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Comments
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I can't comment on this particular complaint.
What I can say is that I hired a car from Hire for Lower in
May for Majorca. A few days before we were due to fly I received
a fax from Hire for Lower telling me that the company in Majorca
had changed and that the fax was my proof of hire. We also received
the correct voucher by post before we left.
The only complaint I could find would be the fact of having to
wait a long time in a queue to get the car after also waiting
at the airport to be transported to the car hire property. On
arriving back at the airport there was someone from the rental
company to receive the car. Anne Bright ... 3 July 2003
------------------------------------------
Same problem - I am the Majorca user who
had no car. Still awaiting a refund. I have sent
a complaint to the Daily Express (where I found the advert) and
the Sun. I have also contacted Westminster Trading Standards (they
have promised to write within 7 days). I am thinking about a court
order but will probably wait until next week to see if I get any
responses (don't hold your breath). Keith Rushby.. 3 July
2003
------------------------------------------
I too hired a car via the internet from
hire for lower to be collected at Lisbon airport
on 10th May 2003 and was also told that these vouchers were not
accepted. My complaint is being dealt with in the same way identically
the 28 day period being up in two days time, Douglas Bridle..
3 July 2003
------------------------------------------
Why do all the aggrieved parties not
get together & appoint a solicitor to fight our cases on a
collective basis. Surely this will have a greater impact
on Hire for Lower? Click
to read more...
Dave Kempton.. 4 July 2003
-------------------------------------------
Yet another victim! I arrived
at Barcelona Airport armed with a Hire for Lower voucher on 21
June 2003. Record Rent-a-Car had no knowledge of our reservation,
and no car for us, though they were clearly well acquainted with
Hire for Lower's bad reputation.
Like everyone else, I had to book with another company at over-the-counter
rates. My e-mails have been ignored, but I will pursue them and
wish others luck in doing the same. Michael Broadbent......06
July 2003
....................................................
My complaint echoes all of the others
on this page. I booked a car for collection in
Las Vegas in April and had my voucher refused by Dollar. On return
to the UK I contacted Hire for Lower and have since then received
nothing but a catalogue of lies from them. I too will be pursuing
a claim through the courts. The company is a disgrace.
Cliff Seabrook...07 July 2003
------------------------------------------
Same old story - still waiting,
still hearing the same excuses, still wishing i had never
booked a car using autos abroad......
Paul Eyers .. 8 July 2003
------------------------------------------
My problem is the same as all the others,
Hire for Lower have cost me £1200 for car hire in Florida
for a month in April/May 2003. This arose as the
result of 'Dollar Rent a Car' refusing to accept the pre-paid
voucher issued by Hire for Lower. Despite many promises, including
a letter, I have not been repaid. I have started the legal process
in order to obtain reimbursement. It may be of interest that Westminster
Trading Standards are assembling a dossier on Hire for Lower.
It also appears that there may be recourse against the Credit
Card company used to purchase the vouchers.
Neil Churcher ... 8 July 2003
-------------------------------------------
We are pleased to see that we are not alone
in our fight to get a refund out of HFL. We also
had a prepaid voucher which was not honoured by the car rental
comany. HFL have not even bothered to answer our e-mails, recorded
letter or phone calls. Should we all get together and camp out
on HFL's doorstep til someone does something? John Piper
... 8 July 2003
-------------------------------------------
Different problem, keeping it short;
After paying Hire for Lower on 2nd April 2003 for car
hire in Bergamo, Italy I have now been charged again by the actual
hire company they contracted to. Hire for Lower do not answer
the phone or respond to formal complaints via the mail. I have
had queries before with Hire for Lower but not been charged twice!
I don't think this company are regarded highly within the car
hire market. Marcus Bishop ... 9 July 2003
-------------------------------------------
Arrived Nice Airport with two friends on
July 3rd to be told that Hire For Lower vouchers no longer honoured.
Stephen Churchett ... 9 July 2003
-------------------------------------------
As many others or so it seems I to have
been conned by hire for lower , in Alicante i
had to re-hire after hire for lowers voucher had been rejected,
they also trade under AUTOS ABROAD / USA RENTACAR / GO CAR HIRE
/ DIRECT CAR HIRE.
ARTHUR THOMAS ... 9 July 2003
--------------------------------------------
Further to my e-mail of 8th July 2003 re
Hire for Lower; I wrote to Halifax Visa on 1st
July. They have now reimbursed me with the cost of the vouchers
(£636). Full marks to Halifax Visa! Neil Churcher
... 10 July 2003
--------------------------------------------
I too arranged for a hire car from Carcassonne
airport for 27th May 2003 and had my voucher refused. And
I also contacted \"Hire for Lower\" or \"Autos
Abroad\" as they\'re also known and was told that a full
refund would be given as soon as my voucher was returned. I have
waited over a month now and although I did receive a standard
reply from them in writting advising me the matter was being looked
into I have still had no refund and it appears they cannot be
contacted by phone. After reading the entry by Geoffrey Terry
I think I too will now register a claim in the county court and
try and resolve the matter that way. Gavin Wilson ...
11 July 2003
---------------------------------------------
I have had a similar experience to Mr. Terry.
