Europcar- not so privilege program

[malmacdowall]

I have had a number of issues with Europcar lately and wondered if anyone has had the same? I am a ready member and have had ongoing trouble booking cars on their website. The website crashes and we end up having to book via the call centre. Inevitably, I arrive in Sydney and their is no car waiting for me. The manager of the Syd Europcar pickup said that I woul be best to log into qnd transfer onto their new privilege program as it was on the worldwide booking engine and worked much better... The brochure and the website all say that the privilege program is opening in March.....

Well Europcar, you've done it again... its now May and the program your people are promoting isn't even live yet....

On top of thus, 2 weeks ago I booked an Audi A4 at Perth.... Arrived and no surprise it wasn't ready... Waited about 10 mins at the desk while the CSA made a few cakes, then found some keys and sent me off to the carpark...
Only when I arrive after the 10min trek with the luggage, the car is an A3.... Downgraded and they didn't even have the decency to tell me..... Trudge back to the office, see the same, now embarrassed lady and after more calls and radio checks get upgraded to the A6 after another 15mins of stuffing about.... Not happy. Ironically if she had explained the issue withbthe xar upfront I would have been fine with the A3 at the lower rate.... VERY poor customer service.... And still no privilege website....

[AdMEL]

Haven't had any troubles booking on their website, however last time I hired from Europcar at Melbourne City a couple of months ago, it was a debacle collecting the A5 convertible I'd booked - Agent initially refused to mark some 100mm long scratches on the bonnet on the rental agreement, saying they were fair wear and tear (t & c's clearly say otherwise), Fuel tank was marked on rental agreement as being full, but was only 3/4 full, odometer reading was almost 50km higher than rental agreement, both of which I was told couldn't be amended on system and could only be hand amended (I initially said I won't be taking the car then someone I recofgnised from previous times offered to initial and said he would be there when I returned the car, so I acceopted).

Priviledge - poor that their website says coming March and I haven't received any notification of my Ready being transferred. I had a quick at the NZ website and they've had Priviledge for a while now.

Overall, they don't appear very professional.

No dedicated Ready phone number and long wait times are also annoying.

[Jama]

I booked a car in Melbourne which I had problems with. It took them 6 hours to get me another car and I missed the event I was actually there for so $2000 out of pocket in travel expences. I was promised someone would call when I dropped off the car. It never came. My follow up call not returned and mail ignored.

I have not rented a car from them since. Which probably makes not a scrap of difference to them. My only satisfaction is that I have some influence in the organisation I work for which operates in Australia, NZ, UK, US and Asia and Europcar have lost the business for the entire organisation.

Again, they won't know and won't care. But I know it is very significant.

[Jama]

I recently got upgraded to Privilege Executive so gave them another go. They are not getting the organisation business back, thats gone.

Anyway no upgrades which is a program benefit, same uninterested don't care attitude from Sydney airport staff. No answer to any feedback email or calls. A-Club gold membership also listed as a benefit. This won't happen as advantage plus staff know nothing about it and wont work it out with Europcar.

Privilege program with Europcar is nothing more than a card, if it arrives. The benefits for the loyalty don't exist.

[darrend]

I too have issues with Europcar - very poor performance on their part. Customer service is non existent and the website is a debarcle. 3 bookings to date - all have issues and only one appears on the website.

Was with AVIS for years prior and rarely had an issue.

I too believe that the Privelage program is a sham.