Europcar Rental Saga

Last fall I decided to cash in my accumulated RBC reward points to pay for the car we would use for the month in NZ. This would save us about $1700 so I made the arrangements with little trouble. The one hitch was that you couldn’t transport the rental car on the ferry from the North Island to the South Island. This saves a significant amount of money and keeps cars in place. Part of the requirement is to give the exact ferry crossing to the booking agent months in advance for when you will drop off and pick up the new car. When we arrived at the Auckland International terminal we had to catch a transfer bus to the domestic terminal as Europcar only has a kiosk at domestic. This was my first indication why we got a good deal. We waited 10 minutes for the bus with two backpacks, a small suitcase (no big suitcase, remember it is lost somewhere) and two small carry on packs and made the short trip. The people at the kiosk were friendly but it took 25 minutes to get the paperwork sorted out and then they had to find the car, which took another 15 minutes. It was a Mitsubishi Lancer, which is a small car by our standards just a little bigger than a Nissan Sentra approximately. It has small engine probably around 1.8 liters so it should be frugal on gas (read as no power). Mary and I climbed in and read a big sticker on the instrument cluster KEEP LEFT. Ok it has been almost 24 hours since we left Vancouver and the reaction time is a little slow and now I am getting a little concerned as it has been a long time since I drove a right hand drive. The first task was to navigate out of the covered car park that is very tight on space. We made it ok and entered into the real world at about 7:15 am with commuters and trucks everywhere around us. The knuckles were white and the conversation curt and tense. We finally made it into Auckland and parked the car and discovered that it only had ½ a tank of gas. Hum I guess that it must not be that efficient. Then it dawned on me that they had not filled the tank. Well gas is $1.37 a liter here and I’m not pleased. Next day on the way south we stopped back at the airport and advised them of the gas facts and they sort of said, oh too bad, gave a lame apology and looked back at me. I explained in a calm manner (really I did) that they should fill up the tank and we would be on our way. We had to follow them off the airport ground to a Shell station to top up the tank and headed south to Rotorua on the Motorway for 20 kms before it runs out of lanes. Fast forward to Wellington to catch the ferry. Arrived early to drop off the car and discovered Europe Car kiosk unmanned and no sign posted on when they will return. Hertz, Budget, Apex etc are all sympathetic and smiled at me. Finally the inbound ferry arrived and I hotfooted over to the arrivals section and stood before the closed kiosk waiting. The reason I did not just drop the keys was that while Mary and I were touring the Parliament buildings we returned to the car to find a $200 ticket on the windshield for an improperly displayed vehicle registration card. When you rent a car in NZ they take an imprint of your credit card and you sign that you are responsible for all fines and that they will charge your card for them. Finally someone showed up with me at the head of the line at least and I asked that they make a photocopy of the ticket for my records. They didn’t quite get it that the ticket was their problem and not mine. I fully expect to be fighting this potential charge back over the next few months and wanted the ticket available. We left the car and she said that no paperwork was necessary as we were picking up the new car in a few hours in Picton on the South Island. Fast forward 3-1/2 hours. It is dark, light drizzle, Mary is waiting for the 6 pieces of luggage (we have the 2 large back packs now) and I go off to find Europcar I see Hertz, Avis Budget and then I see EC. Unmanned and closed for the night! There is a small sign on the window with an after hours phone number. No cell phone, no phones in the area that accept coins, no telecom card in my pocket. Finally dig out a credit card and call the number to speak to a very helpful young fellow in Christchurch who said we were expected at 1 in the afternoon not tonight. GRRR. What will he do for us? Nothing. Go to the hotel he says and they will deliver the car to us. Six bags, unknown distance to hotel, raining, no taxis, GRRR. Randy is not happy and what is worse for everyone (read Randy) Mary is not happy. I speak to a few people like all the other rental car companies and there only suggestion is to walk. Which is what we do. Found a luggage trolley for $2 and started to town searching through our packs to find the road maps we have so that we can find High Street. Finally find the hotel as the rain really starts to come down. The following morning I call Europcar and they say they will be right over and within 10 minutes they arrive with a Toyota Corrolla, that will never hold the luggage! The driver starts to argue with me saying it is my fault for not changing the reservations properly and saying this is the only car available. In a mild manner, I pleaded my case and while she is still hung up on why we did not show up on the 1 o’clock ferry yesterday and is deflecting all possibly responsibility she finally relents and calls the office to miraculously find a new Suburu Outback that is available. Would that be OK Mr. Seager, YES thank you very much. Off she goes to the terminal and returns in 15 minutes, sign here have a nice trip.

That’s it for now other than to say nice car.