Is this an acceptable charge?
Feb 10, 2019, 3:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
Is this an acceptable charge?
I rented a car from Europcar in Oman and when I took the car, I signed the contract agreeing to the rate and paid in full the rental rate and airport fee. I returned the car without incident. A few days later 5 OMR additional charge was applied to my credit card without my consent or informing me; Europcar says it's the Young Driver Fee and they can charge it because it's in the T&C. I say they can't because if there was a Young Driver Fee the time to tell me about it was during booking, check-out, or even when I returned the car, but not 3 days later when I notice unauthorized charges on my credit card, and I argue that a company cannot just decide that there should be extra charges at any arbitrary time after services were delivered and bill me for it. What do you guys think?
Feb 10, 2019, 5:45 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
Europecar just billed us $270 for collision and theft insurance...which we had declined when we rented the car...five months ago! I’m disputing the charge, but I don’t keep the paperwork for that long after the rental. Am I likely to win the dispute just by saying I didn’t agree to insurance or am I out of luck without my copies of the agreement?
Feb 10, 2019, 5:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
Europecar just billed us $270 for collision and theft insurance...which we had declined when we rented the car...five months ago! I’m disputing the charge, but I don’t keep the paperwork for that long after the rental. Am I likely to win the dispute just by saying I didn’t agree to insurance or am I out of luck without my copies of the agreement?
Feb 10, 2019, 6:05 pm
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I rented a car from Europcar in Oman and when I took the car, I signed the contract agreeing to the rate and paid in full the rental rate and airport fee. I returned the car without incident. A few days later 5 OMR additional charge was applied to my credit card without my consent or informing me; Europcar says it's the Young Driver Fee and they can charge it because it's in the T&C. I say they can't because if there was a Young Driver Fee the time to tell me about it was during booking, check-out, or even when I returned the car, but not 3 days later when I notice unauthorized charges on my credit card, and I argue that a company cannot just decide that there should be extra charges at any arbitrary time after services were delivered and bill me for it. What do you guys think?
1. Whether you are a "Young Driver" as EuropCar defines it.
2. Whether the contract (t&c) to which you agreed includes such a fee.
If you are a Young Driver and the fee is in the contract, it is entirely appropriate for EuropCar to debit the fee after the return and if you are not or the fee is not in the contract, it is not appropriate.
Let us know and you will get better advice.
Feb 10, 2019, 6:07 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Europecar just billed us $270 for collision and theft insurance...which we had declined when we rented the car...five months ago! I’m disputing the charge, but I don’t keep the paperwork for that long after the rental. Am I likely to win the dispute just by saying I didn’t agree to insurance or am I out of luck without my copies of the agreement?
Feb 11, 2019, 3:58 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
How would anyone here be able to help you without knowing:
1. Whether you are a "Young Driver" as EuropCar defines it.
2. Whether the contract (t&c) to which you agreed includes such a fee.
If you are a Young Driver and the fee is in the contract, it is entirely appropriate for EuropCar to debit the fee after the return and if you are not or the fee is not in the contract, it is not appropriate.
Let us know and you will get better advice.
1. Whether you are a "Young Driver" as EuropCar defines it.
2. Whether the contract (t&c) to which you agreed includes such a fee.
If you are a Young Driver and the fee is in the contract, it is entirely appropriate for EuropCar to debit the fee after the return and if you are not or the fee is not in the contract, it is not appropriate.
Let us know and you will get better advice.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:43 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
I am a young driver as defined by Europcar but the contract I signed had no mention of it and the charge was on top of the amount that I signed and paid for when I rented the car (although I'm sure somewhere in the T&C is says they have the right to charge whatever they want whenever they want for any reason).
Chalk it up to a life lesson learned to read the T&C--at $12, it's a pretty cheap lesson...
cheers and happy travels!