europcar.co.uk

Don’t go anywhere near them!

Don’t go anywhere near them! Such a dodgy company. Was forced into paying for the damage waiver in France as the operative simply would not stop badgering, knew I was in a rush and refused to give me the keys until I purchased the upgrade. They tell you not to bother inspecting the car because you won’t be charged. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Dropping the car off there was a scratch on the paintwork which looked historic. Whilst I accept I should’ve checked and said something, I relied on what I was told that I didn’t need to check. I highlighted that the scratch looked historic and the operative at the other end even agreed. He told me to simply sign the form saying we’d spoken about it and not to worry as I wouldn’t be charged anyway as I had signed the damage waiver. Well, I wake up to a £100 “damage admin fee” - so I was charged. With my invoice I had a link to press to complain, this sent me to a form that I completed. The response to that form was “you’ve contacted the wrong Europcar, you need to contact Europcar France not Europcar UK”.The buck-passing began there. I asked repeatedly why I wasn’t allowed to rely on the representations made that I wouldn’t be charged both before I signed the contract and after and was told the T&C’s applied (which was in direct contradiction to what I was told). The response was only “you signed the form acknowledging the damage”. If I had known about the charge (and gone against what 2 members of staff said too my face), I wouldn’t have signed it. Beware. Beware. Beware. They will hoodwink you, pressurise you and after all of that, still charge you. Hidden fees are their speciality it seems. Will never touch Europcar again and I can only recommend you do the same.

Date of experience: Jun 30, 2025