I paid to hire a car from the same company from
11th april this year to 25th April but when I presented the pre-payment
voucher to Dollar Car Hire at Philadelphia Airport, they refused
to honour it. I had to pay again to hire a car at local rates
( $831 for two weeks ). Hire 4 Lower promised to refund the money
in full on production of a receipt but no money has been paid
yet despite e-mails, calls etc. RAJ LAROIYA ... 11 July
2003
---------------------------------------------
I too booked a car with Hire for Lower -
for 9 days hire from Nice Airport starting on
17 June. On arrival at the airport we were told that National
Citer had not been accepting HfL vouchers for 4 months - yet we
had booked with HfL on May 19th and they had charged our credit
card the same day, when HfL must have known their vouchers were
not being accepted.
Back in the UK I visited HfL's Soho office on 3rd July
where a Michael Greig claimed they were unable to issue a refund
cheque because the only signatory was not in the office that day.
I eventually came away with a letter promising a full refund of
the amount I had paid National Citer, within 7 working days. What
hope that the cheque will materialise?
A fellow traveller who we met at the National Citer desk at Nice
airport has apparently received a refund cheque by visiting the
Soho office and then returning the following day to collect it.
He encountered another couple whose hire voucher had not been
accepted in Valencia.
Is any car hire company now accepting HfL vouchers and is HfL
still taking money for its worthless vouchers?
Ian Mackinder ... 11 July 2003
---------------------------------------------
I booked a two week hire with Autos Abroad,
for July 26-August 9th 2003, to be collected from Toulouse airport,
from the National Citer company. I read a report
in the Guardian (July 5th) about the pre-paid vouchers not being
accepted. I have also found similar reports in the Times, and
various complaints websites. I telephoned Citer in Toulouse, and
was told that pre-paid vouchers are NOT being accepted from Autos
Abroad, as Citer are in dispute over non-payment by Autos Abroad.
Needless to say, when I phoned AA, I was put on hold for over
5 minutes, before I hung up, without being put through.I anticipate
many months of writing, telephoning and general hassle, and am
unsure how this will be resolved.
I will be contacting Westminster Trading Standards, as advised,
my MP, and will also contact as many consumer organisations as
I can, including newspapers and BBC. This company is still advertising
in the press. Why has action not been taken to stop them taking
money, knowing that customers will be refused the service they
have paid for? Deborah Bishop ... 11 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
I payed Hire for Lower in full by direct
debit for a hirecar in Bergamo Italy in April
this year. Today I received my Visa card statement with an unauthorised
debit of £111 by the Italian car hire cimpany Autonollegio
Sicily. Visa tell me that they did this because Hire for Lower
are not paying their foreign clients. Bob Taylor ...11
July 2003
------------------------------------------------
We have booked a 1-week hire with Autos
Abroad for the 28th of July in Barcelona, and
received a Hire for Lower voucher through the post. I have contacted
the National/ATESA desk at Barcelona Airport to ask if there will
be any problems when I collect the car... surprise surprise. National
are aware of my booking (and other 2 bookings for other family
members), but National said that they are asking customers to
pay at the desk. They will honour the price on the voucher, but
you will have to pay again... and hope to get a refund from Hire
for Lower.
I rang Autos Abroad and they (obviously) said that the voucher
should be enough and they guarantee the car can be collected without
paying again at the airport. I don't buy this and AB will do nothing
about it until I have double-paid and go through the paiful experiences
that many of you are going through. Surely there's something I
can do to stop my family holiday being ruined by these cowboys.
Any ideas? Alex Orozco .. 14 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
We rented a car on 22 June to be collected
at Gerona. We paid £178 in advance. When
we arrived the rep informed us that there no longer do business
with Hire for Lower and therefore could not honour any vouchers.
On top of which they didn\'t even have a booking for us so subsequently
no car. It was Sunday and all the other offices were shut. We
had to pay an additional 325 euros for a car. We still have not
received a refund despite telephone calls, a letter and an e-mail.
I have just read through the other e-mails and realise we have
a long fight on our hands to see this money again. Jackie
Mugridge... 14 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------
My husband & I also rented a car to
be collected at Palma Airport on 5th July. No
car - voucher not honoured and had to hire another car. We have
written to them today and asked for refund in line with their
terms and conditions within 7 days. Awaiting reply! Wendy
McKean ... 16 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
As others have found rental companies not
accepting voucher. This was in Vancouver. Had
to pay again. Cannot get through on any line, just constant message.
Have they gon out of or business?
Will contact credit card company and see if they can help.
Ian Allan... 16 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
What is really annoying is that this company
are still advertising on the radio!. Its a complete
mickey mouse company - no one even answers the phone now. I will
visit the offices and then look into county court proceedures.
No doubt the director of the company is laughing all the way to
the bank with our money!! E. Blandford ... 16 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
Hi, I hope someone can advise me what to
do as I depart in 10 days for Florida
and have no idea if I have to book different car hire as
Hire for Lower are saying that Dollar are not accepting their
vouchers but it will now be a new voucher from the Car Shop, Help
!!! Do I believe this or is this fobbing me off on the phone?
Mrs A Robins ... 17 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
I arrived at Rome Chiampino airport on 14th
June to have the same experience as many others. Am
going through the same process after returning from holiday. After
reading the complaints above I am now very concerned.But have
no option but to keep persevering. Richard Parker ...
18 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
Hire for Lower is still open for business,
and still has an active web site , under their other name
of "Autos Abroad"Their brochure says that "Autos
Abroad is a trading name of Hire for Lower(Car Hire) Ltd".
Philip Gascoine ... 18 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
I too have been conned by Hire for Lower.
