Motorhome hire

[stf0202]

'm not sure if this is the correct thread for this post, please direct me appropriately if not.

 

I recently responded to an email for a 'bargain' price on the hire of a motor home 'motorholme.co.uk'.

£249 for 7 nights hire of New Year seemed very good and

I booked quickly, albeit stupidly without researching the company beforehand.

 

It seems their money on additional costs and extras you have option to NOT pay:

There is an excess for insurance, if you pay £120 then you don't have to pay a £1250 excess for an accident; this is motoring specific.

Any damage to the van, scruff, dints, scrapes, wing mirrors etc are all extra and fairly expensive.

You pay a daily excess for each driver to reduce the insurance excess

and you get 100 miles included for each day of hire,

thereafter it's £1.34 a mile over your included mileage.

If you pay £24 per day, you can have unlimited mileage.

 

Concious I hadn't signed the electronic agreement form

( I was bombarded with emails directing me to do so)

I phoned reservations and was told there was no daily fee for excess mileage, thus saving 7x£24 for the trip.

I then completed the electronic contract and started the booking completion

where I find I am being asked to pay for the excess mileage.

 

My question is,

as I was told by a company employee that there was no fee for the excess mileage, will they be obliged to forgo the charge.

If not will my credit card company intervene and dispute the charge?

 

I record all telephone conversations on my mobile,

therefore have proof I was told there would be no charge applicable for excess mileage.

 

Or will I just have to pay all costs incurred because I signed the agreement form?

 

Thank you for your input in advance.

[renegadeimp]

Whenever you telephone a company, either record the call in full or get the call confirmed in writing. Theres little point using the phone otherwise, especially for financial or contractual matters. You need full and complete proof of whats being said.

[Conniff]

Welcome to the forum stf

 

 

It's great that you recorded the calls, we always advise recorded delivery letter unless you can record the calls.

 

 

As you have indisputable proof, then yes, do a chargeback. I would make a written transcription of the calls so you can hand that in with your chargeback request and the letter informing the bank not to debit any further demands from the company.

 

 

You should inform the hire company that you have a recording of the call telling you there were no excess mileage fees and if they are debited from your account, you will do a chargeback.

[renegadeimp]

Be aware with recorded calls, that some companies will say the call was answered by someone who didnt have the authority to discuss the account. That excuse rarely works, but some will try it.

[Conniff]

Bloody 'ell, I've just been reading their site. I think I would rather buy one than hire one and it's probably cheaper, £400 per hour if your late back.

[renegadeimp]

The site says £25 an hour conniff.

 

Your vehicle return time is shown on the Hire Rental Agreement. A fee of 30p per minute (£25 per hour) is charged for late return. The return time is shown on your Hire Rental Agreement.

 

Oh and they sneakily add in more costs in a seperate page, only accessible through a random link.

 

1) Collection & Return time. The collection & return time is shown on your Hire Rental Agreement. Please collect before the collection time and return before return time shown. Late returns are charged a minimum fee of £100 for any vehicle returned 15 minutes after the notified return time. An earlier collection time may be possible subject to availability.

[Conniff]

Not if you read all of it:

 

 

Late returns are charged a minimum fee of £100 for any vehicle returned 15 minutes after the notified return time.

 

 

http://www.motorholme.co.uk/surcharges.htm

[renegadeimp]

I read that as they will charge £100 basic. Then the rest on top of it. Not 100 every 15. WHich would be unlawful, an unfair term and easily contestable in court action. I laughed at the amounts of all the other charges though.

[Conniff]

I think if you read the whole legal rubbish there are a multitude of unfair terms in it, especially the bits about nothing being returnable but they can charge extra for next to no reason.

 

 

I almost laughed, but I think I might have cringed instead