British tourists planning to hire a car in Spain have been warned of a series of scams after a former rental company employee exposed common tricks. The anonymous worker, posting on the website meneame.net, revealed that low-cost rental firms often overcharge for fuel, car seats, and walk-in bookings.
The ex-employee described a fuel scam where customers are offered a 'full-full' system. The car is given with a full tank, and the renter must return it full to get a refund. However, the company charges double the market rate for fuel, and if the tank is not completely full, no refund is given. Some airport petrol stations are not open 24 hours, leaving customers stranded.
Another scam involves charging a service fee of €15-€20 (£12.49-£16.65) for returning the car with less fuel than received. The worker also highlighted extortionate prices for child car seats and booster seats, costing €99 (£82.41) for a week, with a family of two children facing a €200 (£166.51) fee for 'two pieces of plastic'.
Customers arriving without a prior reservation are particularly vulnerable. The employee said the minimum rental price might be €20 (£16.65), but the company could demand up to €3,000 (£2,496). The worker claimed staff were forced to 'swindle the client' for extras, earning a 2% commission on insurance or upgrades, and were threatened by bosses if they sold the least.
The former employee advised tourists to always make a prior reservation and carefully inspect the car for any damage before signing. They also suggested buying a car seat locally instead of renting one, as it could be cheaper.
