Friends, I too had a terrible experience with Country rent a car. Apologies if this comment becomes lengthy.
I took Toyota Fortuner from them for 10 days on 3rd July 2016. They made a very attractive offer, QR 140 per day rent and they blocked only QR 500 from my credit card as security. As we were taking a car on rent for the first time, we didn’t know we had to check every nook and corner of the car before accepting it. on 13th July, we returned the car as it is after getting it washed. They let us go after signing the checklist but after twenty minutes, asked us to come to their office again. When we went back, they said there are two tiny scratches on back bumper (two tiny black dots, in hindsight, I wish I had taken a photo of it to post it here) and a small dent right underneath the front left door handle. We contested their claim and said we have not made any scratches and it might have been there before that we did not notice when we took the car as it is so tiny. They said okay and after 14 days they released our QR 500 that was blocked from the credit card.
On August 27th 2016, I got a message from bank stating they have tried to take QR2580/- from my card. I had only QR1600 balance in my card at that time and before I could block the transaction, they took QR1500 from my card. I was shocked beyond belief and called them to understand what happened and why they charged my card. The guys at Airport branch said that I made accident and for that QR1500, for not producing police paper QR100 and as the vehicle was in garage for 7 days, QR 980/- as its rent making it a total of QR 2580/-. I tried to reason with him and explain the absurdity of their claim. He said I need to go to their head office and talk to the manager. So I went to their Barwa village office during September first week and spoke to their manager. He flatly said nothing can be done as they had the vehicle checklist with them under which I had signed. I checked the checklist and felt numb. After I signed the checklist, they have added the repair charges of QR2580/- and that too in different ink! Now, I am not someone who likes to fight or abuse so I tried to reason with him logically but again he flatly said nothing can be done as it is their management decision (Company Policy). After much discussion, he said they will treat QR 1500 as full and final settlement and I do not have to pay the balance QR1080/-. I was so shocked that I forgot to get it in writing from them. It was plain daylight robbery and I did not know what to do. At last I left with a heavy heart stating to him that I will consider this as my charity to them. My ordeal ended there or so I thought. It was not to be.
A week back, I got a call from Wakrah police station. Police said they have received a complaint against me from Country Rent a car. I called their manager and he said, his boss did not agree to waive off the balance QR1080/- and I now need to pay 1160 including legal translation fees of QR 80!!. I told him, If his boss did not agree, he could have just informed me but instead of that, they went straight to police and registered a case against me!. He conveniently said he forgot! Would you guys believe it? I couldn’t. I just couldn’t fathom how an organization can be so unprofessional, indecent and greedy. But at times truth is stranger than fiction. And I had to pay the balance 1160 to get the case off me. All this because I do not know Arabic and do not have any friends who could talk to the police and convince them.
From my own experience and from the other comments here, one thing is certain. Their modus operandi is to cheat the naïve, non-arabic customers by offering them cars at good prices and by exhorting fines twice the amount of rent charged some way or the other. They really have no shame.
Is there a way we can all unite and give a mass petition against Country Rent a Car? Is there a way someone can do an expose for Doha news or Gulf Times? Their atrocities should come to light. May be someone should take up a Public interest litigation. I do not know if such an option is here in Qatar. Anyway, if we unite, we can at least make sure no other expat gets robbed of their hard earned money by Country Rent a car.
Friends, I too had a terrible experience with Country rent a car. Apologies if this comment becomes lengthy.
I took Toyota Fortuner from them for 10 days on 3rd July 2016. They made a very attractive offer, QR 140 per day rent and they blocked only QR 500 from my credit card as security. As we were taking a car on rent for the first time, we didn’t know we had to check every nook and corner of the car before accepting it. on 13th July, we returned the car as it is after getting it washed. They let us go after signing the checklist but after twenty minutes, asked us to come to their office again. When we went back, they said there are two tiny scratches on back bumper (two tiny black dots, in hindsight, I wish I had taken a photo of it to post it here) and a small dent right underneath the front left door handle. We contested their claim and said we have not made any scratches and it might have been there before that we did not notice when we took the car as it is so tiny. They said okay and after 14 days they released our QR 500 that was blocked from the credit card.
On August 27th 2016, I got a message from bank stating they have tried to take QR2580/- from my card. I had only QR1600 balance in my card at that time and before I could block the transaction, they took QR1500 from my card. I was shocked beyond belief and called them to understand what happened and why they charged my card. The guys at Airport branch said that I made accident and for that QR1500, for not producing police paper QR100 and as the vehicle was in garage for 7 days, QR 980/- as its rent making it a total of QR 2580/-. I tried to reason with him and explain the absurdity of their claim. He said I need to go to their head office and talk to the manager. So I went to their Barwa village office during September first week and spoke to their manager. He flatly said nothing can be done as they had the vehicle checklist with them under which I had signed. I checked the checklist and felt numb. After I signed the checklist, they have added the repair charges of QR2580/- and that too in different ink! Now, I am not someone who likes to fight or abuse so I tried to reason with him logically but again he flatly said nothing can be done as it is their management decision (Company Policy). After much discussion, he said they will treat QR 1500 as full and final settlement and I do not have to pay the balance QR1080/-. I was so shocked that I forgot to get it in writing from them. It was plain daylight robbery and I did not know what to do. At last I left with a heavy heart stating to him that I will consider this as my charity to them. My ordeal ended there or so I thought. It was not to be.
A week back, I got a call from Wakrah police station. Police said they have received a complaint against me from Country Rent a car. I called their manager and he said, his boss did not agree to waive off the balance QR1080/- and I now need to pay 1160 including legal translation fees of QR 80!!. I told him, If his boss did not agree, he could have just informed me but instead of that, they went straight to police and registered a case against me!. He conveniently said he forgot! Would you guys believe it? I couldn’t. I just couldn’t fathom how an organization can be so unprofessional, indecent and greedy. But at times truth is stranger than fiction. And I had to pay the balance 1160 to get the case off me. All this because I do not know Arabic and do not have any friends who could talk to the police and convince them.
From my own experience and from the other comments here, one thing is certain. Their modus operandi is to cheat the naïve, non-arabic customers by offering them cars at good prices and by exhorting fines twice the amount of rent charged some way or the other. They really have no shame.
Is there a way we can all unite and give a mass petition against Country Rent a Car? Is there a way someone can do an expose for Doha news or Gulf Times? Their atrocities should come to light. May be someone should take up a Public interest litigation. I do not know if such an option is here in Qatar. Anyway, if we unite, we can at least make sure no other expat gets robbed of their hard earned money by Country Rent a car.