The latest development was a letter fom HfL telling
me to take my claim to NatWest Streamline, who would refund the
monies owed. I received a letter from Streamline this morning
that states "We are not in a position to comment on our relationship
with Hire for Lower. However, in directing you to us they have
not followed the correct procedure for credit card transactions."
Streamline goes on to suggest that I contact my card issuer for
a refund - but this will be for the £440 originally paid
to HfL and not the £630 extra I paid to Dollar after my
voucher was refused. Still, I'm at the point now when I just want
to retrieve some of my losses... Helen Long ... 18 July
2003
------------------------------------------------
Hire for Lower, Direct Car Hire etc.,
The rumour in the industry is that today they went bankrupt.
Howard Williams ... 18 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
Click to read:
TEXT OF ASK
GILL (CHARLTON) email to Travel Telegraph 18 July 2003..
Reg Parsons.. 18 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
At least I am not alone! I had
booked a car for two weeks with autos abroad for pick up at Gerona
Airport June 28th. As with others, my pre-paid vouchers were invalid
as National Atessa had severed their contract with AA. I had to
re-hire which cost me another £322. I have e-mailed and
written with no response as well as inordinate amounts of time
on the phone which is either busy or you can be put on hold for
ever! I cannot believe this company is still trading. After reading
these complaints I am going to pursue the option suggested and
contact my credit card company. Anne Marie Haddow ...
20 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
I used Hire For Lower Jan 2003 and the voucher
was accepted by Record Rent A Car (Palma). My
next visit in March the voucher was refused by Record and I had
to pay a greater cash price for my hire. After a couple of phone
calls Hire For Lower refunded my initial payment.
In June Record accepted Carjet voucher and at the same time I
queried why Record had charged my Visa Card in April. They have
now informed me it was for the non payment by Hire For Lower's
Jan rental. I know it is a waste of time trying to contact Hire
for Lower but I am going to pursue the legality of Record taking
an unauthorised payment off my card. I have no complaint with
Record Rent A Car at Palma Mallorca as far as their service and
cars are concerned as it is excellent.
Donald Robertson ... 20 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
We have the same problem as others .
We paid in full for a car hire in October 2002. For a
14 day car hire to pick up at Charlotte airport North carolina
USA.On arrival we were told that Dollar would not except our pre
paid voucher. This lead us to no alternative but to pay Dollar
direct for our car hire at a cost of a further £500 .Having
phoned HFL we were assured that we would recieve a full refund
on our return to UK.I faxed all relevant documentation to HFL
on the 28th April . I recieved a letter dated the 2nd May saying
I would recieve my refund within 28 days. This has not happened
. I have regularly phoned HFL often hanging on for up to 45 minutes
or more, and been given continous lies of what they were going
to do .
The last was on the 11th July when I spoke to Michael Greig he
told me that my cheque was being signed by accounts that day and
it would be delivered recorded delivery on Saturday the 12th July
or Monday 14th July at the latest.This did not happen. It is now
imposible to contact HFL by phone .I have reported this to my
credit card company and Westminster Trading Standards. I read
an article in the Saturday Telegraph that Westminster Trading
Standards have heard from 490 customers of HFL.
Kathy Gatrell ... 21 July 2003
---------------------------------------------------
I had a car from Hire for Lower in Faro,
Portugal, We had pre-paid voucher and we were
lucky to get the car. But at the end of the holiday, some tried
to break into the car and damaged the lock, on returning the car
to faro airport we have to paid 150 euros, I have sent a letter
+ receipt, I have fax, and E Mialed - I cannot get through on
the phone.
Maria Cargwright ... 21 July 2003
--------------------------------------------------
I also had a problem with Hire for Lower.
My prepaid voucher was not honoured by Nataional
Citer on 2 July at St Etienne. They told me that they had ceased
trading with Hire for Lower in March. On returning from holiday
I have tried without success in contacting Hire for Lower by telephone
- tried for hours! I have now written to them. I consider that
they are taking money from consumers under false pretences and
wonder are they in breach of trading legislation. I have contacted
my credit card company and it appears I might be able to get redress
through them. George Nixon .... 21 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
I payed Hire for Lower in full by direct
debit for a hirecar in Pisa Italy in April this
year. Today I received my Visa card statement with an unauthorised
debit of £250 by the Italian car hire company Autonollegio
Sicily. Tesco Visa tell me that they did this because Hire for
Lower are not paying their foreign clients. Ms Smith ..
21 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
Same story for me! On presenting
my pre-paid voucher in Tampa Airport it was rejected and I had
to pay $1200 for a car.
I have been trying to get some sense out of the people for weeks
now. I appear to have got the same letters as everyone else and
spoken to Micheal Greig on numerous occasions. No money forthcoming
though. Tried to speak to Nick Stolberg and also Paul Hawkins
(who is the MD) but never around. I have passed my problem onto
the BBC's Watchdog program but had no reply as yet. I have also
just received the paperwork to take out a claim through the small
claims court. Anyone any idea if this will work.
Graham Walker ... 21 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------
Just to add to this sad list of
people who have been defrauded. I paid £1,743
in Nov last year for three cars for my family. On arrival in Miami
in April we had to pay an additional £2,640 to DOLLAR so
that we could continue our holiday. We have also done all the
telephoning, letters etc and got nowhere. Suggest as many people
as possible contact papers, consumer associations and BBC Watchdog.
I doubt if any of it will do us personally any good but it may
highlight the problem nationally and hopefully help to put the
people behind HforL out of business or even charged for fraud.
