Mixed Feelings/Not Recommended
Update: In response to SandJ's response.
- I've downgraded my review to a 1 star after seeing your ridiculous response.
1) I did raise this complaint with the manager upon return of the van, and had concerns dismissed.
2) I did not measure the Vauxhall before collection.
3 You clearly didn't read my review properly. And I can see from your response to other customer complaints, you have a habbit of going on the attack and always blaming the customers, rather than taking any responsibility.
4) With regards to legality. "Just because you wrote something on your website doesn't mean you avoid responsibility". A quote from my solicitor. :)
----------
Original Review:
The van specifications on their website are incorrect. I knew this because I researched the van type online using the details they provided. So I called and requested to visit and measure the van myself. The guy who answered tried to dissuade me from coming, saying all the details are correct on their website. Eventually he agreed to let me come to measure the van. So I visited their Romford location, and just as I thought, the van was far different from the specs on their website.
When I finished measuring the van, one of the employees told me they have a van which is the same size as the one I just measured, only it's a foot longer.
So I asked inside, spoke to who I think is the manager who confirmed the van was exactly the same only a foot longer. So I booked it.
On the pick up day I didn't realise, but the morning after when I went to start packing, I realised it wasn't at all the same size as the van I previously measured. Intenal sizes were 5cm shorter in height, 22cm smaller in width, and only 6cm longer. On top of this the intenal wheel arches were bigger. So the total volume was significantly less.
It's worth noting that I wasn't able to measure the second van before my rental because they had none on hand at the time. But it is partly my fault, I should have measured it upon collection, since I already knew they provide false dimensions.
I was traveling to the EU with all my belongings as I was in the process of moving to spain. So I meticulously planned everything... At home in my living room I mapped out the size of the van that I initially measured, and added an extra foot in length. I placed as much furniture as I could into this space. I even accounted for the space taken up by the wheel arches, and other areas where the van's chassis bulged inwards. I planned everything, and sold what I couldnt fit. If the dimensions were correct I would have fit everything in and had a little extra space left over for 'bits and bobs'. But the van was far smaller, resulting in me having to throw away £600 worth of furniture, and I had to tightly pack everything else, costing me another £530 in damage, due to two computer monitors and a mirror getting damaged during the journey. I was unable to protect them as I previously planned, because I had less space.
I mentioned the size differences on return of the van, but the manager seemed not to care. And just said 'it was bigger," which I know is false, (I messured both vans).
Also, make sure to video record all the damage on the van. They may try to blame something on you. There was a small piece of plastic missing from the front of the van, no damage at all around it. It looks to have been pulled out by hand. The manager blamed this on me, first insisting I could have hit something. After showing him there was zero damage around that area, he then said someone could have pulled it out when I parked it. The van was parked in two different AirBnbs in France, with very secure parking, (which I also planned, as I didn't want the van to get broken into and belongings stolen), and was never left unattended in public areas. So I knew 100 percent that no one pulled it out on my rental period. And during the pre rental van inspection, I pointed out 2 different points of damage that the manager missed during his walk around. He wasn't very attentive. After much debate I got the final bill to my email without being charged for this.
Also, beware if you're taking their vans into the EU. They provide you with EU insurance and a safety kit, and that's all. Their vans don't have the Uk sticker, France Crit Air sticker, or the correct headlights for driving in the EU. All of these are required by law
I've just spoken to a solicitor, and now waiting to here back to see if it's worth taking legal action to claim for the loss and damage. If this goes ahead I'll update this review.
3 April 2024
Unprompted review