Defective car
Hired a car 26th October in Morocco, specifically chose Thrifty / Hertz because i believed that they would offer good service. Arrived late in the afternoon and after a long wait at the desk (they only had one person who seemed to be both booking people in and showing them to their cars). eventually, we were shown to our car (having first being told that the child seat we had requested at the time of booking may not be available).
Despite taking out the full insurance waiver I was asked to check the car (which i am glad i did) and noticed that a warning light on the dashboard was showing "Tyre Pressure Low!" i informed them of this to be told its fine at which point a 2nd thrifty employee appeared, he got in the car and simply reset the warning light and proceeded to tell me everything was "good" and the car was fine and if i was concerned i should pump the tyres up myself with the tyre pump provided in the boot.
Suffice to say and before moving the car the light returned. I then asked to change the car as there was clearly an issue, plus standing in a car park with my 3 year old added extra concern about potentially driving around in a defective car. i was then told in no uncertain terms that i could not change the car as they didn’t have any others (i saw at least 4 more cars) and the Thrifty rep simply walked off and left us there at which point my wife and daughter went to get a taxi. By this time it was getting later and later and i simply wanted to go, i then tried to call the customer service number on the thrifty contract, multiple times, and got no response at which point the thrifty rep came out with another customer and then told me again the car was fine and i should just take it and leave, that the light was faulty and not the tyres and all would be ok. Against my better judgement i did so. on the short drive to our accommodation the car didn’t feel quite right.
The following day i noticed there was an issue with the steering and after checking the tyre pressures twice, again I attempted to notify Thrifty, online this time, and request a different car but again received no response. i wasn’t getting anywhere with Thrifty, then to top it all off on returning the vehicle i was told i would have to pay a cleaning charge (because of dust on the car, we were in Morocco.. (plus i had already paid to have it cleaned before we left for the airport). this charge (240 MAD) was then applied to my credit card without my authorisation and spurious pictures taken of the interior of the car showing other peoples rubbish were sent to me as evidence that i was lying about having the car cleaned prior.
All in all shocking service from Thrifty / Hertz, i know it’s franchised but surely someone has to have a grip on levels of service? to this date i have yet to receive any meaningful correspondence from them in response to my complaint aside from being offered a 15% discount should i return to Thrifty Morocco in the future.....
October 26, 2023
Unprompted review