Brian Livingstone .. 21 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------
We also arranged car hire over the telephone
with Hire for Lower. If you know of the official
ombudsmen that cover the car hire industry or the names of the
other Hire For Lower Managing Directors I would be very interested
in bringing our case to their attention. B.Bence... 21
July 2003
-----------------------------------------------
Same story i'm afraid, 3 cars for 3 weeks
booked and paid for, miami in April and the vouchers not honoured,
3 seperate families had to pay over the odds to claim
our cars for the 3 weeks. Promises of a full refund that never
appeared and it seems being told the same pack of lies as every
one else. We even contacted a UK tabloid from the USA in an attemptt
to warn people due to travel, the papers did not want to know!
I have contacted Westminster
Trading Standards today and they tell me Autos Abroad, after
being in negotiation with their bank for some months and in light
of the investigation by Trading Standards have ceased trading
as of today. They dont hold out much hope of anyone getting ALL
their money back, but advise people to contact their Credit Card
Companies as soon as posssible.
My question is, how on earth did this company manage to defraud
so many people for so long knowing full well the bookings and
vouchers they where taking money for would not be accepted and
not worth the paper they where written on?
Karen Jones... 22 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------
I have had exactly the same problem as everyone
else, arriving into Toulouse in June was told
they were in dispute with Hire for Lower, I rang Hire for Lower
who asked me to pay again and claim back the monies, still waiting!
Linda Davis ... 22 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
I also booked and prepaid for a car from
Hire for Lower in March of this year and received
the prepaid voucher 2 weeks prior to my holiday. However, on arrival
at Malaga airport on 7th July 2003 (with a very tired child )I
was refused a car on the grounds that Hire for Lower are an unreliable
company and the Malaga company (Crown )would not accept the voucher.
As I was travelling to inland Spain, I had to hire a car from
another company who were very obliging. I tried every day to contact
Hire for Lower from Spain, but without success.
The 'phone is never answered and you're left with a recorded message
or silence. Even their "Emergency " number is never
answered. I returned from Spain yesterday ( 21st July 2003 )and
have tried to contact them again without success, so am going
to see a solicitor and contacting B.B.C Watchdog programme.
Nikki St-Claire ( Miss )... 22 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------
I am an ABTA Travel Agent , a member of
staff saw a special offer for travel agents from Hire For Lower-I
told her I would never deal with them or book a client with them
as they are ' a bunch of cowboys@ she did'nt listen and today
just called to say she arrived in Ibiza at 2am with her very young
family and the car hire operator would not accept the Hire For
Lower Voucher as quote **THEY HAD NOT BEEN PAID BY HIRE FOR LOWER
FOR MONTHS.
i DID,NT LIKE TO SAY TOLD YOU SO , BUT PLEASE EVERYONE do not
book with this company .
To save a few pounds is not worth the grief , we almost always
use Transhire or Holiday Autos but their prices have increased
since being taken over by Last Minute .Com Sue Grimditch
... 22 July 2003
------------------------------------------------
My experience is the same as many people's
here. I booked a 12-day car hire in Venice with
Autos Abroad on 16th June. The dates of hire were 9th July to
21st July, for which i paid £260. When my wife and I arrived
in venice, we were told by Sixt that they were no longer accepting
pre-paid vouchers as Hire for Lower/Autos Abroad hadn't paid their
bills the previous month. We had no choice but to fork out another
£287 to hire a car for our holiday.
Whilst away I tried ringing AA/HfL on countless occasions on my
mobile phone, to no avail. Upon returning to the UK, I went directly
to their offices and was told that AA/HfL had gone into liquidation
on the Friday (18th July. What concerns me is the fact that I
wasn't told by AA/HfL that there'd be a problem in Venice before
I travelled out... which leads to the other question - was my
money taken in bad faith on the 16th june when i made the booking?
If this is the case, someone should be punished.
Phil Sheehan .. 22 July 2003
---------------------------------------------------
My story is that I booked and paid for the
hire car on april 6th and tried to collect the car from Faro Portugal
airport. The same story was that credit had been
withdrawn. I had to rehire a car from the airport at £20
more than HfL. Fortunately I had booked it using my Goldfish credit
card so I have been reimbursed for the £91 which I had been
charged originally but I have been unsuccessfully trying to get
my £20 back. Although the claim/complaint has been acknowledged
by letter there has been no other correspondence from the company.
I have complained to the local Trading Standards Officer who advises
they are looking at the company but cannot help me. Their advice
is to sue privately but I like the idea of a class action against
the company.
It is absolutely disgraceful that this company is still trading
if this is happening around the world. Is there any way we can
have their website banned to revent the unsuspecting public from
being continually taken in. Robert Appleson ... 22 July
2003
------------------------------------------------------
We booked a car thru hire for lower
for a car in portugal from 24th July they have taken our money
but we have not received any vouchers or details of where to collect
the car. We are unable to contact them by phone or fax have been
trying for weeks. Have they gone bankrupt? or just cheated us
out of the money? Anne Higgins... 22 July 2003
------------------------------------------------------
I too hired a car in January 2003,
to collect in PHoenix in April 2003, was told
and shown a memo dated 2 days before I left the UK to say that
my prepaid voucher was no longer valid and then had to pay a furhter
£749.oo to Doller to get a car. L:ike everybody else on
my return contacted Autos Abroad and now have a file full of broken
promises. Have now written to my credit card company because it
seems I can get the original payment of £358.00 back from
them. WHY IS THIS COMPANY STILL ALLOWED TO TRADE OVER THE INTERNET!!!!!!!
