Atlas Choice Reviews 

It was our first time hiring a car abroad and we had two small children with us too. The booking process was simple and an excellent price. We were given all information in good time and the local rental company were excellent. A totally positive experience and I would use Atlaschoice again without hesitation- we have already recommended Atlaschoice to friends and family.

About 10 hours ago, just 24 hours before we depart for South Africa I received an email from Atlaschoice advising that, due to exceptional circumstances, the pre booked voucher costing £475 would not be honoured and I should negotiate a new deal with a car hire firm. Atlaschoice also advised that Worldpay would not be making any refunds and I should seek a charge back through my credit card provider. They closed by saying that their customer desk could provide no further assistance other than that stated in the email.
If you have or intend to have a booking through Atlaschoice seek alternative arrangements. A company to avoid at all costs.
I shall be seeking legal advice.

Basically I think that Atlas Choice's services are good. The only problem is that your company should keep more attention on the car rental company services that in some cases, like for Gold Car, can be of a very low level with a very bad approach to the client.

ATLAS sharp suited people selling ficticious services - they keep your Money and advise you to dispute the rent-a-car debit , although we know they have kept the Money and have not paid suplier

Arrived in Sydney, Australia on the 26th December 2016 only to find that Atlas Choice who we booked the rent a car through had not paid the Australian Vendor for the last 2 months so they declined to provide a car. With a 10 month old baby with us, we had no choice but to pay again to the value of £450.
DO NOT USe.

New: 24-01-2017
Evershine Travel Limited T/A Atlas Choice - In Administration (“the Company”)
Company Number: 03115723

Matthew David Smith and I were appointed Joint Administrators of the above Company on 19 January 2017.

The Joint Administrators will manage the affairs, business and property of the Company for the duration of the administration. In performing their work in relation to this appointment, the Joint Administrators are bound by the Insolvency Code of Ethics, a link to which has been provided on the website set up for this case, details of which are given below.

An administration appointment provides protection to the Company and prevents any person taking action against it. This means that creditors cannot take any steps to enforce security, repossess goods or commence any legal proceedings against the Company without the consent of the Joint Administrators or the permission of the Court. Also, during the period of the administration the Company cannot normally be wound up, nor can an Administrative Receiver be appointed.

We apologise that our initial correspondence to you has been communicated via email but as correspondence between you and the company has been via email we propose to use this method going forward; should you wish future correspondence to be communicated to you by post, please advise us of your preferred postal address and we will update our records accordingly.

Impact on Customers

As I believe you may have been advised already by the Company, there are no funds available to enable the Company either to continue to trade or to honour any car hire vouchers (“vouchers”) issued by the Company. This means that if you were to try to redeem any vouchers, the car rental provider will either have cancelled any arrangement made or will only honour any arrangement if a further payment is made by you.

In view of the likely disruption to planned travel arrangements, you are advised to contact the car hire desk as a matter of urgency to enquire whether a vehicle will still be available to you, and if so to agree terms and arrangements for payment and pickup. Contact details for the car hire provider will be indicated on your voucher.
What should I do if no car is available or the price is not suitable?

Prior to our appointment, the Company requested all car hire companies to keep cars in place to fulfil bookings and to honour the previously agreed price. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that car hire companies will do as they have been asked; in the event that a car is not available, or cannot be provided at a suitable price, you may need to contact an alternative supplier to fulfil your car hire requirements.

As noted above, the contact details for the supplier you had booked with can be found on your voucher.

How do I recover the money I have paid?

You may wish to contact your credit card provider to discuss whether you are eligible to make a charge back claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. As a general guide, this will be where the costs of the hire and prepaid extras is over £100 and payment was made using a credit card.
Additional information regarding charge backs can be found online, such as by typing in ‘chargeback claim on credit card’ or ‘Section 75 claim’ to your usual search engine. Please note that neither we nor Deloitte LLP can verify the accuracy of any statements made online, nor are we able to offer advice, or make any recommendations on an

I have added some new information after the
****************
bit, in case you have already read my old review

Scroll down a bit please - the comments in the top are still valid, if you have not read them already.....Without prejudice

By reading an email, from "money saving expert " (google it's a com site), it appears that they have /are appointed Deloitte as administrators. Search MartinsMoneyTips

@moneysavingexpert.com
Dated 28th Dec 2016

My booking has been checked verbally with the hire company direct and the voucher has been verbally refused.
I have put my transaction with AC, luckily paid by credit card, into dispute.
The car hire company have stated that I will be charged the same amount that AC would have charged me, for hiring a car from them direct. A result as it is a little cheaper.

So have to pay again to obtain the same car. It won't be resolved quickly (12 weeks? Loads of paperwork) & I'll be out of pocket as I pay off my credit card every month.

If you read between lines on MSE / TripAdvisor site, they have not been very good at paying any of their varied providers of any rental companies.
My own provider stated that he has not been paid since the start of August 2016.
It appears that it is a worldwide problem not just an EEC issue. Search TripAdvisor for fuller details.

So as far as I am concerned, ............
I am not in anyway legally trained or responsible for your use of my mental notes for next hire.....

