the damage to the car because I refused to take out any extra add insurance from them, because this same person who stated they could not find my name on a credit check was present the last time I rented from that branch and I refused to take extra insurance from them. I actually choose Europcar because I believed it to be a reputable company, never again.

Car rental for christmas in Cork, booked via HolidayCars. I bought a CD waver insurance policy which I showed at the desk on collection of the car. I had to use my debit card instead of a credit card as the PIN had been changed by my wife. Apparently using my debit card meant that I had to take compulsory and very expensive CD insurance that increased the cost by 112 euros. This was not exp[lained to me at the desk. On return I was invoiced for this extra amount and emailed their support. This was answered that I had signed the agreement when renting so nothing could be done. My point is that I cannot read the full agreements when renting a car especially when stressed to get to my final destination and with a queue behind me. I had bought a policy to cover the excess so clearly did not want or need extra insurance. I think that Europcar should have refunded this charge but they stopped replying to my follow up emails. I regard this as misleading me. Poor.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! NEVER OPEN NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE I understand these are a budget car rental but the lack of customer service makes it feel like it's not even an established business RUDE telephone staff ZERO business etticate Called the branch over 20 times and when you ring for 21 mins the phone just cuts off!! We had to call EUROPCAR head office to complain an they can't even get through to the branch. BOOKED US A RENTAL THEN GAVE THE RENTAL SOMEONE ELSE THEN PROMISED TO CALL BACK BUT DIDNT STILL AWAITING A CALL BUT DOUBT IT WILL HAPPEN. Very inexperienced what would seem like teenagers as the staff that you do eventually communicate with as they are stroppy, rude and have no knowledge on their job description ABSOLUTE FARSE OF A COMPANY I DOUBT THEY ARE EVEN A REGISTERED COMPANY AS THEY DO NOT OPERATE LIKE ONE If it's a car rental with a quality serv9ce you need AVOID AVOID AVOID EUROPCAR AT ALL COSTS!!!!

Des escrocs. Location d un véhicule en ligne pendant 4 jours.. surprise d une caution de 250 euros à l arrivée... et restitution seulement de la moitié... motif inconnu .... service client contacté , zéro. Aucune aide.. bref tarif escroquerie 125 euros... conclusion europcar sera évité par moi, ma famille, mes amis, mes collègues... etcetcetc.. on va vous faire la publicité que vous méritez..

Let me first say this complaint was slowly escalated to the company CEO, who appears to be ignorant or deaf, maybe both!! No reply!! However this was in desperation to correct a very justifiable grievance, that had failed at branch level and also Customer services at corporate office. So here goes.. I had ordered and paid for a manual Intermediate sized SUV. I received an Automatic COMPACT SUV. Europcar's argument is they are MONETARY the same value, so a clear downsize is OK, even if it was NOT discussed, or even mentioned with me at the counter, when collecting my vehicle. In fairness I should have noticed when I got my vehicle, but it was parked next a large Merc SUV so just thought it looked small. My vehicle was a Hyundai Bayon, a very small and questionable SUV of any sort. I had to get to Portsmouth to pick up a disabled family friend and was already late(flight) so headed off. We just managed to get her mobility scooter in the boot but had to use the back seat for her walking frame, mine and her suitcases plus a backpack. Dangerous and also risking damaging the seats. These important facts have been totally overlooked by Europcar, who keep trotting out the same line about "Monetary" values of both vehicles were the same. Presumably for my 5 day Intermediate SUV, they could have given me a Luxury car for 2 days or Tiny car for 8 days, because it's the same Monetary value - extreme but the same logic. I never expected the CEO to deal with it, but delegate to an area/district manager who can have rung me and got my side. A request for an area/district managers contact details was made, but again ignored. This incident happened over 2 months ago but wanted to give ample time for someone to act, which is only fair. Long winded?? There lots more I could say.

Sent us an invoice and stopped replying to queries. This is how they treat customers

I booked for a 4x4 at Denver airport. At pick up the agent said it was not guaranteed and tried to persuade me to pay $500 extra to guarantee a 4x4. When I did pick up the car, guess what - it was in fact a 4x4. What a con it would have been. He also said the car I was getting would be too small for 5 adults and luggage and would not be suitable for snowy weather that was forecast. It was extremely roomy for us all and it was a 4x4 - what could have been better! Second issue was there was a chip in the driver's side of the windscreen and a huge circular crack 😳. It was so late at night after a long journey I couldn't face going through the whole processagain, so took the car. I would definitely be reluctant to Europcar, or at least Fox Rentals, their partner company in USA, in the future.

