West Midlands MEP calls for rental car operator accountability

An MEP from West Midlands is calling for greater accountability in rental car company dealings with the public, after she was charges for damages to her rental car that she was not responsible for.

Liz Lynne, a Liberal Democrat, has filed a written request with the EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs to determine if current rental car company practice contravenes EU legislation. She noted that she has received numerous complaints in the past from her constituents complaining about shabby treatment from rental car firms.

Lynne expressed concern particularly about the practice followed by some rental companies, requiring customers to sign documents, often in foreign languages, allowing the company to levy charges without providing substantive evidence of damage.

The MEP asserted: “The forms and credit card slips that some firms make customers sign can mean hefty unknown extra charges due to mistakes in damage reports, or even deliberate over-charging.”

“Luckily for me I realised the day I returned the car so I was able to complain to the company, who after some discussion agreed a refund after admitting they made a mistake.”

Lynne continued: “The fact that companies take extra money from customers without letting them know or asking further permission is totally unacceptable.

“If anyone has suffered a similar fate I urge them to contact me, especially if they have had no luck getting money back from the company.”

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