I booked an AVIS car through Booking.com and went through all the usual booking hoops necessary before travelling . However when I arrived & presented my physical driving licence, drivers code etc and then had a frustrating discussion about waiver cover ( note I had it with Booking.com NOT AVIS) I was denied the vehicle. When I asked why I got some gobbledygook about ‘ although I had a clean licence I had had points on it within the last 5 years and AVIS policy was not to rent to these individuals’. I subsequently checked and re checked Booking.com site and AVIS policy is actually 6 or less active points on your DVLA record is ok. They do reserve a discretionary right to deny a vehicle to anyone if they feel like it. I suspect after the discussion about the waiver the employee felt vindictive towards me. So after being stranded I walked with my bags across the busy dual carriageway at Heathrow to Europcar and within 5 minutes hired a car. Europcar actually had all my details from a previous car hire and the staff member greeted me with such courtesy. They have exactly the same hire policy as AVIS I’m told. I’m writing this to warn everyone that car hire is a very mixed experience and despite being a very competitive industry some companies like AVIS prefer a ‘computer says no’ approach whenever there is the slightest issue. This can be anything. Fortunately I’m in my home country and I speak English. Imagine if I’d been a family with children from abroad with English as a second language?! AViS staff wouldn't have cared less. In addition Booking through 3rd party companies such as Booking .con needs to be done with great care. Don’t assume anything however reasonable it may seem. Insurance waivers / excess are used to make additional money. The cars are virtually uninsured that’s how the headline price is so initially attractive. AVIS have a staggering £2200 damage excess charge. This means you will pay that amount in full even if the damage done doesn’t even come to that. There’s also other charges.
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