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We're flying to Almeria (everything crossed!!) at the end of June and will be looking to hire a car to get us to Mojacar. When we had our apartment in Mallorca we gave up on Goldcar due to their aggressive upselling techniques, specifically trying to sell us insurance we didn't need. Do Goldcar do this at Almeria also or was our experience specific to Palma?? All feedback on Goldcar welcome. Thanks!
Goldcar are very well known for aggressive selling at the point of pick-up and also for charging for damage not noted on pick-up when the car is returned. They reversed my credit card transaction twice in the Canary Islands because I had my own insurance, meaning that I could not take the car without buying their very expensive insurance. Proof from the credit card company giving their authorisation numbers was ignored !!
Read reviews of car hire companies on Google, not the Goldcar site as the reviews there are not all to be believed !!
The staff at the desks are all on a bonus to sell extras (as are most car hire companies), but Goldcar are very,very agressive at times, in Spain and many other countries.
I stopped using them many years ago and now always check who is the rental agent, if I am using a broker. Often, the name of the actual company renting the car, does not appear until the payment is made....... if this happens, I use another broker.
I cannot advise strongly enough, not to use Goldcar.
Obviously, someone will now post to say that Goldcar is the best ....... each to his own ...... read the car hire reviews and make your own mind up
Rant over !!!
Posted: Sun May 2, 2021 6:43pm
Rodan wrote on Sun May 2, 2021 5:25pm:
Goldcar are very well known for aggressive selling at the point of pick-up and also for charging for damage not noted on pick-up when the car is returned. They reversed my credit card transaction twice in the Canary Islands because I had my own insurance, meaning that I could not take the car wit...
Read more...
...hout buying their very expensive insurance. Proof from the credit card company giving their authorisation numbers was ignored !!
Read reviews of car hire companies on Google, not the Goldcar site as the reviews there are not all to be believed !!
The staff at the desks are all on a bonus to sell extras (as are most car hire companies), but Goldcar are very,very agressive at times, in Spain and many other countries.
I stopped using them many years ago and now always check who is the rental agent, if I am using a broker. Often, the name of the actual company renting the car, does not appear until the payment is made....... if this happens, I use another broker.
I cannot advise strongly enough, not to use Goldcar.
Obviously, someone will now post to say that Goldcar is the best ....... each to his own ...... read the car hire reviews and make your own mind up
Rant over !!!
Thanks. Yes, it all sounds depressingly familiar.
Posted: Sun May 2, 2021 6:44pm
Helpful member
Rodan wrote on Sun May 2, 2021 5:25pm:
Goldcar are very well known for aggressive selling at the point of pick-up and also for charging for damage not noted on pick-up when the car is returned. They reversed my credit card transaction twice in the Canary Islands because I had my own insurance, meaning that I could not take the car wit...
Read more...
...hout buying their very expensive insurance. Proof from the credit card company giving their authorisation numbers was ignored !!
Read reviews of car hire companies on Google, not the Goldcar site as the reviews there are not all to be believed !!
The staff at the desks are all on a bonus to sell extras (as are most car hire companies), but Goldcar are very,very agressive at times, in Spain and many other countries.
I stopped using them many years ago and now always check who is the rental agent, if I am using a broker. Often, the name of the actual company renting the car, does not appear until the payment is made....... if this happens, I use another broker.
I cannot advise strongly enough, not to use Goldcar.
Obviously, someone will now post to say that Goldcar is the best ....... each to his own ...... read the car hire reviews and make your own mind up
Rant over !!!
As you say each to “there own” I’ve not had any bad experiences with Goldcar. Yes the try to up sell insurance. I’m sure all companies will try to do the same. When I tell them that I have insurance and am willing to pay a deposit they are ok with that. If when booking you read and understand the small print I don’t see a problem. Also make sure you check the car and agree any damage not specified on the rental agreement before you drive away. It’s the same with any car rental.
grahamerv wrote on Sun May 2, 2021 6:44pm:
As you say each to “there own” I’ve not had any bad experiences with Goldcar. Yes the try to up sell insurance. I’m sure all companies will try to do the same. When I tell them that I have insurance and am willing to pay a deposit they are ok with that. If when booking you read and unders...
Read more...
...tand the small print I don’t see a problem. Also make sure you check the car and agree any damage not specified on the rental agreement before you drive away. It’s the same with any car rental.
"When I tell them that I have insurance and am willing to pay a deposit they are ok with that. If when booking you read and understand the small print I don’t see a problem. "
That is exactly what I did ....... told them that I had my own insurance and that I was willing to pay the deposit ...... that is when they (twice) REVERSED the transaction for the amount of the deposit, thereby forcing me to take out their insurance, or not collect the car.
Unfortunately, I used a different credit card to pay for their insurance, otherwise the original credit card company would have declared it a fraud scam and refunded my money.
As I said before ....... check out "hire car companies at airports" on Google and see the amount of complaints about them ...... they are very close to carrying out activities that border on illegal !!
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Posted: Mon May 3, 2021 9:52am
Helpful member
daveewilliams wrote on Sun May 2, 2021 3:42pm:
We're flying to Almeria (everything crossed!!) at the end of June and will be looking to hire a car to get us to Mojacar. When we had our apartment in Mallorca we gave up on Goldcar due to their aggressive upselling techniques, specifically trying to sell us insurance we didn't need. Do Goldcar d...
Read more...
...o this at Almeria also or was our experience specific to Palma?? All feedback on Goldcar welcome. Thanks!
I wouldn't use Goldcar. Have a look at Costa Coches. They're based in Mojacar and are a lovely, honest company.
Posted: Mon May 3, 2021 10:19am
daveewilliams wrote on Sun May 2, 2021 3:42pm:
We're flying to Almeria (everything crossed!!) at the end of June and will be looking to hire a car to get us to Mojacar. When we had our apartment in Mallorca we gave up on Goldcar due to their aggressive upselling techniques, specifically trying to sell us insurance we didn't need. Do Goldcar d...
Read more...
...o this at Almeria also or was our experience specific to Palma?? All feedback on Goldcar welcome. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who has taken time out to respond. Your feedback is much appreciated. You've confirmed my fears and we'll be giving Goldcar a wide berth. Will look more local: Costa Coches or Al Andalus. Would prefer to support local anyway. Thanks again.
Europcar also has an office in Mojacar. Conveniant to rent at the airport and leave here if you don't need the car all the time.
I can also recommend Costa Coaches although their cars may have som years on their neck as we say in Sweden.
Posted: Wed May 5, 2021 11:29am
Hi Dave
In same boat and flying out in June ( I hope) but we were recommended Alandalus car hire by other owners on our community. Spoke to them and found them extremely helpful and most importantly have hired from them for this June . Give them a try and I’m sure you will be ok
Posted: Wed May 5, 2021 1:23pm
mt63 wrote on Wed May 5, 2021 11:29am:
Hi Dave
In same boat and flying out in June ( I hope) but we were recommended Alandalus car hire by other owners on our community. Spoke to them and found them extremely helpful and most importantly have hired from them for this June . Give them a try and I’m sure you will be ok
Funny you should say that. We too have hired with Al Andalus and like you found them extremely helpful. See you at the airport! 🙂😎
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