Holidaymakers have been warned to avoid a leading budget car rental firm after customers reported being hit by hidden charges and pressure selling.
Goldcar was rated the worst holiday hire company in a Which? survey for the fifth time in six years.
The Spanish firm charges an average £13 a day, but an expert urged travellers not to “fall for headline prices” after many were stung by add-on fees.
One was billed twice “for extras we hadn’t needed, wanted or agreed to”.
Others endured long queues at check-in desks, rude staff, pressure selling and fees for non-existent damage.
Overall, Goldcar was given a satisfaction score of just 39% along with a one-star rating for its customer service, in the 2,178-strong poll.
Which? travel editor Rory Boland urged Britons to steer clear of the company. He said: “Our advice is don’t fall for headline prices, vet your hire firm and, whatever you do, avoid Goldcar – it could end up not being a bargain and leave you wishing you’d stayed at home.
“One wrong turn at airport arrivals could make or break your holiday. In an industry dogged by unscrupulous practices and interminable add-ons, making the right choice is paramount.”
Goldcar, one of Europe’s biggest budget operators with offices in 17 countries, is owned by rental giant Europcar.
The parent company was the worst-performing major brand, placing fourth- lowest for customer satisfaction at 65%.
It is under investigation by Trading Standards for allegedly systematically overcharging more than half-a-million customers for repairs.
A spokesperson for Goldcar, said: “We know that some of our past customer service has not been good enough and we are determined to fix this.”
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