A very frustrating business model
A very frustrating business model. Car booked 23/01 via booking.com.
Acknowledgment received soon after. Online check-in complete about 10-days before collect date (due to DVLA code time limitations). On 12/03 whilst preparing to collect the car for a weekend away starting in two-hours I received a call from the branch advising that they have no car available.
The depot advised that they'd only received a notification that morning and due to issues with trains around Glasgow they had nothing available (whilst booking.com still showed available vehicles for the period).
It seems that you can book early at a good price, but if they get a better offer in the interim, they can cancel at short notice. They refused to cross-hire to complete the contract.
Booking.com are no help. Said they would refund - but with accommodation booked this does not help.
Had to book a train for the bulk of my travel at short notice for almost twice the hire car cost.
If I cancel at short notice, there are various levels of financial penalties - but if the hire car company cancels it's simply "sorry".
Extremely disappointing - very frustrating and wholly unacceptable.
I'll not be using them again.
BTW, friendly local staff appear to have to defend and manage a poor business practice.

Reply from Drivalia UK - CARLISLE