But my Advice for next time:
•pay by credit card ONLY
•book direct with a direct hire company of repute, not an intermediary, with a named contact person
•checking up more carefully (I did) on previous foot print on web - all appears after final payment made!
•keep a paper trail of billing including their rules and regulations
•put a block on any further payments to AC as they have my credit card details
• if in any doubt ask in English, of the hire company at destination. I am not an expert linguist in the country I am going to, but have managed to talk in good English with the hire company manager. Two international calls but worth the knowledge that I will have a car when I get to airport and do not have to be tied to the tour company bus. (Many won't be aware)

I wish anyone who has dealings with this company good luck in getting back their money by charge back. However it looks like it will be the credit card companies that will be picking up the financial loss rather than that of the three directors of the company involved or the company, that is a shell with no money left to pay their suppliers.

Errors and omissions excepted.

Penguin

***********************************************

Dear All,

I am in the same situation as most of you - except I have not yet travelled... So I have spent time trying to clear up my mess, making a few useful jottings for you, and hopefully I can / may help you with a few hints on your claims.
Please be aware I have put the following down as a non-legal expert, having been guided by the gurus at various way points.

New list to do - copy and paste this!

Very important: Contact the Police - they will give you a crime number or reference number.

They will hopefully advise you to call Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.
They will fill in a form and forward it onto those who need to know. They will give you a crime number or reference number.

Contact your citizens people via 0345 4040506 and explain your situation. They will fill in a form and forward it onto trading standards people.

Ring Companies House 0303 1234 500 and ask for help.
NOTE: Please be aware that the parent company Evershine, have asked Companies House too be struck off the Companies list.
You need to become a creditor of Evershine Travel Ltd (Co number 3115723) and also Atlas Choice (AtlasChoice, Atlas Choice Ltd or any variations) (Co number 3483300) at both of their trading addresses. AC have two trading addresses (3 Castle Row, London W4 4JQ, United Kingdom & Ealing Film Studios, Building E, Ealing Green, London UK W5 5EP)
They (the company directors) hope to have dissolved Evershine by 10th March at the earliest.
Companies House will accept documentation via email. There is about a 5 day turnaround.

As for the comments today of being double charged.

My credit card company have given me a clean credit card with no history on it. Therefore there can be hopefully no double charging!

I have an external company Car Hire Excess with another company, and will offer that in exchange for no credit card handover at the check in desk.
Doubt if it will happen, but I do have a no fuel arrangement (return as is) I do have a second with a limited credit card - which I could use, but I am being a little wary.

I did book a different car with another company at the airport, to get out of the loop. I will let you know what happens.
Hopefully some summer sun, in January! with no problems (fingers crossed).

It does, however, look like that you will have to recover your initial outlay to Atlas Choice, with a section 75 not a chargeback. You may have to recover your deposit as chargeback and section 75 the main payment.

Post hints to help others on here.
Post your successes on here.
Post comments of help here.
Post your ... well ... anything else on here that will help others.

TELL EVERYONE WHO IS FINANCIALLY INVOLVED IN YOUR CASE IMMEDIATELY.
Don't shirk away, help others who may be able to help you!

There is a large e-trial of the company - TripAdvisor etc
Also see: http: // tinyurl . com / z7kvl24 (remove spaces)

Off to the post now with my documentation - keep receipts you may be able to claim that back too.
Penguin

+++++++++++++++

It would help if you could make yourself a creditor of the companies involved ....

Evershine now have a 'suspension of dissolution' on their account @ Company house - which prevents them from closing down their business.
EVERSHINE TRAVEL LIMITED – 03115723

There is, as of today, no notice of intention to close down 'Atlas Choice' - but there could be.

Recommend that you make objection to Evershine and keep an beak (or eye) on Atlas Choice.
ATLASCHOICE LIMITED - 03483300

https: // www (.) gov (.) uk / government /organisations / companies-house
(remove spaces and ()to click on direct web address to companies house

Again all opinion is my own, and blog help from many readers will help us all.

Penguin

This is the second time Atlas have cancelled on me last minute. Not only that but they have completely washed there hands of the situation suggesting I "arrange with an alternative supplier urgently as Atlas Choice cannot assist at all in this matter". Not even prepared to help book an alternative!
I have now had to rebook at a higher price as we require the car in two days time - there was a reason I booked two months ago with Atlas and it was to get a better deal which they have now prevented by cancelling again, last minute.
Completely different countries for each booking as well so not even an isolated incident.
Not a phone call, only an email to notify me (I provided my mobile number).
They also won't refund the money and I have to go through my bank! Ludicrous!
Will not use again and I would advise others not to either.
Terrible service.

I like others got the email to say that due to exceptional circumstances Atlas could not honour my booking or enable a refund. Shocking to sed that to someone travelling to the other side of the world (Oz) Looking back, given the way the booking was handled and their sheer desperation to get my cash off me along with the comments of the staff I spoke to, this business knew back in October that it was bankrupt and insolvent. I will pursue the directors accordingly as in my opinion they deliberately took monies from me and others fully aware of knowing their position, as well as solicit the authorities to have them disqualified as Company Directors and to look at criminal proceedings against them.

