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Avoid First Car Rental

London, United...
2 posts
Avoid First Car Rental
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I would just like to warn all holiday makers to avoid First Car Rental all cost. They are very bad at communicating with you when you have an issue, but very quick to take money form youre credit card. We were double charged apon arrival and 2 MONTHS later I am still waiting to be refunded the correct amount and we are quickly approaching the 1 MONTH line for my deposit to be returned.We were charged over R2000 for E-Toll use in Johannesburg, we drove through Johannesburg 3x on our holiday. we are still waiting for a clear invoice on that amount. No e-mails are being answered, and once again we received an invoice yesterday for R250 for handling fees due to a fine we received......OUTRAGEOUS!!!

London, United...
Level Contributor
1 911 posts
4 reviews
2 helpful votes
141. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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rojohanner1969, your comment " .......knowing too well that the international renter of a car does not have many options to fight FCR locally - except the lawyer" is simply not true.

The quickest and easiest way of resolving disputes over charges added to a bill is to start a "dispute" claim with your credit card company. This is the way to go whether you are overcharged by a hotel, charged by a retailer for goods that you did not receive or whether unexpected charges mysteriously appear on the bill from a car rental company.

If this happens, by all means contact the company involved and query the bill and ask for an explanation as to why the bill is bigger than quoted or expected, but you should also contact the credit card company and tell them that you dispute the charges. The credit card company will put a hold on the payment or, if it has already been paid, claw the payment back while they ask the company to explain and justify the charges that are being disputed.

London, United...
Level Contributor
6 posts
37 reviews
23 helpful votes
142. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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I strongly agree - this is a firm to avoided all costs.

I had made a reservation via a travel agent who supplied me with a bill back voucher, which meant that payment had been arranged. When I wanted to collect the car, I was told that I had to enter into a contract on my own and that I would then also be liable for payment. The counter staff were extremely rude and told me that unless I signed another contract they would not honour the reservation. I then cancelled the reservation, went next door to Europcar and in ten minutes was on my way.

The travel agent then contacted me a few days later with the news that First claimed I had not returned their vehicle. The fact that I had never taken their car did not seem to have registered. I have not yet heard what the outcome was.

NEVER NEVER AGAIN.

Heelsum, The...
1 post
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
143. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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When I brougth my car back to the airport in George at First Car Rental last january, they found a real small puncture in the window between the wipers and they asked ZAR 1915.20 for damage and ZAR 700,- for administration. This is far beyond the normal amounts they should ask. I put a deposit of ZAR 3000,-. On my questions to get ZAR 384,80 back, they don't react at all.

Peter Leersnijder

2 posts
144. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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To be charged for fuel that you have filled just before you drop off the car is a DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!!!!!

From Cape Town International Airport, fuel station is NOT even a 1/2 KM away from rentals, but I get charged for it EVERY TIME even though I drop it off 100% Full.

I always keep the receipts, but still they don't care, they just charge and charge and charge!!!!!!!! 👿👿👿👿👿

2 posts
145. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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To be charged for fuel that you have filled just before you drop off the car is a DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!!!!!

From Cape Town International Airport, fuel station is NOT even a 1/2 KM away from rentals, but I get charged for it EVERY TIME even though I drop it off 100% Full.

I always keep the receipts, but still they don't care, they just charge and charge and charge!!!!!!!! 👿👿👿👿👿

London, United...
Level Contributor
1 911 posts
4 reviews
2 helpful votes
146. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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@Sipho L, the terms and conditions for First Car Rental clearly say that you should NOT return the car with a full tank (or what you think is a full tank) http://www.firstcarrental.co.za/about-us/faqs/car-hire-faqs.html

Q: Should I fill my car up with fuel before I return it?

A: No. When a vehicle is returned to us at any one of our locations, we automatically top up the tank, irrespective of what the fuel gauge reflects. Your invoice will reflect the actual fuel amount. First Car Rental does not charge a refuelling fee.

We rent a vehicle from Avis when we visit South Africa. The vehicle is returned with whatever fuel is left in the tank when we arrive at the "Rental Returns" lot. We have only been charged for the amount of fuel added to the tank.

Liverpool, United...
1 post
147. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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We had the same issue with First Car Rental. They charged us for fuel when we filled the tank. We went to the nearest gas station to the airport and on returning to the UK found they charged us extra. We took this up with them numerous times and they still won't refund the money and said we didn't the fill the tank which is a lie. I am thinking someone may have used the car when we returned it or they are ripping us off.

They do have bad customer service and also give you the worst cars to rent. We were given the same car twice which was a poor performer. We definitely won't be using them again.

Level Contributor
2 posts
6 reviews
2 helpful votes
148. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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I agree with you, First/Sixt provide a dishonest service and they discount whatever they want from the deposit without any proof. My boyfriend and I are having a similar problem with them. We rented a car from First/Sixt in Johannesburg and returned the car with 75% of the tank full. We were informed by staff and by a handout in the car that we did not need to refill fuel on return because they would do it to make sure the next client would have a full tank and that a fair price would be discounted from our deposit. However, First/Sixt discounted the value of a full tank from our deposit. Although we have sent them a picture showing that the tank was 75% full when we returned the car, showing the same km in the picture and in the invoice, the customer service insists that they had to fill 52 litters, which is the maximum capacity of a Ford Focus, without providing us any evidence of the amount of fuel they have to put in the car and just ignoring our picture. We have already sent 6 messages to their customer service and talked in person to the manager of Johannesburg airport branch (who agreed that we were overcharged by writing and signing a statement about the case), but the customer service keeps ignoring our picture and insisting that the charge is correct without providing any evidence.

With so many car rental companies in Johannesburg, I strongly agree that First/Sixt should be the last option.

London, United...
1 post
2 reviews
149. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!

They don't inform you about the hidden charges, as someone mention the petrol charge even if you return full, the excuse if that there's always more fuel to fill even if it's full, when I got the car after 30km the gauge when down, but no answer about it, they charge you border crossing fee of 3000 rands which I could understand if they provide any service for that, like breakdown cover, but they don't if you have any problem you have to take the car back to the border which make no sense at all if for example break down or you have accident, I was attended by Maureen which she try to avoid explain this, I ask to speak to the manager which didn't even show, after waiting Maureen seems to know the conditions, that cannot be found at the terms and conditions online for crossing border section, despite to book the car months in advance the paperwork to cross the border was not ready at the time of collection, I have to change around my holidays as have to be back 6 days after to collect the paperwork, to find out that wasn't ready again, I had to step on and get serious about it,then 10 minutes the paperwork was ready, this is not what I call customer service, sorry but is the worse experience I had on my life with rent car company, and I do rent a lot. Even customer service on the phone cannot be worse, not sure how they make business will be a matter of time as people will find out how bad the service and hidden charges works, I will say it's a kind of scam.

Avoid at all cost

Level Contributor
1 post
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
150. Re: Avoid First Car Rental
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I have used First Car Rental numerous times on trips to SA and on trips originating in SA and have never ever had a problem. I usually pick up at one location and drop off in another at the trip's end, sometimes switching vehicles enroute, ie, exchanging a small car for a 4WD ora 'bakkie' (pick-up truck), and everything has always gone flawlessly. One of their great virtues, in addition to highly competitive pricing, is the profusion of branches throughout South Africa that makes this possible.

Michael Burnett (Topanga, CA USA)

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