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 04:51 PM
