Last week I made an online booking for a car, a Opel Zafira at Larnaca airport. I got an email saying the car could not be confirmed and I would hear again within 72 hours. On the day before arrival, I got a message saying the car could not be confirmed, so I called Avis UK and booked the car noted under the booking number above, a Kia Sportage. This was confirmed within minutes. I made this booking using my Presidents Club number, and the helpful assistant said that I should get an upgrade to a Captiva, if available.

On arrival at Larnaca, the English woman at the desk in the hut seemed unable to find the reservation above, but said a Zafira was available based on the original (denied) booking. I explained that I had paid more than the original Zafira quote, but was told that the Zafira was the higher group and any adjustments which were appropriate to the rate would be made later.

I now see that the statement that the Sportage was a lower group is untrue. I assume the assistant knew this, and therefore told me a blatant lie. There were also several Captivas available, and no upgrade was offered, even though I asked.

Secondly, I was told that there was no option but to buy all the fuel in the tank. There was no option to refill, even though the booking I received stated only that I would be offered, not required, to buy the tankful. This looks like a con trick, or at best, sharp practice.

Third, I had asked for 2 car seats for my kids, aged 4.5 and 2.5. The first car seat offered for the smaller boy was filthy, damaged and ancient, and I rejected it. The second one offered was only filthy and ancient, and it took me a long while to fit it, with no offer of assistance from the watching staff. The seat offered for the older boy was a booster, which was also ancient and filthy. A new one costs less than 10 pounds in halfords, but I will be asked to pay almost 40 pounds to rent this for 9 days. Needless to say, no Isofix seats were available.

The overall sensation was one of being lied to, conned, treated like an idiot and being asked to endanger my kids. There is some discussion of this rental depot on the internet, and hardly a good word has been said of the staff. I will be adding to that noise. In the meantime, I want someone to explain to me why I was lied to, why my reservation was conveniently lost, why I did not get an upgrade, and whether you think it is satisfactory to offer dirty, poorly fitting outdated car seats at an exorbitant rental.

I obtained the Presidents Club membership through Amex Centurion. I will be complaining to them also, and suggesting that this membership is useless and not worthy of their patronage.