Europcar raided by Trading Standards |
Europcar raided by Trading Standards |
Sun, 16 Jul 2017 - 23:15
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
This news is three weeks old so surprised it hasn't already appeared
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-te...281509341190673 It concerns the artificial inflation of windscreen and other repair costs, a practice believed to have gone on for years Europcar has been one of the worst hire companies for paying parking notices and adding extortionate admin charges before deducting the total from credit cards - and refusing to refund them when challenged |
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Sun, 16 Jul 2017 - 23:15
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Mon, 17 Jul 2017 - 06:23
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 56,198 Joined: 9 Sep 2003 From: Warwickshire Member No.: 317 |
Could have interesting implications, that's for sure!
-------------------- There is no such thing as a law abiding motorist, just those who have been scammed and those yet to be scammed!
S172's Rookies 1-0 Kent Council PCN's Rookies 1-0 Warwick Rookies 1-0 Birmingham PPC PCN's Rookies 10-0 PPC's |
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Mon, 17 Jul 2017 - 09:43
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
I always remove stickers that identify a hire car because I believe that they attract parking tickets
Operators have no need to contact the DVLA and there's a high chance that they will be paid automatically According my daughter in the hire car business, Europcar group companies charge to replace them Back in the late 70s, before all the changes that eventually resulted in becoming part of Europcar, I enjoyed dealing with Swan National My employer had a fleet of dangerous pool cars such as a Cortina with no brakes and bonnet that flew open, and an Avenger with a blocked fuel line that cut out when overtaking Discovered that, across the road, our better known sister company with a similar name had an account with Swan Managed to spend a a couple of months driving long distances in quite decent cars before Swan sent their invoice and sister company's accountant investigated If you want to get a job done, seek forgiveness afterward not permission first |
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Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 00:09
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 442 Joined: 14 Feb 2015 Member No.: 75,738 |
More here, albeit partly behind a paywall -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/23...me-spot-damage/ |
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Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 07:43
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
I can see this escalating into a full investigation of the hire industry
A good time to suggest looking into the existence of a cartel regarding the £36 standard charge for passing on hirer information to parking companie |
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Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 11:48
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 2,091 Joined: 9 Mar 2007 Member No.: 11,066 |
Don't car finance companies do a similar thing when the car is taken back at end of contract?
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 01:20
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
There's no excuse for inventing damage but I can see a sort of justification to inflate the repair charge
A car with obvious damage isn't, in practice, available to be hired |
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:32
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 2,091 Joined: 9 Mar 2007 Member No.: 11,066 |
"Everyone" has a mobile, don't they take vids of cars when returning them and in for repairs?
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:40
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 56,198 Joined: 9 Sep 2003 From: Warwickshire Member No.: 317 |
As this concerns artificial inflation of the repair cost, how do you think that would help? (its not about inventing repairs).
I can understand a justification for adding a VOR (vehicle off road) cost for loss of revenue while its being repaired, but the numbers suggested don't stack up for that. -------------------- There is no such thing as a law abiding motorist, just those who have been scammed and those yet to be scammed!
S172's Rookies 1-0 Kent Council PCN's Rookies 1-0 Warwick Rookies 1-0 Birmingham PPC PCN's Rookies 10-0 PPC's |
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:48
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 7,235 Joined: 5 Jan 2007 From: England Member No.: 9,919 |
I used to do body repairs for Godfrey davis, budget, and europcar.
Budget were the worst offenders for exorbitant charges. often doubling the cost or more. I got the impression the costs were made up by the office manager. |
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 08:00
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 3,343 Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Member No.: 10,873 |
There's no excuse for inventing damage but I can see a sort of justification to inflate the repair charge A car with obvious damage isn't, in practice, available to be hired Yes they are.I couldnt count the times ive had vans where the front bumper and rear corners are bashed hired to me.Obviously covered with paperwork and photos on my behalf,but to say it doesnt happen is just wrong. The crux is not being rushed into signing that form before everything is checked and recorded.Not always easy on raining collection days,but cut corners at your own peril. This post has been edited by fedup2: Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 08:01 |
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Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 09:56
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 7,235 Joined: 5 Jan 2007 From: England Member No.: 9,919 |
There's no excuse for inventing damage but I can see a sort of justification to inflate the repair charge A car with obvious damage isn't, in practice, available to be hired Yes they are.I couldnt count the times ive had vans where the front bumper and rear corners are bashed hired to me.Obviously covered with paperwork and photos on my behalf,but to say it doesnt happen is just wrong. The crux is not being rushed into signing that form before everything is checked and recorded.Not always easy on raining collection days,but cut corners at your own peril. Non of the hirers I worked with would rent a car with anything more than a small sent or scrape. Under no circumstances would they rent something with anything more than that. |
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Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 06:54
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 401 Joined: 4 Nov 2007 Member No.: 15,070 |
I think Kelvin McKenzie may have kicked things off before he was sacked, this column remains online
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1569353/kelvi...urance-scandal/ |
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Sat, 29 Jul 2017 - 08:14
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
My source at another hire company has been checking if there is anything awkward to be discovered if it's investigated
There's a rebate from the repairers that it believes to be fairly standard but not a culture of inventing or inflating damage Has previously told me that damage is unwelcome because the car isn't earning |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: Thursday, 28th March 2024 - 23:54 |