- Jul 18, 2009
- 12,030
- 20,390
- Funster No
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- HYMER B644
- Exp
- 2004
Okay so here goes, I will post this elsewhere to warn others. This happed March 2016 & August 2022
Instead of going to the Usual big names, Hertz, EuropCar, Avis etc. I decided to try a car trawler. The one I used was Holiday Autos.
Me and my Wife used to take turns in who was driving, usually the other would have a couple of drinks on the Airplane.
I had booked an Automatic Class B/C Car through Holiday Autos that recommended Goldcar, 10 day price with basic Insurance £225. I didn't bother with the Goldcar "RELAX" cover due to its Vague Terms & Conditions. So paid my hire price to Holiday Autos £225 by American Express.
Upon Landing, later than scheduled at Alicante, 1 am, we joined to queue at the Goldcar Desk, we were TOLD we needed to take out their super relax cover. I explained that I did not agree with their Terms & Conditions for the extra cover. Again, they insisted it needed to be take. I then shown the desk clerks a copy of my American Express Travel insurance that clearly stated we were BOTH covered for €35,000 Hire vehicle Damage, That and that I would cover any other damages (spillages, wheel damage etc.)
Finally they said they would let us take the vehicle, but they wanted €1200 security deposit by Credit Card. We agreed and my wife offered the clerk her American Express card. Oh no, she said, we do not accept American Express. I explained I had paid by AMEX and she explained that we had not paid Goldcar, we had paid Holiday Autos (Car Trawler). MY wife does not have a Credit card so I offered to pay on my credit card. No we were told, person who took out the rental agreement had to pay with their card. So I asked them to put me on the rental agreement. We cannot do that, you have to call Holiday Autos, to get them to change the contract to your name. As you have had a drink, you will have to add your wife as an additional driver and pay the extra costs.
Luckily, someone in Ireland answered the 24 hour helpline at Holiday autos and dealt with our request. Within 30 mins, the paperwork had been sent over to Goldcar and we were given the keys to......
A Brand New Mercedes B Class Diesel Automatic. just 250km on the clock.
We drove to our house, some 80km from Alicante and all was well. Two days later, as it was my Birthday, my wife suggested we go out for a meal. We went to the car to start it, it did. But no go. The dash was lit up like a Christmas tree, the gearbox would not come out of Park and the electric handbrake was stuck on.
So we called Goldcar. Agh, we cannot come out to you free of charge as you did not take our super relax insurance. The cost to send a Grua unless you pay €180 now on your card. Disbelief set in. But its a brand new car. They said I could of put the wrong fuel in, user error etc . I will shorten this part of the story as it is long winded. I rang Mercedes Pan European Cover. They said yes, the car is covered for 24 months breakdown. However, as they car was not owned by me, the owners, in this case Goldcar, had to instruct Mercedes. Rang Goldcar, no, we have to attend. I rang Nationwide building Society Breakdown. They could not come out to a Non UK Registered vehicle.
Eventually I gave in and rang Goldcar, offering to pay the €180, and they were to refund me if the breakdown was not a fault of mine. They said a breakdown garage would arrive within 90 mins.
Two hours later, nobody had attended. Rang gold car, they said they had no record of me authorising the Grua and for that reason had not sent anyone out. Again, went through the aforementioned and paid on my card for a Grua.
Breakdown came within 1 hour. Not Mercedes but a local Garage. He fiddled around under the bonnet and then told me to was all okay with the engine running. I insisted he try and drive the car, which it turned out he couldn't. So he tried to tow it away, I could not get it through to him that he couldn't tow it on the back two wheels as the handbrake was locked. He didn't know how to release the hand brake manually. So we had to wait for another breakdown truck. They took the truck, but not me to the local Mercedes garage in Benissa / Teulada.
