Hello Everyone,

We have recently returned from a wonderful 2 week holiday in western Crete. After hours of research regarding car hire for the holiday I decided to support the local economy and go with EUROCAR/CRETECARHIRE. This was almost a disaster.
We had reserved a Punto at €338 for 2 weeks hire for collection at Chania airport. When we arrived they met us and said there was a problem. They didn't have a car for us until the next day. When I said we were staying in Paleohora (approx 100km drive over mountains) they didn't offer us an upgrade or anything else. They gave us an 8-seater mini-van and said they would deliver the Punto the following day at 2 p.m. The paperwork was filled in accordingly but they didn't ask for any payment. We didn't really expect them to deliver the car at 2 p.m. but 7.30 was a bit much. Despite my husband phoning them 2 or 3 times the boss kept saying the car was on it's way,
When the car did arrive it was not new (as advertised on Eurocar website). It was definitely the worse for wear and we were disappointed. It had been brought by a guy who worked for another firm and he had no paperwork or anything! When we pointed out that our sheet was for the minivan and had run out at 2 p.m. he just started altering it. We were appalled. We didn't know what to do. We were in a strange country with no rep in an isolated resort, miles from the Eurocar offices. We really didn't want the old car and didn't know whether or not we were insured. What if the police had pulled us up? My husband spoke to the car hire boss on the phone and he assured us all was okay. We really didn't like it, we hadn't paid a penny either. Eventually we felt we had no choice so we let the man alter our sheet in favour of the new car and accepted it.
We went and put some petrol in and when my husband reversed the top of the gear stick came off in his hand! I don't think we were laughing at this point although it is funny now. To be honest this episode spoiled the first few days of the holiday to a certain extent. I was worried my husband would be locked up if we were involved in an accident. Luckily we never had to find out if all was in order or not.
To cap it all the boss phoned us on the return journey to the airport to tell us how to drop the car off and demanded payment in full. My husband said we had been kept waiting and didn't have the agreed car for the first 2 days but he still insisted we paid in full €338. He says we can have 15% discount next time! Fat chance!!!!!
I have read a lot of reports from people who have used the international car hire firms and had problems being charged extra after they have returned home. Some firms also charge a big excess as well. Eurocars didn't charge any excess and advertise you are 100%insured. That is why I booked with them. They were charging the same daily rate as Hertz and several other firms but we thought we would support the local economy. Unfortunately we just feel used and cheated. A pity because most Cretans are very nice.
I must say I am at a loss as to what to do next time we hire a car. We have had so many bad experiences. Last year in Thassos the car didn't turn up. When it did it was an automatic which they reckoned I had ordered. I hadn't. It had so many dents they could not fit them on the picture they fill in. Local operator again. In Fuerterteventura the Citroen was so bad my son-in-law called it the **itroen! We should have changed it but it would have wasted ½ day of our week holiday. Local op again.

Sorry for the rant but we feel we were really badly treated and Eurocar don't give a ****!
I hope no-one else books with them.

Yiamass, Jean