BajaNomad

How to deal with Europcar crooks in La Paz

C-Urchin - 10-25-2009 at 04:47 PM

I come to visit La Paz Mexico frequently. I usually rent a car to get around from any of the American Rental Companies located at the airport. This time I saw a bargain on Orbitz for Europcar. I made the booking.

Picked up the car at the airport, went over the car with the attendant and a check list of damages, as I pointed out the multitude of dings and scratches I assumed the guy was writing them all down too...

After 3 days I decided to return the car because the cigarette lighter quit working, I need it for my GPS. They exchanged the car but tried to collect money for "damages" to the car. They reffered to a rusty old ding on the fender...Deep rust in 3 days??? and a microscopic little scratch on the windshield UNDER the wiperblade!!! I did not even use the wipers! I argued and finally the manager said OK, no problem. I took a multitude of pictures of the new car and had them mark 84 dings and scratches (they want to play that game...). I kept a copy.

When I left and returned the car at the airport, I was informed that I had to pay for damages. The fender and a door!!! On the old car!

They also FORGED MY SIGNATURE to add extra insurance coverage that I had declined. I use American Express and they cover collision and all the extra stuff.

Results: $184 extra in insurance and $200 extra in "damages" to the original car. You have no choice but to pay or they send the authorities on you before you get to the plane, I have heard horror stories. But I am no dummy...

This is what you do in this case: Write this on your credit card receipt where they ask you to sign; THESE ARE FRAUDULENT CHARGES AND I AM SIGNING THIS AGAINST MY WILL. Write the amount if the fraud is a partial amount of the entire bill. Then sign.

When the charges appear on your bill, call the credit card company (American Express is great for these kind of things) and tell them what happened.

Above all, DO NOT RENT FROM EUROPCAR, they are crooks.

woody with a view - 10-25-2009 at 04:50 PM

i won't.

BigWooo - 10-26-2009 at 05:35 AM

We've had the same "damages" scam pulled on us by "American" rental companies also. It's actually pretty common, not in La Paz, but other areas. I started taking digital pictures of every side of the car, tires and spare before we take possession. The first picture is always of the car with the agency building in the background and the agent standing next to it.

Ever since, I've only had one guy try to get me for damages. When I pulled out the camera and showed the pictures, that put an end to it... well almost. I mentioned to take a picture of the spare because after I showed him the pictures of the existing scratches, he'd tried to get me by saying the spare tire was different and we must have had a flat :fire: Fortunately one of the pictures had part of the spare with the lettering:lol:

I think the best way to avoid scams is to avoid renting at airports if possible. Find a hotel that has a rental agency attached. Take their shuttle from the airport to the hotel, spend a night and rent there. We've yet to experience a scam with a hotel based rental agency.

shari - 10-26-2009 at 06:06 AM

We went through the same scam at the Loreto rental car agency in town...Eurocar...never never again. Good thing we bought the extra insurance that covered all the bogus dings as there was no time to diddle around over this...had to catch a flight.

Alan - 10-26-2009 at 06:27 AM

You would think that it isn't brain surgery. I just returned from a great trip to La Paz. Caught some nice tuna and dorado with David Jone's Fisherman Fleet, had an excellent dinner and said hi to Jesse at Tres Virgenne's new location and Hurricane Rick made a sharp right turn and missed us completely.

Yet as you walked around town it really seems like a ghost town compared to just three years ago. Many businesses are shut down, most of the large projects are just plodding along with only minimal crews still working, graffitti is on the increase everywhere. Yet the local police are still targeting rental cars for mordida and the rental car companies are claiming bogus damages. One would think they would be concentrating on making it more friendly for tourists and investors but they seem to just be getting worse.

Like shari I always purchase full coverage so I have no hassles but that brings the price of the garbage cars they offer to over $80/day. Even with the low fares from Volaris I have to really limit my trips because car rentals are so high and when down there I really limit my trips to town because of hassles with the cops when I drive a rental car.

On the bright side though it was much easier to find parking:lol:

Von - 10-26-2009 at 08:26 AM

mmm that really sucks! Im glad you guys post this eventually this catches up to these crooks! Thanks for sharing....

vandenberg - 10-26-2009 at 09:10 AM

It's amazing how different they treat rentals in this world. The rental revenue raising trick described here, has been part of Baja since I can remember.:no:
I rented a vehicle in Europe (Spain) for a month and upon flying out of Madrid, we were instructed to put the car in the lot designated for rentals, deposit the keys in a slotted box, and Voila, that was it. Nobody even looked at the car. In fact, there wasn't a soul to be seen. Just got on the plane and left.

[Edited on 10-26-2009 by vandenberg]

Loretana - 10-26-2009 at 09:38 AM

Also, be sure that you get the copy after the impression is taken of your credit card.

At the Mexico City Airport location a few years ago, the American Express Platinum Card copy/impression from our Avis rental car deal was "lost" and the agent told us the minute he found it, it would be destroyed. He took another impression from our credit card, and calculated our bill. We thought that since we were dealing with AVIS, all was well.

About four months later, two first class round trip tickets to Madrid on Aeromexico were charged to our credit card. Yikes!! The tickets cost over $9000.00. Luckily, when I called American Express, and told them who the culprits were, all charges were reversed. And this happened in good economic times.

Now, the second we charge something on our credit card in Mexico, we get a call from American Express customer service, asking us to verify it. That's a good thing.