Rang Goldcar, who said the only way I could they could give me a replacement car was for me to take the one I had back. Yes, you did read that correctly. 24 hours of endless arguments with Goldcar, resulted in nothing more than "you did not take our Insurance Cover". Would not offer to bring me a car and I even offered to get a lift to Denia to collect one. Big Fat No.
I then rang Mercedes in Benissa and Spoke with "Stephan". When I explained the situation regarding lack of replacement vehicle, he thought I was joking. I explained again, he still could not get his head around it. Totally appalled by the situation, he said that this looked very bad on Mercedes reputation and wanted to try and help, even though they were not obliged to.
Stephan rang me back from Mercedes and said, I have found you a courtesy car. Its not new, but the best I can offer as it is not our responsibility in this instance to provide you with a car, that is up-to Goldcar.
We took a Taxi to Mercedes at a cost of €30. Stephan met us, apologised and asked us to sign of the car. No charges, you are fully insured and if you don't do much mileage, do not worry about putting any petrol in.
I asked Stephan to provide us with written proof as to why the car had broken down. He printed off a report to say that the ECU had failed. That Mercedes Madrid had a new one on order from Germany and it would take approximately 10 working days.
Took the 20 year old Class Petrol Auto for 8 days, drove like a dream. You would never think it had 250,000km on the clock.
By the time we were having to leave, the B Class Hire car was still in the Mercedes Garage. We had put some fuel in, luckily it was a day flight so could return the car to Mercedes. A big thank you was last for Stephan along with €10 for his help and assistance. Mercedes called us a Taxi to the Airport, a further €130.
When we arrived at the airport, I said to my wife, no point in us going to the return desk as we had nothing to return. So we headed to the car collection desk in arrivals. When we got there, no big queue so seen within a few minutes. I explained to situation and offered the desk clerk the return paperwork. Without any sympathy, he said..... "I do have to inform you at this point sir, that for every day the car remains in the garage, we, Goldcar will charge you €40 a day".
I then pointed over to a Guradia Civil officer and told the clerk. I am no longer going to discuss this matter with you, If I do, I think he may end up arresting us. I placed the documents on the desk and walked away.
When we arrived home, American Express and Nationwide Credit card were given the full details of the situation. American Express credited my account immediately, as soon as I rang them. Holiday Autos could not give any reason to challenge to and my £225 was recovered.
Nationwide however was a different story. They amount I had paid was £350 for the car, then our taxi fares amounted to €165. Nationwide credit card closed the case, not refunding me stating Goldcar's terms and conditions of hire meant they could not challenge it. I got back on to Nationwide CC and argued our case again. they said the would appeal the decision and I did get most of the £350 car hire cost back. But the Cheeky 8astards at Goldcar claimed an exceptional refuelling fee of €90 + €12 fuel costs. That and our Taxi fares would not be reimbursed.
Fed up of these kind of situations, I purchased a car in the UK. Took the Car over to Spain for 6 months and store it at the airport. That was awkward as at the time as we had to bring the car back. So I did use RecordGo for a couple of rentals. Brexit came and at the end of 2019, I Exported a car and imported it to Spain. That is now Spanish registered and apart from when the steering barrel failed, I have only needed one more car that my Insurance company paid for.
I tell people of this saga. My Niece who know the full story decided to........Hire a car from ? Yes Goldcar just last month, August 2022. She did not take out the extra cover. Two weeks after she returned home. They received an email from Goldcar, sating they were going to charge €498 for two stains on the rear car seats. There were no stains, but they also hadn't taken photos.
You have been warned.
The internet is full of Goldcar horror stories. Including men guy who built a website to review them.
A Facebook Victims Page https://www.facebook.com/GoldcarReviews/
One customer hired a VW T5 and Goldcar Claimed he had damaged the underside of the vehicle. Suggesting €1200 of damage. Luckily, he crawled underneath it and photographed it in the airport car park returns lane.
MY Device is to find a company that offers full, no nonsense comprehensive cover at a good price. As I mentioned above, RecordGo were the best and most competitive I have used.
