Robertgoogle

I wish to go to france and rent a car (again). I had a slightly bitter
experience when I rented a car from "Europecar" in Dieppe in the year
2001. Although I treated the car I rented impeccably, "Europecar" made
such a fuss over a minor scratch on the bonnet i did not notice when I
first collected the car and "Europecar" wanted us to pay for the so
called damage. I do believe that it would be impossible to avoid
hitting small stones picked up by the cars in front. That's the way
things are.... Does anyone know a company with a more easygoing and
practical approach/policy?

Gerrit 'T Hart

"robertgoogle" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > I wish to go to france and rent a car (again). I had a slightly bitter
    > experience when I rented a car from "Europecar" in Dieppe in the year
    > 2001. Although I treated the car I rented impeccably, "Europecar" made
    > such a fuss over a minor scratch on the bonnet i did not notice when I
    > first collected the car and "Europecar" wanted us to pay for the so
    > called damage. I do believe that it would be impossible to avoid
    > hitting small stones picked up by the cars in front. That's the way
    > things are.... Does anyone know a company with a more easygoing and
    > practical approach/policy?

How long are going to be in Europe?
If for longer than 17 days have thought about leasing?
I will be doing this now for the third time in April and they fully cover
you for any damage. Not even an excess!

Gerrit

Robertgoogle

    >
    > How long are going to be in Europe?
    > If for longer than 17 days have thought about leasing?
    > I will be doing this now for the third time in April and they fully cover
    > you for any damage. Not even an excess!
    >
    > Gerrit


Great suggestion, I will keep it mind should I need to stay longer in
France. For the time being I am likely to spend no more than a week in
France. Tx Gerrit

Alec

"robertgoogle" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > I wish to go to france and rent a car (again). I had a slightly bitter
    > experience when I rented a car from "Europecar" in Dieppe in the year
    > 2001. Although I treated the car I rented impeccably, "Europecar" made
    > such a fuss over a minor scratch on the bonnet i did not notice when I
    > first collected the car and "Europecar" wanted us to pay for the so
    > called damage. I do believe that it would be impossible to avoid
    > hitting small stones picked up by the cars in front. That's the way
    > things are.... Does anyone know a company with a more easygoing and
    > practical approach/policy?
Instead of looking for an easygoing rental outfit (which usually depends on
the staff on duty at any time), you should look for a deal that includes CDW
and no excess/deductible. So should a 'minor' damage occur, you can just
walk away with no financial penalty. I think if you book through a
consolidator like Autoeurope or Holidayautos, they either have nil
deductible or offer to reimburse any amount charged. Also if you have a US
gold or platinum card, it may cover CDW with no deductible, so cutting your
cost even more. Check with your card issuers.

Alec

Neil Tupper

"robertgoogle" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > I wish to go to france and rent a car (again). I had a slightly bitter
    > experience when I rented a car from "Europecar" in Dieppe in the year
    > 2001. Although I treated the car I rented impeccably, "Europecar" made
    > such a fuss over a minor scratch on the bonnet i did not notice when I
    > first collected the car and "Europecar" wanted us to pay for the so
    > called damage. I do believe that it would be impossible to avoid
    > hitting small stones picked up by the cars in front. That's the way
    > things are.... Does anyone know a company with a more easygoing and
    > practical approach/policy?

I've rented from Europcar several times and have had no problem. Perhaps you
happened to get an individual who was having a bad day.

Neil

Robertgoogle

    > I've rented from Europcar several times and have had no problem. Perhaps you
    > happened to get an individual who was having a bad day.
    >
    > Neil.

Possibly....Did you rent the car in France? When I rented the car in
Spain the approach was completely different. They just asked where the
returned car was parked. No fuss at all

Jenn

In article <>,
(robertgoogle) wrote:

    > > I've rented from Europcar several times and have had no problem. Perhaps you
    > > happened to get an individual who was having a bad day.
    > >
    > > Neil.
    >
    > Possibly....Did you rent the car in France? When I rented the car in
    > Spain the approach was completely different. They just asked where the
    > returned car was parked. No fuss at all

The French have been more difficult to deal with in my experience on
bureaucratic matters

we once got a car in Rome to return to Paris --- the dealer in Rome
managed to run into something and smash the glass on the right front
headlight on his trip from the parking lot behind the building to where
we were. They had no other car -- so they clearly marked the damage on
our contract. When we got to Paris, the agent insisted that we had to
surrender the contract to him as part of the return. Knowing that we
would have no way to counter later damage charges if they occured
[either in error or in an attempt to scam us] we insisted on having a
copy of the contract -- it took much arguing, much whining about how
'impossible' such a demand was -- much whining about the lack of copy
equipment at the agency at Orly -- and about two hours -- for us to get
this obviously necessary piece of paper] many things are 'impossible'
in France including substituting vanilla for almond ice cream in a sunday

I love France anyway -- but this is a continuing source of amusement for
Americans who come from a society in which flexibility is generally the
norm.

Jcoulter

Jenn <> wrote in
news:jenn-:


many things
    > are 'impossible' in France including substituting vanilla for almond
    > ice cream in a sunday
    >
    > I love France anyway -- but this is a continuing source of amusement
    > for Americans who come from a society in which flexibility is
    > generally the norm.
    >

And yet many things that would be impossible in the States are second
nature to the French who are at times very creative in bending rules to
their liking.

A restaurant needs a non smoking area, as required by law, pick up the
ash tray and Voila! espace non fumeur. A patron on the edge of non
smoking wants a light, the waiter lights the cigarette. customer
complains Waiter looks around, says, truthfully, "They are all smoking,
what is one more?"

Residencey is required for marriage. Stranger or big shot comes to town
wants to get married. Marie says No way, third cousin of local somebody
shows up. They are instantly registered in the ville and wedding
follows.

Jenn

In article <Xns947AA5A071BEE225stellarcomcast.ne@204.127.199. 17>,
jcoulter <> wrote:

    > Jenn <> wrote in
    > news:jenn-:
    >
    >
    > many things
    > > are 'impossible' in France including substituting vanilla for almond
    > > ice cream in a sunday
    > >
    > > I love France anyway -- but this is a continuing source of amusement
    > > for Americans who come from a society in which flexibility is
    > > generally the norm.
    > >
    >
    > And yet many things that would be impossible in the States are second
    > nature to the French who are at times very creative in bending rules to
    > their liking.
    >
    > A restaurant needs a non smoking area, as required by law, pick up the
    > ash tray and Voila! espace non fumeur. A patron on the edge of non
    > smoking wants a light, the waiter lights the cigarette. customer
    > complains Waiter looks around, says, truthfully, "They are all smoking,
    > what is one more?"
    >
    > Residencey is required for marriage. Stranger or big shot comes to town
    > wants to get married. Marie says No way, third cousin of local somebody
    > shows up. They are instantly registered in the ville and wedding
    > follows.

LOL no doubt -- I remember a conversation with a British relative at
Christmas a year ago about how the French managed to make EU regulations
'flexible' -- e.g. the rules require expensive frigerated trucks to
haul fish to the ports -- this cost many Brits a ton and put others out
of business -- they arrive in France to check out the business there --
no refrigerated trucks because in France a regulation was interpreted to
allow agencies near ports to dispense with this rule

so I guess it is rigid unless palms are greased or you know someone to
cut a deal

Robertgoogle

So, in the end there is no easy going way to rent a car in France, right?