Great Car, shame about the service.... (easyCar)

Member Name: badders

Product:	easyCar
Date:	16/07/02 (249 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Value, Quality Cars

Disadvantages: Poor After Rental Service, Queues on Pickup/Return

BOOKING

The booking process is very simple, and quite easy to use. You select the location, the dates you wish to hire and it will come back with a quotation on the next screen. This screen also allows you adjust the start and finish times of the rental, with an appropriate adjustment in the price. This is great, but it is worth knowing that Easycar locations in the same area (i.e. London) may have different prices for the period of rental you need, as their fleets are operated independently of other locations, and so are subject to local demand & supply pressures. Because of this, you may wish to check ALL locations in that area to ensure you are paying the best price!

Once you have confirmed the period & location, you will be invited to enter your personal details (including address, Drivers Licence & Credit Card details). If you have booked previously, there is the option of bringing up the details you have already entered, taking about 10 minutes off the booking process. Once you have gone through this, you confirm your booking and print the agreement!

PICKING UP THE CAR

When you pick up the car from one of their locations (Which are usually located in Car Parks), be prepared for a wait. By the nature of low cost, they don't really have enough staff to see to you quickly. I have waited on average 30 minutes each time based on the four rentals I havve made with them. The staff are friendly and quite efficient. before you drive the car out of their location, you will need to complete a car inspection report. DONT JUST SIGN THIS!!!! This is your opportunity to check the car, and make sure that the damage they specift on the car is the only camage there. Any scratches, dents or chips you find should be noted on this report, so that you are not subsequently charged for them. Return this to their office and away you drive!

DURING RENTAL

Whilst you have the car, you are responsible for everything.
This will even include if the tyres blow, or the car is broken into. They have a national recovery organisation, Mobilo, who will provide assistance if you require it.

RETURN

This is essentially a copy of the pickup process, and it is recommended that you stay to undertake the inspection with their staff. the wait times will also apply, as everyone waits in the same queue, regardless of if you are picking up or returning the vehicle.

AFTER RENTAL SERVICE

Unfortunately, they fouled up the return of one of the vehicles I rented from them, and I was forced to go through their customer services. If you have a complaint, these MUST be emailed to them or inputted into their customer service system (The help button on the Easycar Home Page). Tracking the status is difficult, and the call centre staff are not responsible for complaint resolution, and refuse to call you with updates. I was mistakenly charged £100 at the end of my rental, and it took 6 weeks to get this money back.

OVERALL OPINION

Easycar offer a good value car rental service which is easy to book with quality vehicles. their only problem is their after rental support, which has been designed to minimise their cost base, but not provide customers with a high level of service.

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