written by on 05/07/2023
We hired a car from Practical in Brentwood while on holidays in England. We found them very helpful and friendly and explained all details to us thoroughly. Thank you so much and even though we don't live in England we would certainly recommend them and also our family we were visiting would also. Nothing was a problem to them and the price was very reasonable. Thank you again.
written by KarinBie on 16/06/2023
Hired a car through the Edinborough branch. I had already hired a car twice in England with issues and hassles in both cases. Practical were what a hire company should be like. No hidden charges for a change and great service and a good car. I totally recommend.
written by LesleyKrol on 03/06/2022
Dear All, We are returning next year for a return holiday and we plan to visit your company to receive our deposit. Your company represents all that is bad with service , responsibility and transparency. The fact that you did not return my deposit is neither here nor there but your discraceful service must be addressed. I will be posting your pathetic service on the internet at every opportunity I can find. You are untrustworthy. Best regards PS, I will also post a copy of this mail to the internet
written by Shoburn on 05/04/2022
Excellent hire company. They are assets to the company. Fast affordable hire. Would not go anywhere else. Will hire from here always. Great trustworthy company with excellent efficiency and polite and friendly staff. Ten out of ten service. Big thanks for arranging my hire at the last minute to move my dad out. Much love guys. Great work. Thanks
written by Sandy20122012 on 24/03/2022
Really highly recommendable business run by kind people, I had dealings with Practical Car & Van Rental (Uxbridge, Greater London) recently, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending them to anyone I know who needs vehicle hire services. Staff members responsible for this company's Uxbridge branch are incredibly honest people with integrity who run a business not only with high standards in product offering and quality customer care, but also in fair and kind ways that speaks of humanity. This is a rarely seen quality in companies and people running businesses, so much so in that I really wish that more people were like them, as that would make the world to be a lot better place. Just from how they do business alone - how they talked with me, their communication mannerisms and how they went about in engaging with customers and others for anything that need discussing, I really highly recommend this company to others.
written by MattStubbs122 on 17/03/2022
The staff at Practical Blackpool made the whole experience stress and hassle free. The process was easy from start to finish. The van was perfect - almost brand new and perfectly clean. I would highly recommend them to anyone.
written by Practicalvictim on 12/11/2021
I Hired a van from Practical Van hire in Tanners Drive Milton not knowing just how bad the company are . They promise everything and deliver nothing . They kept the deposit and demanded extra payments weeks after returning the van . My wife hired a van some time before me and had the same experience as myself but neglected to tell me about it,she also lost her deposit. I would not recommend this company to my worst enemy,they shouldn.t be allowed to trade
written by patrickgrahambravo on 18/09/2020
They attract with low prices, but hide the mileage limitations in small print in a second pdf with t&c. When you've pressed book, they charge even when no service has been performed, so no going back. Returning, I was one hour late because of massive congestion and they were of course closed with no option of key drop. So had to return in the morning and got charged a full day hire! Both collecting and returning took at least half an hour! So, never use! Just stick with the companies with clear information and actual customer service!
written by Ashbywd202 on 28/05/2020
DO NOT USE HIGH WYCOMBE BRANCH On return of the van they climbed a wall to find a trig on the top of the van and said it was damage! Refused to release the deposit held. You can see from the photo of the twig and their report saying branches stuck to roof. It’s been reported to the head office who is investigating and will start court proceedings if they continue to not give back my money. Will also be reporting them to be looked into as there are other reviews online saying the same thing! I can see they use to have some good reviews so I guess they have changed their way of doing things. AVOID AT ALL COST!
written by JackPelka on 20/04/2020
I recently rented a van from this company is Slough branch in order to move some furniture. As usual, before taking the van out I along with an employee walked round to look at existing damage and it was during that process the employee very deliberately hid a specific piece of damage which was already on the van and which he clearly knew about. As I was walking round doing the checks he stood in front of the specific panel of the van, when I approached he opened the door to further hide the damage, instead pointing me towards other dents etc. in order to distract me. Moreover, the van in question already had a lot of damage on various bits (dents, scratches, no side panel etc.…). A few hours later when I was returning the van, the same employee came immediately from the office and went directly to the damaged panel in question and said “what is this?” None of the other employees wanted to listen to me when I categorically stated that I had not had an accident or caused any damage to the van whatsoever and in fact one of them even shouted at me being very insulting saying that he didn’t have time for stupid conversations… They informed me that they were taking both the full rental fee and my full security deposit for damage which was absolutely not my fault and nothing to do with me. The fact that when I returned the van the employee went directly to the specific piece of damage which he had clearly hidden earlier in the day makes me believe that he was fully aware that It was there all the time. I think they have deliberately and wilfully deceived me when doing the initial check of the van knowing full well what they would do later in the day when it was returned - ie blaming me! I highly warn everyone not to use this company. Utterly awful service and wilfully deceitful!! This report is also being sent directly to their head office with a formal complaint about the service.
