shefgab
Feb 13, 12, 5:05 am
Hi!
I just got back from Cyprus, where I hired a car with Budget. On arrival I was told I had to bring the car back empty, and prepay for the fuel. I was told there was no option to bring the car back full. I was charged EUR 54, which seemed ok (I didn’t know the car type or petrol prices). The car turned out to be a Chevrolet Spark.
I thought I could get away without filling up, but in the end got down to the red petrol light, and filled up EUR 20 (assuming this would be about a third of a tank). Turns out it was well over half, meaning the car had too much petrol to be taken back (and not loose out with the pre-paid petrol ‘deal’).
Subsequent research online says the fuel tank capacity is around 35 litres. The going rate for petrol on the island was around EUR 1.27/litre. This means that a full tank should have cost EUR 44.
When I returned the car I said that I had been overcharged. The guy (not very senior) said that he had no control over the matter, and that I should take it up with the office. It just checked the original terms and conditions and it says:
“Fuel charges:
Vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the rental. To avoid refuelling charges please return the car with a full tank of fuel. If the fuel tank is not full we will fill the tank and charge you for the fuel. Fuel is charged at market price plus tax. A refuelling service charge of EUR 10.00 applies.”
Clearly I was lied to when I hired the car, and was subsequently overcharged for the fuel. As a result, I topped up too much, again leaving me at a financial loss.
What’s the best course of action to take with Budget? I’ve never used them before, but have a second rental with them later this week in Dublin. I’m UK based, and hired the car from the Budget UK website.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Shefgab
I just got back from Cyprus, where I hired a car with Budget. On arrival I was told I had to bring the car back empty, and prepay for the fuel. I was told there was no option to bring the car back full. I was charged EUR 54, which seemed ok (I didn’t know the car type or petrol prices). The car turned out to be a Chevrolet Spark.
I thought I could get away without filling up, but in the end got down to the red petrol light, and filled up EUR 20 (assuming this would be about a third of a tank). Turns out it was well over half, meaning the car had too much petrol to be taken back (and not loose out with the pre-paid petrol ‘deal’).
Subsequent research online says the fuel tank capacity is around 35 litres. The going rate for petrol on the island was around EUR 1.27/litre. This means that a full tank should have cost EUR 44.
When I returned the car I said that I had been overcharged. The guy (not very senior) said that he had no control over the matter, and that I should take it up with the office. It just checked the original terms and conditions and it says:
“Fuel charges:
Vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the rental. To avoid refuelling charges please return the car with a full tank of fuel. If the fuel tank is not full we will fill the tank and charge you for the fuel. Fuel is charged at market price plus tax. A refuelling service charge of EUR 10.00 applies.”
Clearly I was lied to when I hired the car, and was subsequently overcharged for the fuel. As a result, I topped up too much, again leaving me at a financial loss.
What’s the best course of action to take with Budget? I’ve never used them before, but have a second rental with them later this week in Dublin. I’m UK based, and hired the car from the Budget UK website.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Shefgab