Goldcar named worst car hire service for shocking charges and rude staff for the fifth year running in Which? survey
The company was bought by Europcar last year but its overall score in the survey has only got worse since then
SHOCK charges, pressure selling and rude staff from Spanish car hire company Goldcar have seen it come bottom of consumer champion Which’s annual car hire survey.
It’s the fifth year running the company has come last in the rankings - with two in five car hire customers saying they definitely would never consider using it.
Two in five customers experienced problems when hiring from the company, most complaining of dire customer service and unjustified credit card charges.
The company was brought out by Europcar last year but its overall score in the survey has got WORSE not better since then.
Europcar - with offices in 140 countries worldwide - also owns the second worst budget brand at the bottom of the Which? table - InterRent.
It is also subject to an ongoing investigation by Trading Standards in the UK for artificially inflating prices to repair minor chips and scrapes.
A Which? investigation last year found some car hire companies overcharged customers by as much as 300per cent for damage.
Topping the survey for the BEST car hire was Canary Islands’ car companies Cicar and Auto Reisen. Both offer an all-inclusive price with zero-excess insurance, no deposit, a free additional driver and a fair fuel policy.
Of the larger car hire firms, Enterprise and sister firm Alamo are rated highly by car hire customers.
Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor said: “One wrong turn at airport arrivals could easily make or break your holiday.
In an industry dogged by unscrupulous practices and interminable add-ons, making the right choice is paramount, so it is good that customers can rely on companies like Cicar and Enterprise to deliver a quality service.
“Our advice is don’t fall for headline prices, vet your car hire firm and whatever you do, avoid Goldcar - it could end up not being a bargain at all and leave you wishing you’d stayed at home.”
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