Car Hire

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:41 am

The only issue I have is the one time when I asked for a match against a cheaper quote, which they did, but gave me an indifferent car. Normally, we've had very new shiny ones. That didn't bother me that much until it broke down. I have booked a Group A car for February with a note: Car to be supplied with AC as per email from Steen.

I'm sure that everything will be fine.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:28 pm

Just beware, if the guy you meet representing YOR/Algarve driver is from Sevis DO NOT proceed with the hire. You will find that your credit card will be used to take 1,000 euros without your knowledge, and believe me you will probably not get it back!!!! We are still fighting since June last year.
Unfortunately YOR sub contracted the hire of two cars to my daughter and her friends (something we have never had experience with in all the years we have hired cars I must admit).

So just be on your guard

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:30 pm

Does Steen know about the LJ? I'm sure he as a vested interest in seeing it resolved.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:51 pm

Yes, have pm'd you

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:45 pm

I'm interested in the experience with Sixt as I almost had a problem with them in October.
Having had good service from Autojardim for many years when we rented villas which included cars hire, we'd tried various other companies and prefer Sixt for ease, standard of cars etc. But in October, having not taken out their insurance for the first time (as I'd taken out a policy to cover the excess) they quibbled over a superficial mark on the side of the car but were in the end persuaded it wasn't anything.
I may now try one of the other companies people have recommended. Don't like the eurocar system of bussing people off the airport and the one experience with yor wasn't good (bald tyres etc).

dennisg · Post by **dennisg** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:48 pm

We use Airauto - www.airauto.pt - have just paid 168 euros for 14 days car hire in January group B car (4 door Fiat Panda), full insurance, no excess (other than wheels and tyres).
Check in desk is in airport hall and car is in second car park.
No hassle provided you return car with full tank as collected.

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:54 pm

Thanks for all your help. I was interested to hear your experiences with AlgarveDriver. I will let you know how the Sixt argument goes. It is a shame as I have been a loyal customer to them for the past 3 years.

Has anyone else used Airuauto?

Roots · Post by **Roots** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:20 pm

Hello,
This will be my first stay in CVO and will be picking up a car on the 15th at Faro from Algarve Driver. I found Steen to be quite accomodating and agreed to a price match. Am I to understand, from the comments in the forum, that I should expect a problem. I am concerned with the comment from Lesley Jean if the guy you meet representing YOR/Algarve driver is from Sevis DO NOT proceed with the hire. What is Sevis ? How will I know the rep I am dealing with is legit. I plan to use my credit card coverage for insurance will this be a problem? Should I worry ?

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:35 pm

Hi Roots and welcome to the forum. Like a lot of others, we've used YOR a fair bit and apart from the one breakdown had excellent service and some nice cars. I would prefer it if the YOR reps were more easily identifiable but I guess the thing I will be asking is if they are from YOR or Sevis.

That a company in Europe can cream £1000 from someone's credit card and get away with it beggars belief.

You'll be arriving the day before us so I hope you have great weather

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:58 pm

Its surprising how bad news of this sort can spread. This must effect Steen and YOR. Because there is no doubt that people spread these sorts of stories, and even if they arent totally accurate, people will react.

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:08 pm

The stories do seem to be first hand experiences rather than someone knowing someone who said they knew someone who had rented a car etc etc. I have to say, though, I had more or less decided on AlgarveDriver and I am now not considering them. I don't understand the problems that people have had, but I don't need to understand them (if you see what I mean). I would just like to rent a vehicle without any hassles, so I would like to avoid companies where there have been problems.

My issues with Sixt have never related to the qualities of the vehicles. These have always been very new, few thousand ks at the most, no problems with wipers or tyre condition etc. I often travel with my elderly mother and young son, or completely on my own. In neither cirucmstance do I want to have problems with a vehicle in a country where I cannot communicate as well as I ought to be able. So I will therefore avoid companies which have provided poor quality vehicles as it is not worth the aggro to me.

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:10 pm

Well I for one believe Lesley Jean has been unfairly treated. I'm sure that Steen has done all he can and I don't want him or YOR to suffer but I can't afford to lose £1000 so I'll be very careful in my future dealings.

At least with YOR you know that yor PIN is safe from electronic fraud. They still use the old slips and a 1 euro coin to rub the imprint

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:28 pm

We have used YOR and had no problems aprt from having to wait for the rep to meet us in P4 when we returned the car.
The price was not any thing special but competatitve.
I think thetreal issue is the widespread parctice of using " letterheads ".
By this I mean agents rather than " real " car hire companies.

I would like to know how many of those operating incl Algarve driver and YOR actually own their cars rather than act as agents for the big companies.

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:47 pm

With respect EMM, that isnt the issue.The issue is that the client can trust and rely on whom he is renting from.

I use Travel Rent because I have found them totally reliable with new cars every season.
If I lose that trust, as seems to be the case in question, I look to replace that company.

Until then, we stay with Travel Rent

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:02 pm

If you deal with an agent he has to insure himself against all eventualities and " it could be " that the likelehood of something going wrong is greater.
All that is needed is a bit of clarity and honesty.