Carole Wakefield ... 22 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------------
HfL has allegedly gone bust.
Dollar car hire desk in Sanford, Florida is NO LONGER ACCEPTING
VOUCHERS from HfL, Autos Abroad, or any of the other "companies"
that make up HfL. Time to call the credit card companies, plus
"proper" car hire people! Geoff M ... 22 July
2003
------------------------------------------------------
We had exactly the same problem
as everyone else with HfL (at Bordeaux Airport
National Citer desk on 28th June). We have had no reply to a letter,
faxes or phone calls. Our 'walk in' hire cost £630 instead
of £400 that we had already paid to HfL. Does anyone
have any written proof that the desk clerk was acting under specific
instructions when they refused your voucher? i.e. a memo or other
documentation from their head office. I am having trouble
contacting National Citer customer services about this, but would
like to see written proof as I think it would help our case.
Christine Munro ... 22 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------------
Same problems as everyone else!
Dollar refused voucher in April at Orlando airport. Currently
£700 out of pocket. Promised refund, but with no joy. Solicitors
suggest that any claim through the small claims process will be
fruitless. Company clearly one big rip off! Andy Woodhouse
... 23 July 2003
--------------------------------------------------------
I will be brief. Paid HFL in Oct
2002 for car hire during April 2003 in Florida.
Same story, voucher not accepted, and three months of broken promises
and lies from Michael Greig, customer services has followed. Now
ignoring all e mails, faxes and the telephone is ringing off.
Maybe a combined effort is the way to go. Ritchie Reid
... 23 July 2003
--------------------------------------------------------
In liquidation 23
july 2003, I am told. Lindsay Bennett .. 24 July 2003
-------------------------------------------------------
Same old story again at Gerona Airport 6th
July. National Atessa refused and all other car
hire places were shut as it was Sunday night. I had to hire a
car at a cost of 519.00 Euros including taxis to and from the
airport. My Credit Card company are waiting to hear the outcome
but there is no point in continuosly calling H f L as they dont
answer. I booked this car on 16th June when they had already stopped
dealing with national Atessa.I want something done about this
company to stop this happening to other people. Eleanor
Nelson ..24 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
I too have been conned by Hire for Lower.
Purchasing a pre paid in February to be used in
May/June in Alicante. I was advised by the Europa desy that they
would let me have the car if I paid again. Hire for Lower have
not paid Europa for several months, and six weeks prior to our
hire date Europa informed Hire for Lower that they would not honour
any pre paid vouchers. It cost a further 655 euros to hire another
car at the airport. Since our return I have phoned on a daily
basis, at first I was able to speak to Michael Grieg who assured
me I would be refunded in full within 28days. After the 28 days
and many phone calls later I am still waiting for my money. I
have now contacted the County Court and am issuing proceedings
against HfL. I am now contacting the consumer programme Watchdog
in the hope that they can help. Why don't we do this collectively?
Christinr Chiarello ... 24 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
I'm also having problems with Auto's abroad.
Having contacted Westminster
Trading Standards today the 24th of July I have been advised
that they ceased trading on Monday and have been advised that
I should be able to get my money back from the credit card company.
For your info Pricewaterhouse Coopers are the liquidators contact
number is 0207 2122970 contact a Jenny Britain hope this
helps!
Roger Rance ... 24 July 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
We recently booked two cars through
Autos Abroad to be waiting for us at Gerona airport. We
were given two Ref numbers and told to look for car hire company
National Atessa. when we landed at around 1:40 am on Sunday 13th
July 2003 National Atessa were nowhere to be seen, nor were the
two cars. When we mentioned Autos Abroad the locals just shook
their heads and threw their arms in the air. we waited for an
hour or so then got two taxis to our rented house, which cost
50 Euros each. We have sent e-mails fax's and tried to phone but
still no answer. We are now trying to claim back the payments
from Barclaycard. Andrew I Greenhalgh ... 24 July 2003
----------------------------------------------------
I am in Palma and the car hire company
has refused my Hire For Lower voucher. What can
I do now?
John Wilkes ... 24 July 2003
----------------------------------------------------
After no car etc at Fuerteventura
Airport 16/7/03 10.30 pm, my son visited the offices in Archer
St to find the Bailiffs in situ & Police,
angry customers et al. RBS, my C Card Co. confirmed today Company
is in liquidation & to claim refund thru them. I doubt if
any legal proceedings will result in compensation but I would
support any move to get Directors banned from holdng similar positions
again.Can we stop them trading somehow? Mike Philo ...
24 July 2003
---------------------------------------------------
Another victim I am afraid. Same
story as everyone else. We had to re-hire through
National at Marseilles airport. I managed to get through to HFL
on my return to England on 256.03 and they told me the dispute
had been settled and I should submit copies of paperwork.They
said refund would come to me from National for the higher amount.
Nothing has happened (obviously) and now the phone is answered
by a disembodied voice who so called is going to put you throught
to Administration and then the line just goes dead. Presumably
they want us all to waste our phone money too by hanging on to
a line which they know is going nowhere! Disgusting.
Is there no-one out there who deals very severely with companies
who use the Internet to fleece people out of money, or does this
all come under Trading Standards. Jennifer Robbins ...
