Europcar in the news again (excessive credit card surcharge)

[VPS]

Europcar sued by ACCC for 'excessive' credit card fees

Europcar again

 

[harvyk]

Ah, my favourite "do not touch with a 100 ft barge poll" company.

 

[Denali]

I've used them many times and no issues but I do have a excess policy at all times.

 

[jase05]

Don’t know how many fall for it but we booked through Autoeurope and Europcar was there recommendation for what we needed. Came to a very good price and we have a very good excess policy with our travel insurance so no dramas there. Our flight into FRA arrived about 20 minutes early and navigated customs in no time so we get to the Europcar desk and the Gentleman tells us we are about an hour early and our car isn’t ready yet. Next came the amusing part “ We have an upgraded model ready if you like and it’s only €200 extra and is a so much nicer car. No thanks we will go and have a coffee and return in an hour or so. We hadn’t even walked 10m when he suddenly yells out that our car has just arrived lol.
Fill out the paperwork and head out to the car park to find a brand new Renault Captur sitting there with only 31kms on the clock.

 

[Denali]

They did offer us a upgrade the other day, we booked a Hyundai Tuson or something like that, similar to a x trail.

They offered a sleek, low to the ground, Mercedes S something or a Range Rover. Considering we were heading to a $50 per night country town, population 160, I declined.

 

[jase05]

They did offer us a upgrade the other day, we booked a Hyundai Tuson or something like that, similar to a x trail.

They offered a sleek, low to the ground, Mercedes S something or a Range Rover. Considering we were heading to a $50 per night country town, population 160, I declined.

Yes, we were offered a Merc aswell. I explained to him that I thought it was against Europcar rules to take Mercs into Eastern Europe he kind of looked at me puzzled and said “You will be ok”
That was the final sealer for me. As we had booked and paid through Autoeurope I didn’t want to void the contract.

 

[OZDUCK]

They did offer us a upgrade the other day, we booked a Hyundai Tuson or something like that, similar to a x trail.

They offered a sleek, low to the ground, Mercedes S something or a Range Rover. Considering we were heading to a $50 per night country town, population 160, I declined.

As an aside I really enjoyed our leased new Captur in Europe a few years ago. Plenty of room for the two of us, very economical and a bit of quirky fun to use - once you got used to the way Renault hide the various controls across the car.

 

[N860CR]

Interesting the ACCC has gone after Europcar for what seems to be a fairly small breach in terms of the percentage charge. TPG, Vodafone, Adelaide Casino (not that I go often, just noticed at dinner yesterday!), Tynan Motors (again, recent experiences) are all charging 2-3.5% for an Amex, yet the ACC has done nothing.

 

[theblank]

Interesting the ACCC has gone after Europcar for what seems to be a fairly small breach in terms of the percentage charge. TPG, Vodafone, Adelaide Casino (not that I go often, just noticed at dinner yesterday!), Tynan Motors (again, recent experiences) are all charging 2-3.5% for an Amex, yet the ACC has done nothing.

They cant take on everyone at once!

 

[N860CR]

Yeah I know. Just think it’s odd that they’ve gone for a more minor one rather than some of the really blatant examples from major corporations.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting the ACCC has gone after Europcar for what seems to be a fairly small breach in terms of the percentage charge. TPG, Vodafone, Adelaide Casino (not that I go often, just noticed at dinner yesterday!), Tynan Motors (again, recent experiences) are all charging 2-3.5% for an Amex, yet the ACC has done nothing.

The situation with American Express is a little tricky. The surcharging rules don't apply to American Express cards issued by American Express.

 

[N860CR]

Yes good point. Forgot about this. The bank issued Amex situation sort of covered that up for a while, but now they're all gone, it basically makes the new ACCC rules a waste of time.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

How can the ACCC say it's 1%?

I've just been looking at accepting CC payments via a web site using Paypal and Stripe and the costs can be closing in on 3% (more on international payments). What am I missing?

 

[oz_mark]

How can the ACCC say it's 1%?

I've just been looking at accepting CC payments via a web site using Paypal and Stripe and the costs can be closing in on 3% (more on international payments). What am I missing?

The RBA regulations cover what can be included when calculating a surcharge, and it's basically observable amounts. If a company has the documentation to show it's 3% then that is all good.