Product / Service Provider Name: arguscarhire.co.za
Subject: car hire
Description: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I would like to refer to the reservation code: ZA290430800 taken with ARGUS CAR HIRE COMPANY (www.arguscarhire.co.za) tel: +27 010 5002365 which was done this evening, the 5 September 2011 at approximatly 19h00 with a reservation employee by the name of Jane whom I spoke to twice.
The first time I requested a quote she gave me the details of a car to be collected tomorrow. When I called a second time to change the quote and request to collect the car today, Jane helpfully gave me the new price and the conditions and extra costs involved.
The following was mentioned as the terms and conditions for the new quote, (which you can confirm with them):
1. Cost for rental R1263,
2. Excess cost of an extra R8 Per day
3. Unlimited milage
4. I could go to Mozambique with the car at this price
5. A credit card transaction to secure the booking of the quote of R217.
I agreed and gave my credit card details to confirm. Upon arrival at HERTZ CAR RENTAL(the refered car rental company through ARGUS), I was informed that the price was the same and correct as quoted, the R8 per day policy for extra insurance was not applicable and could'nt be processed on their system. An extra excess of R5500 had to now be paid and an extra penalty of R1000 was now due in order to go to Mozambique.
None of these terms and conditions were given to me and even mentioned as I asked clarification on them and was assured it was all included according to the conditions abovementioned and therefore declined the collection and rental as it was not the same as quoted.
The employee at HERZT CAR RENTAL,Mathew, called the ARGUS call centre and the attendant appologised and I informed him that due to the condtions not being the same as the quote given over the phone I now wanted to cancel the transaction as the terms given to me were in contradiction to those given initially when the booking was made. I was informed that I would loose the booking fee as an administration cost!
I am highly dissapointed and upset with the false and decietful method of this booking.The booking conditions are in contradiction to those given and therefore I cannot stand loosing R217 booking fee as it was ARGUS that declined to offer all the terms and conditions as what was mentioned was not what was ofered at point of sale.
I have requested that a reverse of the amount of R217 be made back to my credit card wth immediate effect as I no longer want to rent a car.
Can you please assist with this matter and offer advice?
I await your response as soon as possible.
Regards
Mr J. Sousa
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Dear Consumer,
ReplyDeleteWe currently do not have tie-ups in your country but can assure you to have some in no time going forward to help disgruntled consumers like you. Till then we kindly request your patience.
However we can still suggest some generally applicable actions that may help you to resolve your grievance ASAP.
- if you have lost all hopes of an amicable resolution with product/ service provider then stop accepting any requests to fix the issue from them and make it absolutely clear to them that you are no longer interested in their product/ service and want acceptable and commensurate compensation for the extent of damage caused including and accounting for all the pain that you had to go through in the process.
- the best way to deal in such matters is to provide 10days written notice to product/ service provider by a registered post describing in detail the entire dispute and making it absolutely clear to them that if an agreeable resolution is not reached within the said notice period of 10days then you will be forced to take punitive and enforcement action against them.
- you may also like to indicate what you are looking for in terms of compensation to settle the dispute amicably.
- specify in your notice itself one and more possible actions which you can and intend to take such as:
-- filing a complaint with consumer court to recover financial loss.
-- filing a complaint with regulatory authorities for appropriate action for the deficiency in product/ service.
-- filing a complaint with local authorities/ governing bodies to take note and appropriate action.
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- mostly it is seen that the grievances are resolved expeditiously after such a notice is sent and the same can be expected in your case.
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