26 July 2003
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I booked a car through hire for
lower last august to pick up at tampa airport
april 2003.dollar would not accept my voucher,so i had to pay
nearly $1000 to hire a car,when i rang from tampa they told me
you will receive a full refund of money paid in tampa if i send
in receipt,whan i did this upon return to uk i received a letter
stating i would get refund within 28 days(dated 24th may) still
nothing. i have filed a claim in the courts against them,but they
havent replied to it,so now the courts have filed a ccj against
them.still nothing to date. Paul Lynch .. 26 July 2003
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I had to pay $1591.91 .The
memo I was shown by Dollar manager was dated April 4. I arrived
May 10 They obviously knew Dollar would not take their voucher
. Is this not fraud? Allan Haslam ... 26 July 2003
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I booked online in Jan 2003 with
Autos Abroad (owned by H4L) and paid £130 by Visa. On
arrival at Paris CDG on 17th May 2003, the Pre-Paid Voucher was
accepted by National Citer and I took the car and had a good holiday.
On arrival home on 24th May 2003 I checked my Visa account and
found that National Citer had removed £180 from my account
without my permission.
On contacting Hire for Lower by phone, I was told to send details
etc. which I did, and subsequently got the letter with the 28
day bit etc. as did everybody else. Last week, having had no luck
with H4L's phones (deafening hold music!) I read this forum, and
contacted Halifax Card Services to see if I could get a refund
- they said to send bumf and they would sort it out - I am waiting.
I have hired from Autos Abroad twice before and have had no problems
- shame they have turned sour.
Dave Buff ... 27 July 2003
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I too wish to join the ranks,
I booked a car through Hire for Lower to collect in San Francisco
on 2/8/03. luckily I heard of the problems and have paid again
for my booking with another Co. HfL owe me £366.00 Hopefully
I can reclaim it Through my CC Co. Good luck to all with this!
Anthony Penhallow .. 27 July 2003
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I am just another customer who hired
a vehicle through this company for a visit to California in April
2003. My voucher was refused by Dollar and I hired
another vehicle. I too was fobed off by Hire for Lower and expect
to get nothing back as having read an article in the Finacial
Mail on Sundy they are probably no longer trading. The good news
for me is that Tesco Visa refunded my original payment therefore
I have lost a minimal £22, the cost of the extra hire cost.
There were also a number of other customers in the same position
as myself in LA when I arrived. Peter Hill ... 27 July
2003
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I wish I had seen this page before
I left for Gran Canaria on the 19th July. Hired
car via Go Car Hire, spent a further £23 in phone calls
trying to contact them before we left to get our voucher. Eventually
got Hire for lower pre-paid voucher and presented it to Record
Rentacar at Las Palmas airport. Wanted a Ford Ka but was given
a Renault Scenic and then asked for credit card deposit to cover
tyres and wheels not covered by insurance - 179 Euros to be torn
up on return of the car. returnrd vehicle as received but the
assistant could not find the transaction slip which had been done
on a Debit Card (because I refuse to have a credit card).
Arrived home at 0300 this morning and checked internet banking
to find the debit voucher had been paid in on the 23rd July 3
days before I was due to return the vehicle.
I am at a loss as what to do. I have been defrauded of £127
by Record who knew that the pre-paid voucher wouldn't be honoured
so decided to set up the wheels and tyres deposit scam. I have
sofar threatened Record with the police but I get the impression
they have been there before. Going to speak to the bank tomorrow.
In the mean time please take note that calling Hire for Lower,
Go Car Hire or any of the rest of the bunch of crooks costs approx
8p/min from the time the call is answered by the incessant machine
and BT take so much but the rest is paid by BT to the hire company
so that the longer they keep you waiting the more money they make.
Be very careful.
Christopher Whitley ... 27 July 2003
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I booked via GOCARHIRE.COM which happens
to be the same address as HFL with the same contact numbers and
Autosabroad music playing in the background.
I booked two cars for Gerona Airport on 28th June 2003.
I normally take my own booster seats, however, I was told they
were free at this location. I reserved three in total. I was also
quoted no excess (to be claimed back on my return), free cancellation
protection and, strangely, free binoculars.
On receipt of the pre-paid vouchers they stated that the booster
seats were payable locally. After much trouble contacting HFL
I was told they had changed local supplier to National Atesa who
charged for seats. On pointing out this was not my problem, I
was told to retain receipts and claim on my return (as it happens,
National Atesa at the airport stated that they do not provide
booster seats) As I was not satisfied with the 'claim on return'
arrangement I got back in touch with HFL. They stated this was
my only option. Out of curiosity, I asked where my binoculars
were and they denied making this offer. On confirming that the
free cancellation was valid, I frustratingly said I would therefore
cancel - the gentlemen said he would do this. As I only had a
week to go until departure, I quickly realised this was a bad
idea (????) and on phoning again the following day was informed
the reservations were still valid and I could only cancel in writing.
Ironically, I felt relieved. As a final precaution, I called the
day before departure and they confirmed the reservations were
still OK.
On arrival, I was told by National Atesa that the vouchers were
worthless and they had been rejecting HFL vouchers for a fortnight.
As with a previous writer, they charged me £644 for the
cars. (N.B. I do not think this reflects well on National Atesa,
as they should have done the decent thing and charged no more
than the £444 originally paid to HFL) I also contacted HFL
the following day and was told they were aware of the problem
and to retain all receipts which would be refunded on my return.