written by Tobias435 on 20/04/2020
The Slough branch of Practical use some very underhand techniques. They distract you when looking round the vehicle then keep your deposit when you return the vehicle claiming that existing damage is new damage. The dent in the vehicle was already there - they catch you out by asking you to sign without fully inspecting the vehicle. When we complained we were made to feel that we were the ones trying not to pay for something we didn't do! We are disputing the credit card charge and are taking it further. DO NOT USE THESE GUYS - CHEAP IS NOT ALWAYS BEST!
written by Fabian1959 on 13/12/2019
Hired a van from them, and they delivered a wreck and refused to do anything about it. I am reporting them to trading standards, but do yourself a favour and do not have anything to do with these people
written by Avrohom on 25/03/2019
Horrible experience. Steer clear from this company. Ordered a specific van 2 months in advance. Came to pick up (an hour drive) to be told that this van is not available with some funny excuses. I didn’t really had an option but to take a different type van. Than kept me literally for over an hour at the branch because they couldn’t verify my EEC license. I am renting from Hertz, Sixt, DriveNow with this license no problem. Now they are holding back my deposit, because it was returned by somebody else. Although the van came back complete in order. Stay away.
written by rajeev_rams on 31/10/2018
They might be cheap but don't you worry they will make up by charging you extra when you meet them in person... Post my completion they didn't handover any invoice for 2 months and during that period they swiped my account for 80 pounds ( 30 pounds for fine and 50 for management /admin fee) which company in the world would charge you 50 pounds as management fee...??? and again no information provided just swiped from my account.. The car provided was completely filled with smoke stench, asked them to change they refused and i ended up paying cleaning fee, again there was no issue with car its just the cleanliness part was missing
written by Hensleywh405 on 22/09/2016
Booked a SWB van from Herne Bay a few days before I needed it. Got a phone call the night before collection advising my van had some issues and I'd be upgraded to a Luton at no extra charge. It would have been very easy for them to keep quiet and take a chance with the original van. A friend of mine used them the week before and had a similar experience when his van hadn't been returned in time by the previous customer. The paperwork covers everything (like how much they charge for fuel if you don't refuel yourself, which the previous reviewer obviously failed to read) as long as you know where you stand they are excellent value for money. Thank you Practical.
written by crosskeyscottage on 09/06/2016
We collected our car at PRACTICAL CAR HIRE UXBRIDGE (shows up with Atlas search engine as Heathrow). The fuel was not full but it was marked as 1 bar short of full. 5 minutes of driving and the gauge dropped another bar. When we returned the car, we were late for our flight due to an accident blocking the M25 and were unable to refill the car (that or miss our flight) and returned the car just over half full. We reported about the fuel and the staff said that they would note it and then kindly dropped us off at the airport. 10 days later, I had to contact Practical as we had still not been refunded with our 500 GBP deposit. Finally, after 2 weeks, we received back 458 GBP, having been stung for 42 GBP for the fuel! When contacting them, they say their policy is 30 GBP a quarter tank (their website terms quote 1.85 per litre). The 'Hyundai 30' holds 50 litres What we were charged equates to about double the price of fuel. Not even sure why they have charged 42GBP as that would come to 36....Be warned! They stuck to their policy regarding fuel, its a pity they did not stick to their policy regarding giving the refund! Until then, we had no complaints, but their fuel policy has left a bitter taste and we would not use them again or recommend them.
Written on: 29/06/2016
Having done some research, I think that the first person to put up a review was for Uxbridge. Since then, anyone else putting a review up on this website, it will come under Uxbridge branch. We believe that each branch is franchised and I want to make it clear that we rented the car from Practical at Airport Bowl (rear Car Park), Nobel Drive, Harlington, Middlesex, UB3. They describe themselves as Heathrow Branch.
We have reported the issue to Reviewcentre, but we have not had a reply from them at all.
written by Simplymoving on 27/02/2015
Practical really go the extra mile, from last minute bookings to specialist requirements. I use them a lot for my business and wouldn't go anywhere else. Try them before you try the big boys, it's a family firm with family values. Martin Ward SimplyMoving.co.uk
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Kellyelsworth's Comment
Written on: 01/06/2020
Thank you for your review. As you are aware, we are dealing with this matter and all further correspondence will be sent directly to you.
Practical Car & Van Rental Head Office