Article about Goldcar

[Si Tie]

This is an article about car hire firms and Goldcar 
features also Cicar and Auto Reisen.  

https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/9010482/...hire-firm/

EDIT: Change of title and category. Sam

[Rasputin]

I would have thought that everyone knows about this shower by now. 
Maybe some people see a cheap headline price and book with the airlines. It’s an expensive lesson so be careful.

[bedouin]

I think most people by now recognise that Goldcar are basically crooks.  In the Canaries, I've always found Pluscar and Cicar to be good value and basically honest.  Unfortunately, the choice in mainland Spain is often more restricted.  I used Solmar once from Murcia and they charged my card with €1000 excess which they refused to refund - it took 6 months or so for my card company to get it back.  I now actively seek out hire companies which don't want excess deposits.

[Can the Man]

I can’t understand how Goldcar are still in business with the amount of bad publicity they get, I can only assume it is through some of the airline off when you don’t know who you get when you’re booking, and others that don’t think to research the available car hire companies before they engage them.

I only used Goldcar once and it wasn’t me that booked it, it was a friend who comes over to Fuerteventura with me and he decided to surprise me with a car hire as I normally do the hiring. Anyway needless to say it was a financial disaster. I had known from the reviews on the old forum to avoid GC like the plague but as it had already been paid for we proceeded,  but before we left it cost my friend another €300 before we could drive out the gate. This compared to my average car hire with plus car of less than €100 for a Fiat Qubo for a week with no extras. 

GoldCar gets its name from making gold from renting cars and ripping off people.

[Spitfire58]

It should also be know that Inter Rent is now part of Goldcar. I normally book directly myself with whoever I go with but this time went with Ryanair & inter rent (after deliberately discounting Goldcar) to arrive at the booking desk to find out that they are now all the same company !! Not happy at all but no other choice, will report back how it all works out !!

[Cotillo_Tom]

Like Ron, I too booked car hire via Ryanair and was booked with Inter- rent.  They demanded a CASH deposit of 300 euro!  After returning the car (washed the day before it was returned), my credit card was charged 30 euro as "the car had not be washed before return".

I eventually got the Money back from my credit card, but have now been banned from renting from them, no great hardship as I never would book with them again (purchased a car in Fuerteventura now).

Tom.

[Spitfire58]

Hi Tom,
That is shocking !! I have NEVER washed a hire car car prior to return, as far as I am concerned that is part of the service you are paying sweetly for. Didn’t get charged a cash deposit though. It was a 900€ “block” on a credit card. We shall see !!!

[Sam]

I like the: Goldcar named worst car hire service for shocking charges and rude staff for the fifth year running in Which? survey title they used.

...I now actively seek out hire companies which don't want excess deposits.

In similar situation for our trip to Sardinia. Can't find a car hire company that wouldn't remind me Goldcar.

I can’t understand how Goldcar are still in business with the amount of bad publicity they get, I can only assume it is through some of the airline off when you don’t know who you get when you’re booking, and others that don’t think to research the available car hire companies before they engage them...

Goldcar is usually the cheapest option in many car hire search engines, tempting cheapskates like myself      

It should also be know that Inter Rent is now part of Goldcar. I normally book directly myself with whoever I go with but this time went with Ryanair & inter rent (after deliberately discounting Goldcar) to arrive at the booking desk to find out that they are now all the same company !! Not happy at all but no other choice, will report back how it all works out !!

 Good luck!

...my credit card was charged 30 euro as "the car had not be washed before return"....

Never (might once but not sure) washed a rented car in Fuerteventura and it was never an issue.

...I eventually got the money back from my credit card, but have now been banned from renting from them...

They banned themselves from scumming you again. That's great news, Tom.

It was a 900€ “block” on a credit card. We shall see !!!

Recently saw a review that could prepare you for some extra charges, Ron.

[Si Tie]

It should also be know that Inter Rent is now part of Goldcar. I normally book directly myself with whoever I go with but this time went with Ryanair & inter rent (after deliberately discounting Goldcar) to arrive at the booking desk to find out that they are now all the same company !! Not happy at all but no other choice, will report back how it all works out !!

Ron,

Maybe too late but I would pay for if possible on a credit card.  That way if you
have any issues you can do a charge back.  Your CC company then refund you
and the onus is on Goldcar to prove the things they are trying to justify as legit
payments are.  Like a dirty car (new one on me), damage no fuel etc. Good luck!

[Can the Man]

I have hired cars in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and have never been expected to return it washed. I do know that some of the car hire companies in a Fuerteventura will charge you if you bring the car back with sand in the cabin and in the boot, and rightly so I say. If I have the grandkids with me and we’ve Ben to the beach I always go to a petrol station and vacuum the car before returning it.