One other twist, however, was that on my return, waiting behind
the door, were two cancellation vouchers with the balance due
as £222- on each. This, I considered, was a lucky break
as I assumed the verbal cancellation had been accepted and eagerly
checked my on-line banking - NO REFUND.
The rest, as they say, is history - unable to contact HFL by phone,
fax ignored and have now sent a letter with receipts claiming
the full refund of £644. Having now read all the complaints
on this page, I am not hopeful.
I regard this as fraud. They have taken our money, not provided
the service/product and are failing to make refunds. Hope this
gets resolved for all our sakes - Good Luck ! Alan Brown
.... 23 July 2003
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Reading today's financial section of the
Mail on Sunday (July 27 2003) it would appear
that HfL (also trading as American Car Hire, Autos Abroad, Direct
Car Hire and USA Rent-A-Car) has 'locked its doors in Archer Street,
in London's Soho, and vanished". Apparently there is a sign
on the door asking customers to phone but all you get is a message
to say you are being connected to the administration centre ----
then silence. Tony Hetherington goes on to report that HfL vouchers
are bouncing all over the world and that the Trading Standards
at Westminster City Council have also received more than 500 complaints
about this company. They believe the company has now gone into
liquidation and the best bet is to reclaim money from your credit
card company (if you've paid by credit card of course).
Denise Minde ... 27 July 2003
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Is Hire for Lower still trading?
If not where can this be confirmed in order that I can
contact my card company regarding reimbursement. Can anybody help?
Duncan Peacock ... 28 July 2003
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I turned up with my pre-paid voucher and
was told by the local company in Alicante that they would not
accept my booking. It has only been 5 months of
calling, letters and e-mails. They have promised me 3 times for
a refund but everytime they fail to respond. Now they don't even
respond to me contacting them. I would advise everyone not to
use this company. I am going to their registered offices this
week to try and sort out payment but I hold out little hope in
receiving the refund.
John Gleasure ... 28 July 2003
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My complaint is the same as many others
on this page. I hired a car in february of this
year for a 7seater to be picked up at Alicante airport on 9th
July.The car company in Alicante would not honour our vouchers
as they told us Hire for Lower had not paid their bills. After
several phone calls to the London office and a couple of hours
delay we hired a car with another company We have contacted our
credit card company as we sent 3 letters and 2 emails and several
phone calls to hire for lower. I understand that they have now
gone into liquidation. Anne Colwill ... 28 July 2003
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We too have booked with HfL. In
yesterday's Sunday Times there is an article saying they have
gone into voluntary liquidation and their receivers Price Waterhouse
Coopers are trying to arrange refunds to creditors. We have contacted
our credit card company and are awaiting a result. I suppose our
travel insurance might get us some back but it's an expensive
mistake. By the way, we have used them lots of times before with
no problem. G & C Spraggett ... 28 July 2003
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Same Problem Again! Like everyone else we
hired a car from HFL which was to be picked up in Orlando, Florida
on 8th April. The pre-paid voucher was not accepted
so we had to pay again. We phoned HFL from Orlando and "Jay"
promised that we would have a full refund on our return! We have
not received a penny nor even an acknowledgement letter. Repeated
phone calls (to Michael Grieg, Oliver Vincent, David Clark and
Mark Johnson) have ended in empty promises and despite threatening
to take them to court in our last letter we have still had no
reply. I am now going to write to the credit card company, as
reading all of these stories has made me realise it's the only
way of getting at least some of the money returned. Good Luck
everyone.
Jennifer Franklin ... 29 July 2003
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I had the same problem as everyone else.
The national paper on 27th July 2003 carried a very brief
artical explaning that the company went into voluntary liquidation
last week. It advises consumers to make a claim through their
credit card company. I understand that price waterhouse and coper
are involved with the winding up of the company. I also understand
that westminster trading standards were aware of the problem as
early as February. Vicky Fox ... 30 July 2003
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WE had exactly the same problem at ALicante
airport. Below is taken from the letter we sent
to Autos Abroad/Hire For Lower on 15th July - no reply yet received!
.. click
here to read
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Yes me too. I arrived
at Athens Airport on 18th July and Budget said they could not
honour the voucher. But they had at least prepared the car. I
am now starting the whole time wasting correspondence exercise.
WBK ... 30 July 2003
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We have the same problem as Geoffrey Terry
of the 11th June 2003. We booked 2 cars with Hire
for Lower for our holiday from 21st June until the 5th July. The
week before our holiday we didn't receive any prepaid car hire
vouchers therefore my wife and myself spent the whole week telephoning
trying to obtain these vouchers!! Eventually we received them
on the last day before our departure by email!
To our dismay when we arrived in Nice and waited with
a four year old in 98 degrees centigrade for two hours before
being able to present our vouchers, we were told by the National
Citer representative that they no longer accept vouchers provided
by Hire for Lower. Apparently the company had not been paid by
Hire for Lower since April! (Copy of car hire voucher which National
Citer have stamped saying they don’t accept it attached.
We then had to pay again locally to hire two similar cars at higher
costs than we had originally paid
On our return we telephoned them to seek reimbursement and they
advised to send a letter of complaint to obtain a refund. We duly
did so on Monday 7th July. Since then we have tried to contact
them on various dates including all day on the 18th, 19th and
21st of July with no success.We have now taken our complaint up
via our Credit Card company in the hope they might be able to
obtain a reimbursement on our behalf. STUART WARD ...
30 July 2003
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We arrived in san francisco 4/04/03.
