NEVER RENT A CAR FROM CUTPRICECARRENTALS.com

Here is our story:

 We were planning spend wonderful time on Gold Coast by going to all of those beautiful beaches, relaxing, sightseeing. Well, of course, without a car that would be much more difficult, and that is why we decided to rent a 4WD car so that we can go anywhere we like. Especially we were planning to spend a few days at the beaches, where you can get by the 4WD and enjoy the nature, the sea, and no people around.

 Looking for the car, of course we wanted something affordable and nice. Cutprice looked like the right choice, good price, nicely written web site, good range of vehicles. However that was not the case.

We’ve rented 4WD car Jeep Wrangler 1998, well, a bit old and uncomfortable, but as it was described on many web sites very reliable and with excellent 4WD specs. Sort of “go anywhere” as it says on jeep.com.au;  On arrival, a young guy, the representative of Cut Price Car rentals met us and asked to sign all that paperwork with lots and lots of terms and conditions written by small grey font. Well, as all normal people, we decided that those terms should be “sensible”, and it wouldn’t worth to spend two hours of our and his time reading it all. THAT WAS A MISTAKE!!! 

 The guy has also pursued us to buy maximum possible insurance, however when we asked who is the actual insurance company (who to call if something happens), he told us, that we should only call their company, as they are ‘self insured’; Well, of course, the car is old, and the money they make on that insurance are good. Furthermore, the insurance would only be valid if you follow all of those conditions, and trust me, there a lot of them! otherwise, bad luck.

 We inspected the car, asked how to take the roof off (it had a soft roof), asked how to switch on 4WD to which we were showed that there is a special handle to do it, and that it is very simple and we shouldn’t have any problems.

 Anyway, we signed the contract, took the car, spend our wonderful holidays together with my wife and a few friends, and returned the car. No problems, no damage, the only small thing I didn’t like, is that no one was there at the time of return…. And we couldn’t take our credit card slip back.. but I though well, the car is fine, so it should be Ok.  THIS WAS A SECOND MISTAKE!!! As you will not be able to prove anything later on. If you rent a car, make sure with the rental company that they GUARANTEE there will be someone to inspect the car on return, otherwise don’t rent from them.

 We got back home, and everything is good, but! 3 days later (THREE DAYS!!), we got email from CutPricecarrentals saying that we have damaged their car and therefore liable to pay insurance liability fee. By the way, no one knows where was that car three days after we left it.

 HERE IS THE MOST INTERESTING!

 The damage they describe was that the car was a bit dirty (see picture below) and that is ALL!!! However what they referred to is that in the conditions of hire we were not allowed to use this car on unsealed roads. Well it would be sensible for normal sedan car for example, but obviously not for 4WD as why pay extra for rent and insurance (it was significantly higher that for other cars), if we can only drive that old uncomfortable car on freeways??

(pictures sent to us by cutpricecarrentals as their proof that the car was damaged)

 Ok, maybe its our fault, we should’ve read all of those terms and conditions, BUT, why person who was presenting this car for us didn’t just tell us, that we are not allowed to drive it offroad?? Especially after we asked him about 4WD features of this car???? I mean it was so obvious for him that we will be using that car offroad.

 Now:

Standard insurance liability fee for that car is: $3300
Do you think that car wash should cost this much?! 

Likely we only paid $300 because of ‘reduced liability’ insurance we bought from that guy who presented the car… he was very very persuasive that we should buy it, and now I understand why.

But that was not the end. I tried to email them back, trying to resolve the situation, and asking why would they charge me $300 for car wash?

This time I got even more surprising email back.

Please read below:

Quote from their response:

“The vehicle IS NOT 4wd, the front transmission has been disconnected and it is not advertised as a 4wd vehicle as the vehicle is not intended to be taken off road. If you had attempted to engage the 4wd correctly you would have found that you were not able to rotate the front wheel hub locks to engage 4wd as when the front transmission was disconnected they were fixed into the unlocked position. Simply pulling the 4wd shift lever in this model vehicle, even if the front transmission is connected, does not engage 4wd unless the hub locks are rotated into thier locked position.“

Well, I have many witnesses who can assure that the car had front wheels connected! We got bogged in the sand, I switched on the front wheels, and I was actually looking at them myself (the car had roof taken off) Front wheels were rotating in the sand!!!

Furthermore, here is the quote from www.jeep.com.au

“65 years ago, a group of inspired engineers and designers were challenged to create a prototype vehicle with the kind of "go anywhere, do anything" capabilities the world had never seen before. The resulting vehicle with exceptional simplicity and functionality continues in today's Jeep® Wrangler. Complete with a surefooted stance, round headlamps and classic seven-slot grille. More than that, Jeep® Wrangler brings its passionate off-road heritage to benefit your day-to-day on-road driving experience.”

Cut price responce, Quote2:

“2. At the start of your rental Russell, the representative who rented the vehicle to you, asked where you were travelling and informed you that the vehicle was not to be taken off road.”

Would I be so stupid not to simply wash the car, if this was true?? That representative had never told us such a thing, furthermore, he actually showed us how to switch on 4WD.

Quote3:

“damaging the exhaust system, which I am sure you would have heard the excessive exhaust noise from on your drive back to the airport. Regardles of weather you read the terms and conditions or not you signed an contract stating that you agreed to them.”

Well, as I mentioned above, you can’t prove anything… but the exhaust was not damaged and there was no unusual noise. Actually I have people who seen the car on return, but again, too much trouble to go to court.

To conclude,
Be careful with car rental companies, there are far too many ways for them to rip you off. Cutpricecarrentals is definately one of them.