From:  http://ireland.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=65127&p=3&topicID=35215597

The truth is that there are large enough 'LoopHoles' in the POSTED 'Terms and Conditions' to drive your rental car through. Doubtless, there is a detailed, in-depth, tiny-print, multi-parragraph collection of lealese on the actual contract that DOUBTLESS "Supercedes any and all other terms, implied or otherwise" ....

At some point, you just have to bite the Bullet and take a LEAP of Faith.

So, here is what ACTUALLY happened in July, vis a vis my car hire:

I purchased one year of European Coverage from www.insurance4carhire.com for "Peace of Mind" at 49 GBP (approx $75.00)-- primarily for the "tyre coverage", due to the dire reports I had read about all the road damage from the winter flooding.  This covered my UK rental and my Irish Rental and the coverage will be in effect until 11 July, 2011, so it should also cover my 'still in the early planning stages'NEXT trip, in  March of 2011.

Cardiff, Wales, 11 July, 2010:

My Reservation: 

       Car Hire Desk (Europecar, via Kemwell) opens at 1300
       Nissan Note, Manual with A/C for three days - $119.39, Pre-Paid,waiving CDW with AMEX (It's the UK!), Plus Extras, Locally)

 Actually received an Opel/Vauxhall 3 door hatch that was over-sized and a higher class grade than the Nissan that I had reserved.  Was advised that it was THE only vehicle available, unless I was willing to wait a 'Couple Of Hours' for a different one to be prepped. Car was new and in excellent shape and the CDW waiver (using my AMEX Card) was NOT challenged -- Indeed, the young man seemed rather apologetic about the 200 GBP 'Hold' that he needed to apply.   


 When we returned the car with tank full, after three days and 414 miles, my total 'Extras' charge was:  Licenses and Fees, 3 X 1.36 GBP, Premium Station Surcharge, 17 GBP and VAT Charges on those, of 3.69 GBP, for a total of 24.77 GBP.
No DCC and no additional 'Suprises'.  AMEX billed me $37.88, plus a Foreign Transaction Fee of $1.02

 Cork Airport, 15 July, 2010:

My Reservation:
                Cork Airport pick up of VW Golf,
                5 Dr Manual with A/C from Budget, for 17 days.
                No Insurance -- BofA Elite Rewards World MasterCard
                454.10 Euro, plus 28 E Airport Fee, 26 E CDW Waiver Fee, plus Initial Fuel

The Budget office at the Cork Airport issued me a 2007 Ford Focus with 127,455 kilometers that LOOKED every bit the part of a three year old rental -- nary a body panel undamaged and water stains on the seats.      
 From the looks of the other Budget cars on the Cork lot, it was pretty representative of their fleet.  A few days into the rental, someone advised that the passenger headlamp did not work.  While at Shannon on the 27 July, I 'dropped in' to Budget and their Lot Man replaced the bulb -- AND BOTH front Daytime Running Lamp Bulbs.  The car ran well, though and was a better fit than the Golf would have been, for the three of us.  Interestingly, the Shannon lot had numerous NEW vehicles in the VERY small (Micra class) and Large (BMW class), but the mid-sized vehicles were all '08 or older.     

My contract lists the following charges (in EURO) :

17 days @ 22.50   382.54
ARPT SURCH           24.67
Road Fund              17.00    One (1) Euro  per day
NOCVG                    25.00    Fee for NOT buying CDW
subTotal                449.17
VAT                          60.64    13.5%
3RD PTY INS            19.89    1.17 per day
Total Estimated     529.74

Deposit Paid     2529.74

My Credit Card was ACTUALLY charged $3,345.58 (in US Dollars     , and Bank of America ADDED 100.36 as a 'Foreign Transaction Fee'.  When the Focus was returned, 17 days and 2,762 kilometers later, my Credit Card was Credited with $2710.20 -- benefitting, somewhat from the RISE of the Euro over that time period.

When my MasterCard bill arrived, it was for $3,445.94.  I paid them $735.74, after factoring in the Budget Credit of $2,710.20, and was PLEASANTLY suprised, when BofA issued me an $81.30 CREDIT on the original Foreign Transaction Fee!! I must admit that I did NOT see THAT coming.     

Over all, I was satisfied with the rental from Budget, but I DO have SOME issues / grumbles, rather than out-right COMPLAINTS.  

Total cost was $654.44, which is almost $150 less than I expected / budgeted for.  The vehicle, though HARDLY pristine, was servicable and reliable and performed well, BUT:

The burned out bulbs are problematical, in that they imply a lack of proper safety screening.

The age/mileage and appearance did little to assure confidence -- though, again, the vehicle performed well...

I had reserved the Golf class, as it was the least expensive model that INCLUDED air conditioning.  The Focus that I was provided did NOT have AC.  There actually were a few hours when AC might have been used, but of course it was not NECESSARY. Still, it IS what I had contracted for.

They 'Hooked' me with DCC -- though that actually hurt THEM, as the Euro went UP against the Dollar over the course of the rental, so ...

Hope this helps ...

Bob

 
Yes, I understand that other rental companies either put a hold or a 
charge on your credit card for declining the car company's CDW, but I 
have found 2 other companies wherein they only require a deposit of 
2,000Euro, whereas Murray's is 6,300Euro (quite a significant increase).



Ivy, you did not answer any of my questions in my previous email, which
you will see below.  If you cannot answer my questions, could you please 
forward this email onto Murrrays, so that they can answer my questions?

I hope you understand my concerns with respect to the above as I have 
chatted with many tourists who have visit Ireland over the past year who 
had come across many hidden fees and surcharges when they went to pick
up their car.  As the majority of the world is in hard economic times, 
I just would like to know in advance of my trip what I will require with
 respect to finances.



I look forward to your response, or a response from Murray's would be 
appreciated."

 
> Is there a charge for canceling a reservation?

There is no fee for cancellation up to 48 hrs prior to pickup.

> Is there a charge for changing a reservation?

There is no fee for modifications.

> Is there an "airport surcharge"? If so, how much?

Airport Surcharge: Approximately EUR 28.40 per rental, paid locally, 
VAT included.

> Is there a "road tax" fee per day? If so, how much?

It is included in the rate for the rental.

> Is the car to be returned with a full tank of petrol or empty?

Refueling Policy: Vehicles are rented with a full tank of fuel, for 
which the client will be charged, car should be returned as empty as 
possible. No refund for unused fuel.

> Is there a charge for crossing into No. Ireland?

Travel to N.Ireland requres purchase of NI CBC Insurance for approx 
34.05 EUR/rental, VAT Included."


The rate they provided previously WITHOUT THE CDW/THEFT for the same 
amount of days (being 24) was $418.41(USD).

I think I now feel confident about going with Kemwel for the price of 
$631.69(USD), which includes their CDW/Theft coverage.

By the way, you might also be interested in the quote I received from 
Dooley Car rental and here is their reply which was for only 18 days 
rental (as opposed to 24 days from Kemwel) and did not include CDW:

"The rate you requested is US $765.00 for 18 days for a Group C manual 
shift 
car.  The rate for the group F2./L automatic is US $1,475.00.

As Michele suggested, I will be printing off all correspondence between
Kemwel and myself and any other relevant documentation and placing it all in an envelope for safe-keeping.

Michele, what do you think?



To be honest, I am so sick and tired of dealing with this issue, that 
I want it done and other with as we are leaving for Ireland on Aug 16 and I still have much to do.

Thanks to Michele and everyone who posted with respect to this issue.



Sincerely


Nancy