Talisman Tool Hire: Terrible Customer Service

I used Talisman Tool hire a couple of years ago - I was doing a significant amount of DIY. Their hiring process was slick and easy. Never had a problem - until recently.

I tried to hire a spotlight from them on Saturday. We called and pre-booked. They did not bother to inform us that their new hiring process is so complicated and laborious.

Getting life insurance, joining a medical aid or buying a house would be easier. They make you fill in a 4 page document, then fingerprints for biometric check-in. Then a credit check. Then phone people to see if you are who you say you are. This is complete overkill.

I was second in the queue. After 30 min I gave up and just went and bought the spotlight (maybe its their strategy.) I went and got a cup of coffee, browsed a bit in Builders, then finished my coffee in the busy queues, before leaving. The people in front of me at Talisman were still getting their fingerprints taken, being subjected to anal probes, getting Covid tests and having to get biopsy's when I left. They had been there close to an hour by that stage.

If you don't have an account or whatever it is they call it - be prepared to spend and hour 0r 2 to be able to hire whatever you want. Which makes no sense - the deposit and hire cover the value.... Who knows what this customer-hating management think.

Hire somewhere else or buy it....