They Must Be More Laid-Back In Europe

Bajahowodd - 10-26-2009 at 12:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
It's amazing how different they treat rentals in this world. The rental revenue raising trick described here, has been part of Baja since I can remember.:no:
I rented a vehicle in Europe (Spain) for a month and upon flying out of Madrid, we were instructed to put the car in the lot designated for rentals, deposit the keys in a slotted box, and Voila, that was it. Nobody even looked at the car. In fact, there wasn't a soul to be seen. Just got on the plane and left.

[Edited on 10-26-2009 by vandenberg]



We noticed the same last time we returned a car in Frankfurt, Germany. Just park the car and go. And actually, I had caused a bit of a boo boo on one of the car panels when trying to pull into a tight space, when a support pillar in the garage must have jumped out at me. Never received any further charges.

And it is incredible how BCS rental rates have skyrocketed. Guess they figure if you can afford to fly there and stay there, you can afford premium rental rates.

Heather - 10-26-2009 at 01:29 PM

We rented from Europcar last summer in Cabo and had no problems. My girls (6,9, and 15), went around with the guy marking all the dings and made sure he got every last one...high and low! Drove the car all over Cabo, Pescadero, Todos Santos, and La Paz for about 10 days. We returned it dirty and dusty, with a full tank of gas and no problems!

BMG - 10-26-2009 at 02:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by C-Urchin

I usually rent a car to get around from any of the American Rental Companies located at the airport.


As for renting from an 'American Rental Company', here is a quote I received in an email from Alamo Car Rentals in regards to a complaint about the La Paz franchise.
Quote:

Each of our overseas locations are franchise owned and purchase the right to use the Alamo name only.

Or, in other words, they can do whatever they want.

Perhaps Not The Craziest Baja Rental Story, But

Bajahowodd - 10-26-2009 at 03:06 PM

For over two decades, when we've flown to Cabo, we have rented from Avis. For many of those years, the staff was there year in and year out and were a friendly, helpful group. I suppose, I can chalk it up to my wasted youth, but in all those years I never purchased the CDW coverage, feeling that it practically doubled the cost of the rental. And for all those years, we never had an incident.

About five years ago, we decided to take a couple of friends with us, as well as our daughter and her husband. We flew down with our friends, while the daughter took a later flight on a different airline to take advantage of frequent flyer miles.

Our friends made their own arrangements, although they were on our flight. My buddy informed me that he found the best rental deal at Advantage Rent a Car. Since we were traveling together, I decided to book there, too. Upon arrival, we took the van to their off-site office. There was one clerk behind the counter, AND a time share shill, who made a valiant effort to sell my buddy on breakfast. Anyway, my friends completed their paperwork first and we decided that my wife would go with them to check in, while I would finish up my paperwork and go back to the sirport to pick up the kids. While I was completing my paperwork, the time share guy took great exception to my refusal of the CDW waiver, warning me how dangerous it was around town. I politely told him that I had been coming down for many years and never encountered any problems. I finished up, drove back to the airport and waited for about 40 minutes inside the terminal before the kids arrived. As we were headed out to the parking lot, I spied the same time share guy standing near the terminal door. When we got to the car, for some unknown reason, my son-in-law asked me if I knew that the oval Nissan medallion was missing from the front of the hood. Hmmm. Of course, I had no proof, but I would bet an awful lot on it having been pried out by the timeshare guy who undoubtedly followed me back to the airport, having heard that it was my next destination.

The good news is that my friend rented the exact same Nissan model, and purchased CDW. When it came time to return the cars, we just swapped-out the medallion from his car and popped it into mine before driving back to Advantage. We got some weird looks at the Advantage lot, but nothing was said, and we were on our way. No extra charge. I kinda wonder if pilfering of those medallions was regular practice. And I kinda wonder what sort of outrageous charge they would claim.

While I drive down most of the time these days, when I do fly, I go back to Avis.

slimshady - 10-26-2009 at 09:16 PM

I rented from Budget at SJD airport and noticed that the price of the insurance as well as daily rental when up at the same time as the Peso went to 13 pesos a dollar. Rather than than bring down their prices they figured they could charge more.

Dianamo - 10-27-2009 at 05:59 AM

I experienced the same problem with EuropCar in Loreto. I will never rent from them again.

We have had okay luck with Thrifty at SJD, but I am not recommending anyone.

From now on we will take photos of the prior damage when renting a vehicle, it is a good idea even in the States as this economy is causing a lot of desperate tactics. The suggestion of "forced to signing under duress...." is a good idea also!

Everybody? If you rent a car, bring your CAMERA!

Lee - 10-27-2009 at 07:52 AM

Saw friend's digital cam this weekend. Narrower than a pack of cigarettes, weighing about the same. 10 Pixels.

Consider the time taking pictures of scratches, dents, rust and everything else wrong with the car you are renting, asking the attendent to write everything down. In the alternative, when I rent a car, I ask for a new one. I've sent back 3 cars getting to the right one.

Asserting yourself up front lowers the possibility of having to assert yourself when you turn the car in. They know you're in a hurry to catch a flight and they have the advantage.

A horror-type story I know personally happened in San Francisco to an acquaintance. A window was broken on his airport rental car, he argued with the rental car people (don't know the company), guess the argument was a stand off, and he walked away. He was arrested by airport police at the gate. He missed his flight to Maui.

The idea mentioned of signing ''in protest of fraudulent charges'' is an excellent idea and should also be done.

I believe a camera is great insurance.