Goldcar at Alicante airport - unauthorised taking of monies!

We have generally used Goldcar at Alicante, booking through Doyouspain. Generally get an excellent rate, in fact from as low as 6E for 5 days hire ! Now here is the problem, we have an additional independent insurance which costs us £40 a year. Hence car hire companies block around £900 on your credit card until you return, generally releasing this a couple of days after you return the car. Twice now they have actually taken the money, and 5 days after returning the car it has not been returned. I have spoken to Goldcar and they say each time it's being processed but they could keep the money for at least 10 days! I have spoken to my credit card who agree this is very unacceptable practice and have not charged me interest on this amount. Word to the wise.......don't use Goldcar if you have your own extended insurance. I can only assume they do this to earn some interest on your funds.

They are well known for this and some others do it also.

I do exactly the same with Goldcar and have my own insurance. However I have never noticed the deposit actually being taken from my card. I have used them 4 times in the last year and never once has their been a transaction on my credit card bill relating to the deposit. I was under the impression it was just blocked on the card.. Maybe its how the credit card issuer manages block/deposits etc

Record took £147 for alleged damage .
I took pictures showing existing damage and they still don't have the decency to reply .


Booked through Do You Spain as well and they've hidden away ..

I have read about people taking out an additional Insurance to cover the windscreen and tyres con that the car hire companies are now trying to make you take out, my question is where do you get these policies, and do you still get hit with the 900 euro credit card hit when you hire a car

Policies are widely available on line and yes you still have to CC a deposit.


If you damage the car they draw on your deposit then you claim it back from your insurance company.

There is no way of avoiding the deposit unless you buy the rip off insurance from the car hire company direct. .NOT the broker

Enterprise only take a deposit of 200

Opencar who we use all the time don't take a deposit. We do have the insurance4carhire excess insurance though at about £40 a year, so any excess is covered for damage.
I do believe though that anyone who pays 6 euro or similar for car hire should expect the hire company to claw back money somehow as there has to be hidden extras with 'next to nothing' hire charges. Although hidden extras shouldn't be hidden! Any good hire car company should show a price all inclusive. Opencar do this that's why we continue to use them and there must be others...they won't be cheap as chips prices though but I would rather pay a normal price and know what I'm getting with no credit card holding deposit!

Following my dispute with Goldcar, and Doyouspain, offering such low rates, how dare they, does this mean I get what I deserve for obtaining such a good hire rate? I asked them to inspect the car on my return, which the bloke in the office said if everything ok then no need, which was the case. Well today they have refunded me the deposit, which in their contract states should only be a blocked amount. With a picture of a missing wing mirror casing, undated. Billed 200e for damage. Not my damage, and quite possibly removed photo taken and put back on. My bank has blocked them taking any monies, as it was on my credit card. So is this my fault for getting a good deal, that I should be scammed to make up monies they haven't made on me because I have the audacity to have independent excess insurance. Enough to say I will never book thru Doyouspain, or ever have a Goldcar rental again.

I may ad that I am quite happy to have an amount blocked which since I have had my own excess ins is fine, I object to it actually been taken and the fraud being committed on the so called damage.