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Europcar raided by Trading Standards
Gan
post Sun, 16 Jul 2017 - 23:15
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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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post Sun, 16 Jul 2017 - 23:15
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The Rookie
post Mon, 17 Jul 2017 - 06:23
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Could have interesting implications, that's for sure!


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Gan
post Mon, 17 Jul 2017 - 09:43
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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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whjohnson
post Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 00:09
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More here, albeit partly behind a paywall -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/23...me-spot-damage/
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Gan
post Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 07:43
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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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buttonpusher
post Mon, 24 Jul 2017 - 11:48
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Don't car finance companies do a similar thing when the car is taken back at end of contract?
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Gan
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 01:20
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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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buttonpusher
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:32
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"Everyone" has a mobile, don't they take vids of cars when returning them and in for repairs?
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The Rookie
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:40
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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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mickR
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 07:48
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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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fedup2
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 08:00
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QUOTE (Gan @ Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 02:20) *
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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mickR
post Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 09:56
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QUOTE (fedup2 @ Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 09:00) *
QUOTE (Gan @ Tue, 25 Jul 2017 - 02:20) *
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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youreds91
post Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 06:54
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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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Gan
post Sat, 29 Jul 2017 - 08:14
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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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