i recently hired a vehicle out from a rental company. i wanted to hire it for 3 days however the rental company misunderstoofd my dates and gave me the vehicle for 2days. on the second day they tried contacting me and left a message saying that if i hadnt returned the car by 2pm they would report the car stolen. i returned the car after 8pm.
after a couple of days i noticed that they had taken £390 out of my account without asking or sending me a bill. im really confused because i thought this chip and pin was supposed to be there for a reason. also if anything i thought the could only charge me for the extra day. can they really take money out of my account just like that.? im not sure what terms and conditions i signed for but this just takes the mick!!!
2007-02-24 05:41:50 · 4 answers · asked by Zaf 1 in Local Businesses ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
In the days before credit cards, if you wanted to hire a car you had to put down a huge deposit in cash. Today car hire companies rely on credit cards instead, and if you signed a contract then they can say they are not in breach of that contract.
However if you think money is being taken out of your card falsely, contact the credit card company and tell them that money has been taken out without your consent, and they will investigate and if ascertained it was taken out wrongly, they can re credit your account from the offending company's bank.
Regarding chip and pin, companies now take your postcode as authority to deduct. This gives them ability to debit your account without putting in your pin number, on basis you have authorised it. But if they debit you on that basis you have a much stronger claim against them than you previously had with your signature authorisation Bottom line is complain to your credit card company if you think the debit was wrong and you "MAY" be able to get it back.
2007-02-24 05:56:47 · answer #1 · answered by Wamibo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you paid originally for the car with your credit card, then the chip & pin is irrelevant because they will already have your card number and details..which is all they need to take a further payment by phone. The chip & pin is only for proving the initial validity of the card when you pay in person.
Given that the company made a reasonable effort to contact you, and that your contract of hire will clearly state it was only for two days, and that you will have only paid for two days...then they may well have a perfect legal right to take further payment..although they should t least explain what the extra £390 represents, as it is clearly more than just an extra day's hire. Presumably there is some sort of penalty fine for returning the car late...but that would be in your original contract of hire.
Sorry, but claiming that you are "not sure what terms & conditions I signed for" is no defence at all! It is your responsibility to do that, however tedious the contract document may be..if you break the signed and agreed contract then they've got you hook. line and sinker.
2007-02-24 10:43:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You almost certainly signed up for this sort of behaviour when you signed the contract.
Check it.
Then get back to them. Go up as high as you can in the organisational chain.If no joy go to your local trading standards office or get on to a newspaper and see if you get any joy.
2007-02-24 15:39:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you think it was due to amistake on their part then i would take it up with them.....
If they refuse to listen to you tell them you wil take it up as a civil claim and get a free hour with a solicitor!
2007-02-24 05:46:59 · answer #4 · answered by JustJem 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