I went to so much trouble to ensure I book a Ford Mustang (which is celebrating its 60 year anniversary in 2024) as a surprise for my wife who happened to turn 60 on the 29th September 2024. Needless to say it was impossible to find another Ford Mustang an hour before I was to book out of our hotel so we trundled along in a RAV 4 which I would not drive if you paid me back in Australia. As you can imagine it was an absolute mood spoiler on what should have been a HUGE surprise. I understand that cars get damaged (which is what I was told) but to then offer an entry level RAV 4 as replacement is a slap in the face – I would have thought that the least your company could have done was to offer us a complimentary upgrade – what I would have expected of your company was to advise me upfront that the vehicle was not available, when it became evident – but I guess that is too much to expect given the volumes of customers you deal with.

They gave us an 11km brand new Mitsubishi Outlander with seven seats. After converting to five seats, the trunk was super large. It came with navigation and wireless charging. Couldn't be more satisfied!

The service attitude was average, but there was poor communication between stores, leading to information asymmetry and unmet promises to customers.

It's okay

I've rented from various companies multiple times, but this was my first and very unpleasant experience with Europcar. First, the counter staff was quite indifferent. Second, despite having fully paid and purchased the super comprehensive insurance via Zuzuche, and having additional travel insurance that covers overseas self-driving, Europcar still tried to push their insurance on us. They initially refused to acknowledge our booking, and only after persistent negotiation did they relent. This already left a bad impression. Third, they pre-charged NZD 200 on my credit card for fuel, which they promised to refund if the car was returned with a full tank. This was acceptable. However, a couple of days later, they charged another NZD 200 without any explanation, causing confusion. Given our ongoing trip and a similar unresolved situation with a friend in Europe, our trust in Europcar was already low. We contacted Zuzuche's after-sales service, who responded quickly. After uploading a screenshot of the deduction, we received a refund roughly equivalent to NZD 200 the next day, albeit with some exchange rate loss. Fortunately, it was a minor loss. The main issue wasn't the money but the unauthorized, unjustified charges, which are unlawful. We appreciate Zuzuche's prompt and effective service, which helped resolve the first incorrect charge despite limited communication options abroad. However, the initial NZD 200 taken at the counter hasn't been refunded yet. We returned the car with a full tank and even confirmed with the Europcar counter, who assured us it would be refunded within 10 business days, pending the bank's process. We are still waiting, hoping there won’t be any further issues.