NS
Nizar S

1 reviews | Active since Apr 2020

23 Apr 2020, 14:30

Unauthorised Transactions made from my account with no explanation

I had a real bad experience with this company. These guys ripped me off from a shortfall in returning my deposit and charging me for an additional rental period I had not agreed to. I found it incredibly difficult to make any sense of anything their representatives said if something didn’t go quite right. I would never use them again and would not recommend anyone to use them. The deposit wasn't taken as a block on the credit as it should be, as part way into the rental, the full deposit was taken from the credit card instead of being reserved, this is not right. My deposit was deducted during the rental period (prior to inspection / return of the vehicle). Their reason was because of the lockdown in SA, but this was a lie as the lockdown was announced by the state president on 23 March, and they deducted my deposit on 22 March (a day before the lockdown was announced). On expiry of the rental period, the airport was closed due to the lockdown, so these crafty ******s decided to deduct a further deposit of £385 from my account and forced me to keep the car for longer. This is how crafty they are. My intention was to return the car as planned (on the original rental expiry date which was 28 March), and made many attempts prior to the lockdown on 27 March, to contact them to find out where I could return the car to. I found it very difficult to get them on the phone. On eventually being able to talk to one of their staff at Cape Town airport on 27 March, a day the lockdown became effective, I was I could not return the car to the airport depot and there was no other location to return the car to. As a consequence, I was told to keep the car until they could collect it from me. 4 day after the rental expiry date they collected the car and charged me for the additional days for a matter which was not of my making. Firstly, I was forced to keep the car for an additional 4 days due to the lockdown in SA, and then they charge me additional 4 days rental because they didn’t accept that I return the car to a location suitable to then on the day the lease expired. I have sent their customer service many emails, but the falsely accused me of not attempting to return the car prior to the lockdown. I sent them evidence of the phone calls made to their representatives prior to the lockdown and had no response. Besides the fact that I had contacted them prior to the lockdown, they failed to take steps to inform me on what I needed to do with the car prior to the lockdown. As a result of the above, Woodford Car Hire owes me £159.42 arising from the shortfall on the exchange rate and the additional 4-day rental period of which I have decided to pursue the matter via small claims tribunal (together with compensation for unauthorised transactions and phone calls etc).

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Replies (5)
NS
Nizar S's update06 May 2020, 12:34
Reviewer Update
I am waiting for the courts to open so I can file the application. I prefer not to be shoved around my these ******. They not above the law. I have documented enough evidence.
Woodford Car Hire
Woodford Car Hire's reply07 Jul 2020, 13:27
Official
Dear Nizar

 Please could you provide me with your Rental Agreement number so I can escalate to senior management. 

I will await this information from you so I can be of the utmost assistance. 

Thank you, 

Yours Sincerely 
Samantha 
WOODFORD GROUP   
NS
Nizar S's update07 Jul 2020, 13:50
Reviewer Update
Prior to writing my review, I attempted via numerous emails to settle this matter amicably, (yes, I have 21 pages of logged correspondence with your customer service). All I was asking for, is to return what is rightfully mine but your management had rejected that minimal requests outright to the detriment of myself and charged me for a rental period which I have not consented to.

Thus, your statement of "this is not the norm at Woodford" is to be proven as it is contrary to the facts, you just need to refer all the other reviews from past customers to understand how pathetic your company has handled my situation.

Your response above is unwarranted as examination of the facts reveals that the facts are contrary to your statements. The way you do business is not acceptable. I do not believe a company like yourselves should be allowed to be in business. You are a bunch of ******.

Your response had not changed the situation. Unless you truly act upon your response given able, I still intend to sue you (and will update through this tread to expose you further) for making unauthorised transactions from my account for a rental period I have not consented to plus fees for compensation of telephone, internet, bank charges etc. I have kept all the email communications etc in establishing the facts, so expect a notice to attend a small claims court when restrictions on filing / applications on small claims are lifted.

This matter is still open, and I will address it by updating everyone through this thread, so Woodford car hire don't do to other customers what they have done unto me and other preceding customers.

NS
Nizar S's update07 Jul 2020, 14:05
Reviewer Update
Samantha,

Now that I have said what I wanted to say, my rental agreement number is CT-33089.

The facts provide that :

1. I have been charged an additional 3 days (29-31 March 2020).
2. Due to the sudden drop in exchange rate from Rand to Pound Sterling, there was a shortfall when my deposit was returned.
3. The additional unauthorised transaction on my account for deduction of a second deposit (due to the lockdown) has been used to charge me for an additional 3 day rental period that I have not agreed to.

I would appreciate of you could deal with this matter swiftly, so I can update the thread on hellopeter accordingly.

Many thanks,
Nizar
NS
Nizar S's update21 Jul 2020, 22:43
Reviewer Update
I was offered a lousy R250 voucher valid for a year which I refused. I have re-explained again the situation to woodford customer service who said they would look into the matter. Its literally been two weeks and I've still not heard anything back from them.