Comments on: Currency confusion and the car http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christine Brusseau http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4388 Christine Brusseau Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:47:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4388 I made a reservation from London to Nairobi on British Airways directy through their website. The bookin was in UK pounds, howevr, when I got my bill, the exchange rate used by the credit card company was unbelieveable. It appears that there was a "service charge" levied if charges were levied in another currency. I figure that I lost almost $100 in the transaction. I made a reservation from London to Nairobi on British Airways directy through their website. The bookin was in UK pounds, howevr, when I got my bill, the exchange rate used by the credit card company was unbelieveable. It appears that there was a “service charge” levied if charges were levied in another currency. I figure that I lost almost $100 in the transaction.

]]> By: Steve Barofsky http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4364 Steve Barofsky Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:54:37 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4364 Renting a car in Europe is not for the faint hearted - do you use a US company with it's own offices, a US company who is affiliated with a company in Europe, go direct to a Europe based or a local companycompany where you are visiting? Why not use a travel agent and/or a tour operator who will look our for your interests and believe it or not can get you a rental with AVIS, Hertz, Europcar, Maggiore, etc. and save money over dealing directly and can arrange for prepayment, etc. And if there is a discrepancy you've got someone to go to bat for you. Your business is valuable to your professional travel consultant who represents you than to than a vendors agent or a programmed computer who works for one company, not you. Renting a car in Europe is not for the faint hearted – do you use a US company with it’s own offices, a US company who is affiliated with a company in Europe, go direct to a Europe based or a local companycompany where you are visiting?

Why not use a travel agent and/or a tour operator who will look our for your interests and believe it or not can get you a rental with AVIS, Hertz, Europcar, Maggiore, etc. and save money over dealing directly and can arrange for prepayment, etc.

And if there is a discrepancy you’ve got someone to go to bat for you. Your business is valuable to your professional travel consultant who represents you than to than a vendors agent or a programmed computer who works for one company, not you.

]]> By: Ernst Schuetz http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4354 Ernst Schuetz Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:59:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4354 I rented a car at Hertz in Frankfort/ Germany. Everything was fine. But lots of extra charges. Airport tax extra, not applicable at non-airport rentals. I paid 600.-- dolars for 12 days, small car Ford Focus. What angered me was the exchange rate applied. Instead of letting the credit card convert the Euro amount to dollars. Hertz converts it to dollars at 1.46 Euro/ dollar rate. Real rate was 1.41 at the time. Ernst Schuetz I rented a car at Hertz in Frankfort/ Germany. Everything was fine.
But lots of extra charges. Airport tax extra, not applicable at non-airport rentals.
I paid 600.– dolars for 12 days, small car Ford Focus.

What angered me was the exchange rate applied. Instead of letting the credit card
convert the Euro amount to dollars. Hertz converts it to dollars at 1.46 Euro/ dollar rate. Real rate was 1.41 at the time.

Ernst Schuetz

]]> By: Michael Young http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4349 Michael Young Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:38:53 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4349 I had a similar problem with Hertz two years ago. Never satisfactorily resolved. I wrote it off. Life goes on. But I won't use Hertz again - or it seems now, Avis. Buyer beware. I had a similar problem with Hertz two years ago. Never satisfactorily resolved. I wrote it off. Life goes on. But I won’t use Hertz again – or it seems now, Avis. Buyer beware.

]]> By: Claire Walter http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4346 Claire Walter Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:00:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4346 Thanks for this alert. I 'm in England and plan to make a rental car reservation as soon as I get around to it! Thanks for this alert. I ‘m in England and plan to make a rental car reservation as soon as I get around to it!

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/comment-page-1/#comment-4311 Jasper Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:55:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/currency-confusion-and-the-car/#comment-4311 This issue here should not be whether Avis had the right do rip off their customer, but whether they want to treat their customers that way. Their answer says yes. So, let it be known: Avis does not have a problem ripping of their customers. This case shows clearly that Avis is not in the business of reting cars to their customers for a given price. They are in the business of extorting their customers for as much money as possible after customers tried to rent a car. This issue here should not be whether Avis had the right do rip off their customer, but whether they want to treat their customers that way. Their answer says yes. So, let it be known: Avis does not have a problem ripping of their customers. This case shows clearly that Avis is not in the business of reting cars to their customers for a given price. They are in the business of extorting their customers for as much money as possible after customers tried to rent a car.

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