I will make a separate post as its taken me 2 hours to type this up !
Instead of going to the Usual big names, Hertz, EuropCar, Avis etc. I decided to try a car trawler. The one I used was Holiday Autos.
Me and my Wife used to take turns in who was driving, usually the other would have a couple of drinks on the Airplane.
I had booked an Automatic Class B/C Car through Holiday Autos that recommended Goldcar, 10 day price with basic Insurance £225. I didn't bother with the Goldcar "RELAX" cover due to its Vague Terms & Conditions. So paid my hire price to Holiday Autos £225 by American Express.
Upon Landing, later than scheduled at Alicante, 1 am, we joined to queue at the Goldcar Desk, we were TOLD we needed to take out their super relax cover. I explained that I did not agree with their Terms & Conditions for the extra cover. Again, they insisted it needed to be take. I then shown the desk clerks a copy of my American Express Travel insurance that clearly stated we were BOTH covered for €35,000 Hire vehicle Damage, That and that I would cover any other damages (spillages, wheel damage etc.)
Finally they said they would let us take the vehicle, but they wanted €1200 security deposit by Credit Card. We agreed and my wife offered the clerk her American Express card. Oh no, she said, we do not accept American Express. I explained I had paid by AMEX and she explained that we had not paid Goldcar, we had paid Holiday Autos (Car Trawler). MY wife does not have a Credit card so I offered to pay on my credit card. No we were told, person who took out the rental agreement had to pay with their card. So I asked them to put me on the rental agreement. We cannot do that, you have to call Holiday Autos, to get them to change the contract to your name. As you have had a drink, you will have to add your wife as an additional driver and pay the extra costs.
Luckily, someone in Ireland answered the 24 hour helpline at Holiday autos and dealt with our request. Within 30 mins, the paperwork had been sent over to Goldcar and we were given the keys to......
A Brand New Mercedes B Class Diesel Automatic. just 250km on the clock.
We drove to our house, some 80km from Alicante and all was well. Two days later, as it was my Birthday, my wife suggested we go out for a meal. We went to the car to start it, it did. But no go. The dash was lit up like a Christmas tree, the gearbox would not come out of Park and the electric handbrake was stuck on.
So we called Goldcar. Agh, we cannot come out to you free of charge as you did not take our super relax insurance. The cost to send a Grua unless you pay €180 now on your card. Disbelief set in. But its a brand new car. They said I could of put the wrong fuel in, user error etc . I will shorten this part of the story as it is long winded. I rang Mercedes Pan European Cover. They said yes, the car is covered for 24 months breakdown. However, as they car was not owned by me, the owners, in this case Goldcar, had to instruct Mercedes. Rang Goldcar, no, we have to attend. I rang Nationwide building Society Breakdown. They could not come out to a Non UK Registered vehicle.
Eventually I gave in and rang Goldcar, offering to pay the €180, and they were to refund me if the breakdown was not a fault of mine. They said a breakdown garage would arrive within 90 mins.
Two hours later, nobody had attended. Rang gold car, they said they had no record of me authorising the Grua and for that reason had not sent anyone out. Again, went through the aforementioned and paid on my card for a Grua.
Breakdown came within 1 hour. Not Mercedes but a local Garage. He fiddled around under the bonnet and then told me to was all okay with the engine running. I insisted he try and drive the car, which it turned out he couldn't. So he tried to tow it away, I could not get it through to him that he couldn't tow it on the back two wheels as the handbrake was locked. He didn't know how to release the hand brake manually. So we had to wait for another breakdown truck. They took the truck, but not me to the local Mercedes garage in Benissa / Teulada.
Rang Goldcar, who said the only way I could they could give me a replacement car was for me to take the one I had back. Yes, you did read that correctly. 24 hours of endless arguments with Goldcar, resulted in nothing more than "you did not take our Insurance Cover". Would not offer to bring me a car and I even offered to get a lift to Denia to collect one. Big Fat No.
