Always check reviews!

[David Spencer]

Ohhh boy...
That was a tad stressful.
I spent at least 2 hours tonight, sorting out car car hire for the US trip later this year. Got it booked, paid etc.
Was a tad surprised to see the confirmation email was from Booking.com so I checked reviews, as something from the past was ringing an alarm bell.
Sure enough: 96% said "stay away from this company"; latest review was 7 August.
"Oh bloody hell..."
So I cancelled the booking and started again, this time paying attention to reviews before going ahead.
Got there in the end and now just need to get my 200 quid back from Booking.com (it's written down in black & white, so should arrive in due course).
The conclusion? Check reviews before buying.
I usually do, but was caught out this time.
Could have been worse.

 

[Nap]

Good your getting the money back but a good lesson

As for reviews ....it's good to check the reviews here on PF for releases that are posted

Nap

 

[sd0324]

Ohhh boy...
That was a tad stressful.
I spent at least 2 hours tonight, sorting out car car hire for the US trip later this year. Got it booked, paid etc.
Was a tad surprised to see the confirmation email was from Booking.com so I checked reviews, as something from the past was ringing an alarm bell.
Sure enough: 96% said "stay away from this company"; latest review was 7 August.
"Oh bloody hell..."
So I cancelled the booking and started again, this time paying attention to reviews before going ahead.
Got there in the end and now just need to get my 200 quid back from Booking.com (it's written down in black & white, so should arrive in due course).
The conclusion? Check reviews before buying.
I usually do, but was caught out this time.
Could have been worse.

Where in the US are you looking to rent and for how long? I can check recommendations from well traveled friends and personal experience. You want fast? Off road? Or normal travel?


Steve

 

[David Spencer]

Where in the US are you looking to rent and for how long? I can check recommendations from well traveled friends and personal experience. You want fast? Off road? Or normal travel?


Steve

Thanks Steve
I sorted an alternative reservation out immediately and have booked a car.
I appreciate your offer, though.

 

[David Spencer]

The buggers still haven't refunded me.

 

[David Spencer]

The Refund Has Landed

 

[Babelfish]

Reviews are useful, but only up to a point because

(a) I know for a fact (and from experience) that some businesses task employees with trawling online review sites to object to bad reviews and get them pulled, resulting in said companies getting much better star overall ratings than they deserve, and
(b) Some businesses get shill reviewers (friends, family, themselves under aliases etc.) to post favourable reviews in order to boost their star ratings

- Steve

 

[David Spencer]

Reviews are useful, but only up to a point because

(a) I know for a fact (and from experience) that some businesses task employees with trawling online review sites to object to bad reviews and get them pulled, resulting in said companies getting much better star overall ratings than they deserve, and
(b) Some businesses get shill reviewers (friends, family, themselves under aliases etc.) to post favourable reviews in order to boost their star ratings

- Steve

Indeed. But cross-referencing usually pays off if you put the time in.
The company I went with and then had to back-pedal got 96% very negative reviews, which told me all I needed to know on this occasion.