Arbitrary fees and potential extortion
Beware of arbitrary fees and potential extortion
On September 1, 2026, I rented a Porsche 718 GTS. The vehicle itself was fantastic and in pristine condition.
Upon return, the inspector checked the car and confirmed it was returned in the exact same flawless condition as picked up. However, right after the inspection, the narrative completely shifted:
The initial claim: The employee claimed their GPS tracked me driving over the speed limit. He stated that, per the contract, the penalty was €1,500, but "out of goodwill," they would charge me "only" €500. When I asked him to point out this clause in the contract, he couldn't find it. He then changed his explanation, claiming the fee was meant to cover potential hidden wear, such as drifting or revving a cold engine.
The shifting excuse: He went to consult the CEO. Upon returning, the story changed again: the €500 was supposedly an "administrative fee" in anticipation of traffic fines they might receive in the future. Once again, I asked to see where the contract allows an upfront charge for hypothetical fines that haven't occurred. Again, no clause was shown.
The CEO's stance: The CEO stepped in and explicitly stated that if I were an Austrian resident, they wouldn't charge me, but because I live abroad, they needed collateral. When pressured to show the legal basis in the contract, he pointed to a clause (attached) that does not state what he claimed.
The ultimatum: He flatly told me that whether I agreed or not, the amount would be deducted from my deposit, adding that I could "lawyer up" if I was unhappy.
I requested an itemized receipt specifying the charge, but received only a vague, two-line invoice with zero transparency or verifiable breakdown.
The car itself was great, but inventing arbitrary, unsubstantiated penalties against foreign customers upon return is completely unacceptable. Rent here with extreme caution.
September 3, 2026
Unprompted review