I then rang Mercedes in Benissa and Spoke with "Stephan". When I explained the situation regarding lack of replacement vehicle, he thought I was joking. I explained again, he still could not get his head around it. Totally appalled by the situation, he said that this looked very bad on Mercedes reputation and wanted to try and help, even though they were not obliged to.
Stephan rang me back from Mercedes and said, I have found you a courtesy car. Its not new, but the best I can offer as it is not our responsibility in this instance to provide you with a car, that is up-to Goldcar.
We took a Taxi to Mercedes at a cost of €30. Stephan met us, apologised and asked us to sign of the car. No charges, you are fully insured and if you don't do much mileage, do not worry about putting any petrol in.
I asked Stephan to provide us with written proof as to why the car had broken down. He printed off a report to say that the ECU had failed. That Mercedes Madrid had a new one on order from Germany and it would take approximately 10 working days.
Took the 20 year old Class Petrol Auto for 8 days, drove like a dream. You would never think it had 250,000km on the clock.
By the time we were having to leave, the B Class Hire car was still in the Mercedes Garage. We had put some fuel in, luckily it was a day flight so could return the car to Mercedes. A big thank you was last for Stephan along with €10 for his help and assistance. Mercedes called us a Taxi to the Airport, a further €130.
When we arrived at the airport, I said to my wife, no point in us going to the return desk as we had nothing to return. So we headed to the car collection desk in arrivals. When we got there, no big queue so seen within a few minutes. I explained to situation and offered the desk clerk the return paperwork. Without any sympathy, he said..... "I do have to inform you at this point sir, that for every day the car remains in the garage, we, Goldcar will charge you €40 a day".
I then pointed over to a Guradia Civil officer and told the clerk. I am no longer going to discuss this matter with you, If I do, I think he may end up arresting us. I placed the documents on the desk and walked away.
When we arrived home, American Express and Nationwide Credit card were given the full details of the situation. American Express credited my account immediately, as soon as I rang them. Holiday Autos could not give any reason to challenge to and my £225 was recovered.
Nationwide however was a different story. They amount I had paid was £350 for the car, then our taxi fares amounted to €165. Nationwide credit card closed the case, not refunding me stating Goldcar's terms and conditions of hire meant they could not challenge it. I got back on to Nationwide CC and argued our case again. they said the would appeal the decision and I did get most of the £350 car hire cost back. But the Cheeky 8astards at Goldcar claimed an exceptional refuelling fee of €90 + €12 fuel costs. That and our Taxi fares would not be reimbursed.
Fed up of these kind of situations, I purchased a car in the UK. Took the Car over to Spain for 6 months and store it at the airport. That was awkward as at the time as we had to bring the car back. So I did use RecordGo for a couple of rentals. Brexit came and at the end of 2019, I Exported a car and imported it to Spain. That is now Spanish registered and apart from when the steering barrel failed, I have only needed one more car that my Insurance company paid for.
I tell people of this saga. My Niece who know the full story decided to........Hire a car from ? Yes Goldcar just last month, August 2022. She did not take out the extra cover. Two weeks after she returned home. They received an email from Goldcar, sating they were going to charge €498 for two stains on the rear car seats. There were no stains, but they also hadn't taken photos.
You have been warned.
The internet is full of Goldcar horror stories. Including men guy who built a website to review them.
A Facebook Victims Page https://www.facebook.com/GoldcarReviews/
One customer hired a VW T5 and Goldcar Claimed he had damaged the underside of the vehicle. Suggesting €1200 of damage. Luckily, he crawled underneath it and photographed it in the airport car park returns lane.
MY Device is to find a company that offers full, no nonsense comprehensive cover at a good price. As I mentioned above, RecordGo were the best and most competitive I have used.
I will make a separate post as its taken me 2 hours to type this up !
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