charlesrhona

I recently booked car hire through British Airways for my holiday in the USA. I have now been charged for additional add ons that I did not sign up. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences and how they went about challenging this and the end result. I am currently in correspondence with the car hire company. I notice that in the event of the dispute not being resolved the matter can be referred to the European Car Rental Concilliation Service ECRCS but that this can only be done by the Car Rental Company which seems rather one sided to me. Thereafter it seems that the dispute can be escalated to LeaseEurope but only if the complete Buget process has been referred to ECRC. This could take ages and if I cannot resolve matters amicably quickly I would be more inclined to take action through the small debts court which only costs �75 and can take place a lot quicker. Would welcome some advice thoughts on this from anyone who has had similar problems. The amount involved is just in excess of �400.00 and does not relate to damage to the car. I have also advised BA of my dispute.

kath2049

Have you tried contacting the car hire company? What are the extras for which you've been charged? Are you sure that you've actually been charged - I've had it before where an amount has been reserved to cover fuel in case I forget to fill the car up, but this is normally reversed a week or so after handing the car back.
I wouldn't resort to court action until I'd attempted a complaints process with the car hire company.

Yeoman5

what extra charges were applied?

charlesrhona

The charges were in respect of Personal Accident Cover and an Emergency Sickness Plan.These facilities were never offered to me by the assistant but I initialled the original document declining them.

mikeyfly

Where did you collect ? Some of the smaller franchises are rather dishonest with their policies�. I was told before �I�d been upgraded� on a one way ending in San Jose. On return I was presented with large upgrade fees. After a half hour disagreement they�ll removed them

charlesrhona

Collected at PHX.

passy777

Assuming it is Avis/Budget, You need to contact them directly.

I had an issue with a recent booking in Miami (refuelling charge) and after two online complaints without response, I escalated via their 'complaint escalation form' and the problem was resolved in two days. To escalate, you will need a case number which you will receive once you submit your initial complaint.

Thrifty Scotsman

I had a similar issue for re fuelling a few years ago with Avis, who I found unhelpful to be honest. I made a dispute claim with Amex & it got resolved.

sheep fancier

I'm in Texas just now and fearing the worst, got a flight/car package, car is with Budget rather than tried and tested AVIS, as usual pretty fatigued when arrived, got a yearly Insurance add on from Insuranceforcarhire so declined everything insurance wise, then they started going on about tolls, normally it's just put the lever on the transponder down on the windscreen they then add their "faciltation fee" (or whatever it's called now) , say the toll is $2 but they charge $2.50, that's fine I suppose but this time they asked if i wanted a daily or a weekly Toll Deal, asked what was best for me, was told "weekly", got my suspicions as I think they'll bill me way OTT for the tolls I use, hopefully not but I have my doubts.

stifle

Nothing to do with BA and everything to do with car hire firms being the utmost scammers. Lodge a dispute with your credit card.

charlesrhona

Have done this. Amex are on the case.

Arsey00

I’m in a similar boat, not because of additional charges but because of a fault in the car. Or, at least no additional charges that I know of. I haven’t actually seen the bill yet.

Akoz

Not strictly true assuming this was a booked as a flight/car package holiday.
Under "The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018" BA as the tour operator have a legal responsibility to insure you receive what you paid for, and are liable for compensation to cover losses if not. This could well apply here.

jeremyBA

If as you say you declined the cover and that is on the agreement then I can�t see they have a leg to stand on. Similarly your proof to Amex is simply the declines agreement and they will reverse the charge.

SeattleDavid

My experience is that the toll fee is a daily one for the length of your rental � so you may use one toll booth on one day for $2 but you will be charged the surcharge ($0.50 in your example) for every day of your rental. But I think the surcharge is substantially more than $0.50 per day, but I always decline any automatic payment of tolls so I can't be sure what the current rates are.