Auto Europe Consumer Reviews - Page 5

Having dropped off the car on return in Bologna, my deposit for any damages etc, was fully refunded and Sicily By Car/Auto Europa signed off on the car. In the agent's words "tutti a posto" or "Everything is fine". 4 weeks later, after my return to Australia, I see this charge of over 300 dollars from Auto Europa on my credit card. The reason? "Damage to interior - not covered by your comprehensive insurance cover". What a scam!!! There was no accompanying documentation, no photos of the so-called "damage". That's because there was no damage and this company is simply trying to extort 300 dollars from me. Any prospective clients beware!

SCHIPHOL -- Misleading quotes are used by Auto Europe!!! They quoted me a cheaper car rental than anyone and told me it was because of their agreement with various car rental agencies. Their voucher even indicated the price I was to pay. However, in the "attachment" you will read all the additional charges that they do NOT put on their quote. The rental rate was substantially higher than I had been able to find elsewhere. If you complain, they say that you have to adjust this before you rent, by going through their "matched rate department" to obtain the lowest price. The problem is you do not know about all these extra charges till after you rent!! BE AWARE!!!

I am an Auto Europe employee. No one from Auto Europe asked me to write this or knows who I am. I am not going to tell you how great Auto Europe is - I just want to give you a better understanding of all travel brokers so that you can avoid bad experiences. Auto Europe is the oldest and largest car hire broker in the world. That is a fact.

Before Auto Europe, consumers had no real advocate in the car rental industry. You could go to a rental counter anywhere in the world and get ripped off by any employee or undisclosed fee and no one would come to your aid. Travel brokers, like Auto Europe and others, negotiate prices, fees, terms of service, and quality of service and then post them on the web for you to compare and out-do the car rental agencies themselves and penalize them for bad service, if necessary.

There are limits. No travel broker can control the experience that you get at the desk! However, travel brokers can act as a liaison between you and the rental counter like a big brother protecting you from the bully in the school yard. I have had to do this many times and I would do it for you, if you needed me to.

PORTLAND, MAINE -- In April 2008, I rented a car in Milan from Auto Europa through Kemwel, Portland, Maine, USA. I paid for the full insurance coverage with ZERO deductible. Two days before I returned the car the front door lock could not operate by remote. The return rental desk person said someone had tried to open the door and it was an act of vandalism. A month later my credit card was charged $750 for the repair of a lock. Since it was rented through Kemwel in the US I called their customer department. Their representative told me that full insurance coverage does not include any damage to the car due to theft unless the car is stolen and not found or damage due to an accident.

Any damage to the car due to theft or an attempt of theft is not covered, IT IS ONLY FOR TOTAL LOSS! Beware, all potential customers. Their full comprehensive insurance is very misleading. I learned the hard way. Don't be fooled by Auto Europa and Kemwel. I will be grateful if someone who has similar experience can advise me on how I can recover Auto Europa charge to my credit card.

I paid to rent a car for a week through Auto Europe for use in Dublin Ireland. I picked the car up from Hertz. The coupon said that I was guaranteed an upgrade. Hertz said they did not have to honor that. Then I tried driving and just couldn't drive on the left side of the street. I returned the car the same day. Hertz said that I would have to work with Auto Europe to get a refund. I called Auto Europe and they said that on page 3 of the terms and conditions it states that no refund would be issued. I will NEVER use this service again.

PORTLAND, MAINE -- I rented a car for 9 days in July 2012 from Auto Europe and the Rental Company was BUDGET. Upon arriving at Shannon Airport I asked if I could upgrade to an automatic. The original voucher of $302.99 included insurance was paid in full to Auto Europe. The upgrade to an automatic came to $1102.64. I'm sorry I assumed they would take the $302.99 off that price for a balance of $799.65. However not only did they not take off the $302.99, they ADDED it on for a total price of $1405.63 charged to my credit card. Also BEWARE, the car they gave me was a 2008 Corolla with damage to rim, several dents and scratches which luckily I had noted on paperwork.

I spoke with a couple of people from Auto Europe, one felt they charged me for both agreements. However Customer Service said because I upgraded I owe both the $302.99 and the $1102.64 for a total of $1405.63. She said although they are affiliated Auto Europe BUDGET in Ireland can charge whatever they want and disregard the original voucher of $302.99. Live & Learn and BEWARE of Auto Europe BUDGET.

WASHINGTON -- Well, think twice about this company. They took my order, claimed it could be cancelled or modified as long as there was a 72 hour notice. My flight was changed to a later hour in the day, and I would not be able to pick the car up on the original date. I called and requested to pick it up the following day. The customer representative told me it was not a problem. I asked if I could have a credit for the unused day, they told me to just change the pick up date because the costs went up for the other days I was going to keep it. That seemed fair.

Then I went to pick it up on the new date. Guess what, Auto Europe did not change my reservation. The car company rented the car as they thought I was a no-show. There were no other cars available at any class. But then I remembered, no worries, customer service will help me, right? HELL NO. Called, they were closed (American Company which does not stay open to help during Europe business hours when the car companies are open).

I called the number to make a reservation and explained myself. The guy told me there was no mention of my change in the system, there was nothing I could do to until business hours. He suggested I call customer service when I got back. Seriously? Stuck in a country with no car, and they charged me. RIP-OFF. Thank God Visa will credit me back.

Most of the reviews of this company (Auto Europe) are poor. Since I have had both good and bad experiences with them (I've used them three times), I'd like to share some hints for having a positive experience with them: If the agent who answers the phone is grumpy or short with you, call back or ask to speak with a supervisor. Their service ranges from superb to abysmal. This is true for both the rental agents and Customer Service.

These folks are "brokers;" they own no cars but match you up with the "best deal." This is often with Europcar, which has appalling business practices (IMHO) -- dirty, unreliable cars, misrepresenting fees, refusal to provide documents, etc. Buyer beware with Europcar! Ask for quotes from other companies, which will often match Europcar's prices.

Be aware that, with some of their companies, road tax and "location fees" are not included; others include them. Ask your agent to compare all items being included in the quote. Continue to monitor prices. Call back every week to see if there have been "better deals" posted. The company will change your reservation until pick-up day. If you don't like the car upon pickup, insist that the agent call Europcar. They WILL advocate for you. Of my three experiences with Auto Europe, one was entirely positive, one terrible, and one mixed. I would use them again, but with greater caution. Meanwhile, I will continue to look for alternatives.

I asked for and thought I was paying all the fees before I left on vacation. I had asked for the "full" rate. I gave them my card and paid in full, but I was surprised by a whole lot of unanticipated fees when I got back. They justified the fees by pointing me to fine print where there was vague language about fees that "were not included." They gave me a runaround about "not being allowed (by law?)" to charge these before the rental. Apparently they also aren't allowed to be up front with you about them either. The best way to make a customer mad is to not share full information. Auto Europe's way to socking you with fees afterwards is shady.

PORTLAND, MAINE -- My story is similar to the others posted on this site. I rented through Auto Europe but ended up with a different local provider when I actually picked up the car. The bill from the company actually renting the car exceeded the "guaranteed" maximum price by almost 30% - inflated by charges supposedly authorized in the small print of the voucher after I completed the reservation.

In what I can only describe as deceptive and misleading, Auto Europe sucks you in with low "guaranteed" rates and then lets the company actually providing the car clobber you with ridiculous extra charges (I was charged over $100 for "winterizing" a car I rented for 10 days in December). And the customer service folks appear to send out canned responses and were totally unreceptive to any perspective but their own. My recommendation - stay away from this outfit. I will never use Auto Europe again.