With Easter on the horizon and thoughts turning towards holidays, I just want to give anyone heading to Spain a heads up on car rental. I am seeing countless posts on Facebook forums, relating to people being pressured into buying a higher level of car insurance at a high cost, and/or being ripped off when returning the car and being charged for damage to the car that hadn’t been recorded on the paperwork when the renter signed the car out. It seems that most of the companies are trying to make up for lost income during the pandemic, through high rental costs and other means. To avoid the high cost of the car rental insurance you can purchase a much cheaper one online to cover you, should you need more cover than the basic insurance offered when renting the car. The guys at the rental office use high pressure techniques to get you to take out their own insurance, possibly because of commission, and can be a little intimidating, from what I have read on various forums. When you go to collect the car take a video of it. Cover every inch of it so that you have a record of every dent and scratch, even under the front and back bumpers as some kerbs are very high out here and you can easily scuff the underside of the car when parking face/rear on to the kerb. If you spot anything that isn’t marked on the paperwork, get them to add it before you sign it. I have seen countless stories of people returning cars only for the guy receiving it to make a beeline to a specific area to reveal a dent that wasn’t recorded, which they then take a payment from the client’s credit card to cover the cost of a “repair” which probably doesn’t happen. Also, if you are beach lovers, clean out any sand or you will be billed extra for that. Finally, I have seen a few reports of people, more frequently women travelling alone, putting bags on the passenger or backseat, being robbed as they are waiting to go through the car park barriers, at Alicante airport. (If it happens at one airport, it likely happens at others). It is actually illegal to carry loose items in the passenger area of a car, in Spain, so if you are forced into a situation of having to do that, make sure you lock all doors and, should you be stopped by the police/Guardia ensure that the bags are at least secured by the seat belts. This link is to the N332 website, that was set up by members of the Guardia to help foreigners with information. https://n332.es/loose-objects-in-the-car/
We, going to Spain and Italy, and Dutch friends, in Sardinia have used similar UK companies to those listed on this which review. https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/car-hire/article/car-hire-advice/car-hire-insurance-aqd1p9P5n1Rs
Distraction theft is also an issue in Spain. I have heard of a less drastic approach, which is to push a plastic bottle under a wheel, so that when the driver pulls away they hear an unexpected sound, get out to investigate and then the thief strikes. Just a warning that the distraction thieves are around again. I went to Leroy Merlin at Pinatar Park this afternoon. I came out of Leroys and found my car had a completely flat tyre. I was carrying a shoulder bag, which I placed under the passenger seat, before opening the boot to get my spare wheel. I looked up to find a guy just leaving my passenger door, with my shoulder bag. I ran round the car and caught him, trying to run. I chased him and caught him, at which stage he threw my bag back to me. He carried on running away, but then I noticed a dark green Renault Megan parked near by. The driver realised I was on to them and he drove out of the car park at speed. Another couple in a car close by, also had a flat tyre on their car. Both vehicles had their tyres slashed. Police came within 5 minutes of calling them. I have seen previous posts describing similar events and thought that I would spot this scam a mile off. I didn't, please take extra care. Thanks to my friends, I was able to get my wheel removed from my car, got a new tyre fitted at a close by company and only lost a couple of hours of time. Please, please, be on the look out for these thieves and take care.
That’s a heck of a price difference. I was wondering if this extreme approach, by the car rental companies, was just aimed at Brits or if they are equal opportunity shysters.
I should add that the insurance was arranged from the Netherlands. We couldn't find a similar offer here at that time we'll check again before trips to Tenerife and Zakynthos later this year.
Horse is in the pub having a few when he spots a donkey in the corner so he nips over to have a natter, donkey asks "what did you do for a living" Horse says “I ran on the flat in the summer and over the jumps in the winter". Donkey says "I worked with the kids on Blackpool beach”, Then he asks "did you win anything" horse says "yeah on the flat I won the Oaks, St. Leger and the Derby and over the jumps I won the Grand National and the Gold Cup”, they arrange to meet at the donkey's house a week later, donkey thinks, "I need to impress this guy he's done everything”, so he buys a big picture of a zebra and hangs it above the fireplace, the horse arrives and says "lovely place you have here and who's that in the picture on the wall", Donkey replies “that’s me when I played for Juventus.
A farmer drove to a neighbour's farmhouse and knocked on the door. A boy, about 9, opened the door. "Is your dad or your mum home?" said the farmer. "No, they went to town". "How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?" "No, he went with mum and dad". The farmer stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other, and mumbling to himself. "I know where all the tools are if you want to borrow one? Or I can give dad a message", said the boy. "Well", said the farmer, uncomfortably, "I really wanted to talk to your dad. It's about your brother, Howard, getting my daughter, Susie, pregnant." The boy thought for a moment. "You would have to talk to dad about that. I know he charges £500 for the bull and £50 for the pig, but I don't know how much he charges for Howard."
Couple of weeks I think. Once you have it you can join a website, forget what it’s called, and renew it as and when required. This is based on my experience from 10 years ago and before.
Actually an Enhanced DBS can take longer, 4+ weeks, so depends on the type you are applying for. The enhanced looks deeper into your history.
