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“Thrifty car hire service Paphos - Richard Fearns”

written by richardfearns on 24/06/2013

We booked a Ford Focus Automatic with A/c, company was Thrifty rentals. Service was atrocious, met at airport by woman in scruffy torn torn jeans and then had to wait for a bus to take us to where the car was. I was forced to sign the rental form showing car condition before I had seen it! On arrival car at the field 5kms away from the airport which was unlit so difficult to make a full inspection but it was very obvious the car had been subject to significant accident damage, including around the front wheel area so steering could be affected so I refused to take it. I have taken photos as evidence. They didn't have another automatic car so I had to wait until next day when agent said they would deliver one to me.
We were made to stand in the field where they store their cars for half an hour in pitch dark whilst they fetched the keys to another car.
The "temporary" car was handed over with ZERO petrol and all garages were closed which made for a stressful journey to our accommodation! They arranged to deliver a replacement next day but were over half an hour late, disrupting my holiday. The replacement car was lower spec and also old and tatty, with cigarette burns on seat. A/C didn't work, agent said "all our cars have this problem"!
Return was not at meet & greet as arranged, we were forced to take the car back to the collection area (the field) outside the airport (about 5kms away, i.e. the field with a Portakabin.
In daylight when we retirned the car, we saw the other cars available for hire from what is obviously a "partner" company, all were old & tatty.
It is obvious the rental company is avoiding paying airport parking fees by forcing customers to pick up and return cars at the field which is 5kms from the airport. They are also handing over cars empty in the knowledge that a responsible person will not drive an empty car so they are profiting from the petrol. Every other company I have rented over hand over cars full with fuel on the basis that they are returned the same way.
NOT a good experience!