I was lied to and miss sold additional insurance cover by the Cardiff (Newport Road) office. I have been a loyal customer at the Newport depot for many years and spent thousands of pounds with them but after this recent experience I will Never use Europcar ever again ... NEVER BELIEVE WHAT THEIR CARDIFF OFFICE TELLS YOU ... When I contacted their customer service department I was met with a wall of corporate cr4p !!!

Terrible company- no one there to give me my (prepaid) car - no one answering phone - not interested in refunding my money- a complete scam- will be contacting thier regulator- DO NOT USE

Do not waste your money, number of issues during my hire. Won't help you once they have your money, excuse after excuse. Just been back and forth with customer services and they clearly think their perspective is always correct. Also their customer service advisors are shocking, had to remind them I was the customer. Replacement car offered a Fiat 500 which was not suitable and there is not attempt to correct matters. Spent hours on the telephone chasing them for an update, when a car was not available they suggested go to Manchester to swap the vehicle. Are you actually having a laugh? Then they say we are not saying you do this, so what are you saying? Don't want anyone to go through the experience I did, so please find another hire company where they can look after you as you should be being a paying customer.

Tell us more about your experience Read our Guidelines for Reviewers We chose europ car through rentalcars.com to rent a car for 4 days. It was supposed to be £125 for 2 people plus insurance. On arrival to pick car up the person behind the counter tried to charge us extra insurance without us saying yes. This would have been £100 extra!!!!! Luckily we realised before we made transaction. After we collected car we realised that we also were charged £55 for second driver. Then we realised that on our bank statement we were charged twice for the rental. We are now having the misfortune of having to claim the money this second payment back , which means you have to jump through hoops finding bank statements and proof of over charge even though they can see for themselves we were double charged …. AVOID!

rented the car , also took out extra insurance for cover, then got a bill for 1119.00euros for a scrape on the wheel, telling me they need to replace it, absolute joke, took the pictures to alloy wheel specialist and was told that it be no problem to sort it without having to renew the wheel, emailed eurocar with this with no response from them just a letter threatening me with debt collectors.

Never returned my £250 deposit. Waited and waited and no help and no reply to email. Won’t be using this company again.

Arrived to find the car we booked had been rented to someone else and the agent on the desk to be very rude and obnoxious when I was trying to sort it out. I was then charged €250 euros more than originally quoted for a lower spec car, I had no choice but to take it as it was midnight and I had 4 young children with me

Rip off!!!! Got cheap car rental through Booking.com for Europcar. Even paid an additional amount on the booking for full insurance for a 7 day hire. Arrived at Fuerteventura airport and was told that the full insurance wasn’t any good as it was taken through a third party. They sold me the full insurance for €285 on top of what I had already paid!!!!! This ensured that any damage would be waived. Picked up the car and noticed a few marks on it - I wasnt bothered as I had full cover. Returned the car after 7 days, and with no damage to it. They scoured the car and told me I’d damaged the rear of the car (I hadn’t). Luckily I’d taken out their rip off insurance, so I could walk away worry free. Can’t help but feel there’s some sort of scam going on here. Stay away!!!!!

We arrived at the Europcar London Gatwick South Terminal office on 20 February at midday. We were met by Anita(?) and 2 gentlemen. I have forgotten their names unfortunately but believe one was Rumanian and the other was Mo. They were incredibly polite and friendly and made sure we were happy with the car provided since it was not exactly as booked. After an early start and long boring flight it was a real pleasure to be met such cheerful, helpful staff. After years of renting from europcar these 3 people were the nicest staff we have ever dealt with. I just wish all your staff are the same. The office was quite empty at that time so there was time for a chat and they showed us what good and happy employees europcar has. Thank you LGW europcar staff. Steve and Margaret

If I could give it less than one star I would, AVOID AVOID AVOID!! rented a car in Birmingham airport and all was well even got it back to them and everything was grand. But about a month later got email after email about a charge of £45 and wouldn’t tell me what for. Now I’m getting letters through the post from debt collectors and only now saying that it was a traffic violation, but no date or time of the alleged offence. Nor proof that it was the car I had or me driving. Scammers