Is this right or am I being conned?

Question

While my car was being repaired I was given a hire car to use, the agreement was to return the car to them with a full tank of fuel as they deliver it to you with a full tank.

They came & collected the car which I filled up for them, but then got an invoice in the post deducting £20 from my £70 refundable deposit that I was meant to get back. They said this is for the fuel used by their driver who collected the the car from me.Surely I should only pay for the fuel that I USED!! Are they taking liberties with me or is this normal, it seems unfair to me.

Answer 1

Sounds unfair - but you'll have to read the small print in the agreement you signed.  If you still think it's unfair ring the CAB and ask advice.

Alternatively - speak to them - tell them you think it's unfair and that you would like a refund - if no joy tell them you'll take your business else where.

Next time don't use them - customer power is king - take your business else where.

Answer 2

If I were you I'd report them to the local trading standards office.  This, at face value seesm to be unfair and is undoubtedly sharp practise.  remember Trading Standards have to investigate every complaint.

Answer 3

They are taking the pluvial sh*t.

Answer 4

I would THINK they are taking the P*ss

You returned the car to the agent, who they chose to send for the car, when he took the car,it was as required ,ie full of petrol.

Ask them, does it mean that if he had damaged it taking it away, you would have been liable? Once you gave him the car, and he was satisfied the car was as it should be, that should be the end of it.

Its not a collection charge, its a fuel charge, and they cannot just do that without you agreeing to it.

Check your small print though, some of these guys are sneaky.

Tell them you are seeking legal advice.(they prob think you wont just because of the sum involved) Or try citizens advice.

Answer 5

the driver should have given you a receipt showing fuel level when he picked it up.  

Answer 6

Sounds very like a rip-off to me, your responsibility ends when their driver collects it from you.  What if he was required to deliver it to their depot at the other end of the country?  Would you have to pay for that fuel?  I think not . . . Using their spurious argument, you could claim that the tank was NOT full when they delivered it to you unless it came on a trailer or freewheeled all the way.  In which case, why didn't they take it back that way?

Nevertheless, you need to read your hire agreement closely, there just may be some devious clause in there saying it has to be full when it returns to their depot.

Answer 7

Even if it is right, then how the h**l did he manage to use £20 of petrol just driving it back to the garage?

Sounds like a scam to me.

Answer 8

you are not responsible for the fuel their agent/ rep has used taking the vehicle back to the base.the agent could have detoured anyway on the route back. you accepted the car with a full tank of fuel and you have handed the car back to them in the same condition, was there a fuel pump at your house where the agent could have topped the car up before he gave it to you, l think not.. you're actually paying twice for the fuel that the agent has used to bring it to you, also was the garage such a distance that it would have taken £20 of fuel to get there. most company's send the car around on a trailer, when they take your vehicle away. l think they are trying it on, it's something l'd contest

Answer 9

its unfair because with that rule how can you possibly fill the car up as they are using the petrol you put in.this happened to a friend of ours just last week and they took it up with the insurance company and got a refund. if they delivered the car to you surely it was minus in petrol then? dont let it drop.

Answer 10

They cannot do that! Write them a letter saying that you will take them to the small claims court if they do not refund the £20 back within the next 7 days. Usually this will do the trick. If you hear nothing are they say they are not going to pay, go to the citizens advice bereau. They will help you out and put you in touch with people.

Answer 11

They are having a go, take them to the small claims court(UK).  

Answer 12

Is it common practice to have the car delivered to you?  In the good ole USA most rentals are from the agent location and not delivered to you.  I would expect a charge here; if i did not retrurn the car to the location of the agent.  Unless specific as to where the car was to be returned to with the  full tank, I would say in the USA it would be assumed to the agent location.  Read your contract fully, but i would guess the full tank is at the location of the agent, because it would very greatly on how far the agent delivered and retrieved the car from each rental.  I would think that a charge would be fair, on this side of the pond, if they did not quote you as full tank, at the time the driver retrieved the car from you!

Answer 13

they are totally in the wrong please phone your local trading standards and they will help you receive your refund

Answer 14

they should have charged you for that if they knew they were going to anyway, not take it out of your deposit. it should be possible to get your full deposit back but it sounds like it would be impossible!

Answer 15

That seems very very unfair, and I would ask for their terms and conditions to see if they can do that, if not, im sure you can claim it back