Usual story dollar will not honour voucher. unable to contact
H f L it is now in the hands of credit card co. The only good
thing was that Dollar in San Francisco tried to help & gave
me a good deal on a new car hire. Alan Thompson ... 30
July 2003
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I hired a car through HFL in April 2003,
for a holiday in Sicily, last week April and first week May, 2003.
Initially the "Sicily by Car" office in Cefalu
refused to accept the HFL voucher when I presented it, but eventually
did so, after I phoned HFL at vast expense on my mobile. I thought
no more of the incident, until the following month when I received
a debit on my credit card from "Sicily by Car" and after
writing and faxing SBC why this appeared on my statement, they
informed me this was because HFL never paid them. When you are
asked to sign the SBC hire form, you sign a section which reads
"...I also accept to pay by credit card or cash...the total
amount of the rental, cash or by credit card whenever the voucher
remains unpaid" I have now paid twice for the hire!!! You
have been warned!!!
Clive Doherty ...31 July 2003
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I wasted £40 on my mobile
trying to get through to Hire for Lower whilst
attempting to appease my very tired 6 year old, owing to being
stuck in Barcelona because a car we had paid for was rejected
despite the pre-payment. We managed to hire another one at an
additional cost of £250. We paid by the Halifax credit card
who will be giving us a refund, which we are very pleased about,
however I'm still annoyed at the additional expense and wasted
time and the feeling of being conned. Surely this is illegal.
Matthew Tustain ... 1 August 2003
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Hello fellow victims, just thought
you might be interested in the following article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4724617,00.html
It makes interesting reading, and i can't understand why this
man was allowed to continue trading for such a long time. post
your comments for everyone to read. Thanks and good luck. Mukesh
Amlani
Mukesh Amlani ... 4 August 2003
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I am in the same position as many others
here. I was awarded payment in the small claims
court but before I could enforce the company went into liquidation.
I have however found on the internet the personal email address
and mobile phone numbers of Nick Stolberg. They are XXXXXXX [Edited].
Doubt he will accept his responsibilities but people might wish
to give him their thoughts. Also we should all advise the liquidator
(PWC) that we believe the directors ran the company whilst it
was insolvent-that way the directors have personal liability.
There is an interesting article in the Guardian recently-search
on Google and you will probably find it. Apparently they bought
a villa in France for 2.5m with our money. Paul Allen
... 8 August 2003
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Yes another mug !! Booked
a car to be picked up at Palma Airport where guess what the voucher
was not accepted.All credit to Europa Car Hire who gave us a fantastic
deal.Like many others we wasted about £30.00 trying to contact
the London office by phone.Visa have told us we will get a refund
well done to their cust service dept. Craig Dawson ...
8 August 2003
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With reference to our agreement for car
hire from the 2nd to 9th August 2003 booking number
HL05XXXX/01 debted account 11/05/03 handed prepaid voucher to
the Cork National Car Hire Company who said it was invalid due
to non payment by your company incured additional expenses of
£360 for the same car. Mr. Graham Finch ... 11 August
2003
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Found this web-site one day before going
on holiday to Menorca (9th August), having booked
a car via autosabroad. In panic tried to book with other companies
at a sensible price but all sold out. Phoned the agent in Menorca
and was told my car reservation was good but that I had to pay
again. Arrived in Menorca, was taken to the car hire office (off-airport),
and paid for the car. What a rip-off. Original cost for 7 days,
was £137, NEW cost about £250, including non-refundable
petrol which I had no chance of using. The hire company was the
main agent for several big names including: National / Alamo .
ATESA, was called Hiper Rent-a-Car. Nigel Bailey ... 20
August 2003
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The Consumer Credit Act 1974 states that
credit card companies are equally liable for the full amount of
aclaim. Now does anyone know if this means that
they are liable not only for the amount paid fopr on the card
i.e. to Hire for Lower but also for the extra we all paid for
a re booking. The full amount of my claim is much higher than
what I paid by credit card to HfL. the act Do. Steve Pocock
.. 21 August 2003
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Hire For Lower - The Contract was
honoured by Budget Rent A Car for rentals in Dec 2002 and
Feb 2003 but 6 months later Budget rent a car have debited my
credit cards for the vouchers not honoured by Hire For Lower.
They say I am liable for the rental costs as the voucher is not
honoured.
John Gourley ... 4 September 2003
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I too have a complaint about Hire for Lower.
The spanish vehicle hire company they used have
debited our credit card with 150 euros, despite the car being
left at the airport as we received it. We feel this is an attempt
by orlando car hire to recover some of their losses from hire
for lower. We have sent correspondence and completed a fraud claim
for to try and recover this money. We will proceed through the
courts if necessary. Phil Mustafa ... 10 September 2003
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In February 2002 we took out a car hire
contract with H4L for a Christmas holiday in Florida.
Unlike others in November 2002 we had to cancel due to
ill health (within the time for complete refund). We had confirmation
of cancellation but no refund. We tried to claim off the Insurance
Company Mondial (part of the deal with H4L) but they refused to
pay the car hire portion of the claim. After finally getting through
on the phone H4L then asked for the details again and copy letters
were sent. We were promised a refund but guess what we never received
it. As advised in the Daily Telegraph we contacted the credit
card company Capital One through whom payment was made but they
just told us to collect from H4L (after they had gone bust). My
husband phoned Capital One but they refused to even discuss it.
Anyone have any suggestions as to where we go from here?
Anne Hayward ... 16 October 2003
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