Very happy with my choice for renting. Prompt service, friendly staff so happy all round

What a disgrace. We've had the same experience as many on here, except that fortunately we don't seem to have actually paid any money out for the original booking with Atlas Choice (although this needs some double- and triple-checking on our part). Booked a car for Christmas visit to UK family on 1st Nov, reconfirmed by Atlas Choice in mid-Dec. They claimed that everything had been 'agreed with the rental provider'. Apparently not; Easirent will not honour the booking nor the original price agreed and now we have had to rebook, a couple of days before Christmas, at the inflated Christmas prices.

Why oh why have they been taking bookings for the Christmas holidays throughout November and December if they knew they were going down the pan? Why have car rental companies, trading standards and others not taken action before now? Have these b***ds run off with everyone's money right before Christmas? Should we not have them arrested?

Don't use atlaschoice. You will lose your money and get no car. I made a reservation a long time in advance and got a voucher for the car. Approx. 1 week before the rental I got an email that they can not provide me a car and can not refund money. Worst company ever!

Emailed 3 days before to cancel car hire and tools me they could not honour or refund and not to bother contacting them.

Absolute scam, do not deal with them.

I didn't believe the reviews, but this company is absolutely a scam company, who take payment, then pull out and refuse a refund. The mass email below tells you everything you need to know:

mailed-by: atlaschoice.com

Dear Customer,
We are writing to advise that unfortunately due to exceptional circumstances the Atlas Choice voucher for your upcoming car hire will not be honoured at present by the car hire company indicated on the voucher....
We recommend that you visit a travel search engine like SkyScanner or TravelSupermarket, for US clients Priceline to source an alternative supplier- as at the present time Atlas Choice is unfortunately unable to assist...
Our payment provider, WorldPay, are not processing any refunds and therefore we are unable to assist. The only alternative is to contact the customer services department for your card provider and ask them to commence a charge back claim for the total cost of your original booking including prepaid extras.

Everything went fine with my car rental through AtlasChoice.. until 2 months later when I received an email from the rental company saying that AtlasChoice never paid them for my rental, and as such my card had been charged.

I effectively had to pay for the rental twice - once to Atlas Choice and a second time to Easirent (the car company).

Atlas Choice are complete scammers - they are impossible to reach by phone and don't reply to complaint emails.

Taking my money and refusing to pay the rental company - they should be locked up!!

Please don't use if you don't want to end up paying twice!!!

We booked our hire car in May ready for pick up tomorrow when we land at Edinburgh airport tomorrow 23rd. The payment was taken out of our bank on the 23rd of November. Like others we received the email today 22nd at 9:30 am. Contacted the supplier of the hire company to be told that Atlas had not paid any of the car hire companies since October. Contacted my solicitor who feels that Atlas took my money with the knowledge that they would be unable to fulfill the contract. I have emailed Atlas to give them my solicitor's view, got an email back saying a representative would contact me ASAP. I'm not going to hold my breath

Booked a car through Atlas Choice from Easirent Dublin Airport for three days and just received an email from them saying Atlas Choice have not paid them, bearing in mind the booking was made and paid in August 2016. Been trying to get in touch with them for days now but it seems no-one wants to take my call. Next port of call is the bank to try to get my money back.Don't mind paying for a rental car but object to paying twice.

Like a lot of people I have had to pay the local car hire company because Atlas did not pay them, spoke to my bank this MORNING only to hear that i am the 3rd one this morning !!!! Just what you need at Christmas.

Same experience as most others on here. E-mail 3 days before hire due to start advising they can't honour it. Contacted hire car provider to be told my booking was cancelled and they have no other availability. Fortunately I have found something else although a bit more expensive at least it is a reliable company. Started process with credit card company to dispute the payment to Atlaschoice. Yesterday Atlaschoice's website and Travel Supermarket still offering bookings but today all gone so fair to say they are in administration 😒

I got email 3 days before my pick up ... the same email which everyone is talking about i.e Due to exceptional circumstance ...

Long story short, i called the supplier and to my surprise they confirmed that my booking is very much with them and they are looking fwd to seeing me.

I am a bit nervous after the email from atlaschoice and i really want them to confirm to me.

After trying to call their number a million times, I decided to raise a ticket at the customer service link. They, without any reply closed the ticket. I was fortunate to get an email that the query has been replied and closed. i reopened and asked what is going on to which i got a second reply ... guess what! ... due to exceptional circumstance ...

No sure what the hell is going on ...

Used Atlas Choice for years, mainly car rental as they gave great rates and never had a problem before but like most of the recent posts here got an email 3 days before departure/pick up saying, tough luck voucher wont be honored try to sort out something yourself, even worse I have two bookings with them as we were travelling on elsewhere after xmas. Spent half the day trying to find last minute alternatives that arent crazy expensive and with applying for credit card refund. Very disappointing and I have ended up paying well over 100E more with the rebooked rentals. Wont be going back to them again sadly