Car Rental Con

[chriselaine]

Hi

 

I was wondering if anyone could give some advice about an issue my daughter is dealing with. She and her boyfriend needed to hire a car and they telephoned Hertz who were happy to book one for them to be picked up from the local dealership. My daughter who is 20 had to be the main hirer of the car because they would not accept her boyfriend's debit card as it was a Solo card. They immediately took the charge of £55. When they went to collect the car they were informed that neither of them was old enough to hire a vehicle, needing to be over 25, and that they should contact the customer services to arrange a refund.

 

When they did that they were told that a refund would be made within 10 working days. However this was not made and my daughter contacted Hertz again. She was told that the matter had been looked into and that no refund was due because the operator at the time claimed to have informed them that they had to be over 25.

 

Firstly, my daughter's boyfriend made the original call and they did the booking without once asking to speak to her. They took her card details without asking to speak to her for permission. He denies that the question of age was ever mentioned. When customer services were later challenged about the question of taking her card details, they replied that this would have been verified when the car was collected. Surely then the payment should not have been taken until this verification was made?

 

Am I right in thinking that if someone is not eligible to enter into a contract in the first place, which my daughter clearly was not if she was under the required age, then the contract would be null and void anyway and Hertz are acting illegally in withholding her money.

 

Any help please!!

[Bigmac versus]

Arent all calls recorded?

Anyway shouldnt the operator have verified the age first with proof?

Demand your dosh back if they refuse tell them you wish this decision to be put in writing as you are taking the matter further.

When you get this in writing take a copy of it to TS.

[chriselaine]

Thanks for that Bigmac.

 

The matter may now be resolved as they are going to refund as a"gesture of goodwill" after I had threatened to sue the company. I've now composed a letter to the MD for my daughter to send accusing the company of operating illegally, so we'll wait and see how he replies.

[Bigmac versus]

Should think so too.