Just to keep some people happy?.

Have used numerous car hire site's over the years,usually the cheapest but like lots of things those that claim to be the cheapest usually have hidden costs,
Additional Driver charges
Cross border charges
very high excess charges.
But in the main i've found the following three the most competitive and great service,I also have a yearly excess policy so decline any extra's,but even with them these have been very good with me.

EPI Car Hire. Based in portugal.
Economy Car Hire.online quote.
masterking car Hire.online quote.

All have free border crossing,free additional driver pick up cars at the new booth opposite the airport terminall,usually a fairly new car.

Ken.

We have been here on this topic so many times!
These people are only agents!!!
Regularly they will put you with Travelrent as Economy did with us many times.
Question?
Can we book direct with you?
Answer
Yes!
We now book direct and get a Christmas card!
2nd to 17th March 170euros. Seat Ibiza 4 door. No extras.
Service with a smile! vv fast pick up, they keep our details on file and at the said kiosk.
They know us well now. You should try them.
Loyalty gets fantastic service.

Sounds very competitive and worth a try. Do they also cover for breakdown in recovery in Spain? Some I have used will only recover in Portugal.

Hi Andy
We use Travelrent BUT they don't recover from Spain,
It would be very handy to know if there is a company that does ?

We had a 'break in' broken 'quarter light' we were only there for 7 days could have taken the car back to Faro for exchange but didn't bother we taped it up. We did report it but Travelrent just said 'No problem! it happens' No charge.
In our opinion They are the best!

Epi are not agents,they also keep your details,usually phone them few days before travel and they have your mobile stored and know who you are when calling,pay cash or card at the airport,normally quarter tank of juice just return the same,and no extra's.

Last time used Travelrent gave us an old car and we struggled to open the back doors,so returned it and his answer was we needed to know the teqnique to open them?then gave us an even older car,so we don't use them now.

Can't argue with that.

Nice to know that you had a "vv fast pick up".
The last two times we hired from Travel Rent (Faro airport) we had to queue at the kiosk in car park 4 for 1 hr and 1hr 15 min respectively. (The first time was on a Thursday in November so the length of the wait was a bit of a surprise). The second time, I left my daughter in the queue and went to ask the Travel Rent rep who stands by the car with the open boot at the end of row B whether there was any quicker way to get our car. He just shrugged and said "you have to queue, it's an hour".
Most of the people in the queue behind us were vowing never to rent from them again.
Does anyone know of any quicker way of picking up a Travel Rent car from Faro?

It does seem as if Travelrent have gone backwards on the admin. front.
I'm sure most of can remember back a couple of years when you met their rep. @ the arrivals gate.
Their rep. ( normally the coloured girl or Magda) would be sitting by in a chair working from a suitcase , never no hassle & the whole procedure took 10 mins.
I suppose the new set up is what's called progress ?

If you take notice many EasyJet flights from the U.K. arrive at about the same time. I think when people get to the pick up desk all at the same time they can't cope.
Hand luggage only gets us to the desk early and we are usualy away before the queue forms. Another option would be to send the driver ahead to the kiosk whilst others in the party pick up the cases. We did once hire from Budget and it was possible with them to do the form filling online before you go.

It would help if the various hire companies which operate from that kiosk/office made themselves more aware to the punters which company they are.
We also travel hand baggage only & head straight to the TR rep. BUT they don't make it for very easy for Mum Dad & 2 children with loads of luggage on their Summer hols. who are using them for the first time.
Someone directing customers to the right queue could help reduce the waiting time

Probably depends on the time of year - last time we were there there was a girl doing exactly what you suggest - she asked each new arrival which company they had booked with and directed them to the right queue. She probably worked for one of the hirers and was trying to ensure thay her clients didn't stray but nevertheless it had the right effect.

Last year I hired a car from TravelRent via ECH, and unfortunately this car it had an attempted break in. Damage only to the drivers door, in that a hole had been punched through the door to push the inside door handle outward in order to open the door.

I spoke TravelRent’s office who advised me that there was no requirement to report this to the police, as the vehicle had not been stolen and there was nothing missing from inside the car (there was nothing tempting within the car) I offered to return the vehicle to Faro airport so they could view the damage, this was declined. I also called ECH's office to advise of this fact and the conversation with TravelRent.

On returning the car to Faro, I was met by a very charming lady who checked over the car, who was then joined by an overly aggressive man, who demanded €180.00 euros for a replacement lock. I advised of my conversation with their office and that I didn’t agree with the demand as the lock was undamaged, and fully operational, which was agreed with the representatives, but nevertheless the money was still demanded.

I called ECH to ask advice, as I assumed the fully inclusive insurance would be activated, ECH in turn tried to speak, unsuccessfully with TravelRent. The male representative then snatched all the paperwork, visa receipt included, from the lady we were dealing with, got in his car and drove off.

I contact ECH on returning to the UK and after an "investigation" advised that no charges would be levied against me and that "albeit I did everything expected of me, should anything like this happen again, I should drive the car to the Police station and report any damage and get a crime report".

ECH appear to have no control over the hire companies they use and bearing in mind that these hire companies are essentially representing ECH as third party suppliers I am surprised at ECH's lack of customer care.

In addition to the above, also last year, I rented, again via ECH, a car from AirAuto, the 1st car they gave me had 2 bald tyres and the 2nd car had lumps of rubber missing out of the tyre walls. Whilst waiting for a 3rd car, I watched AirAuto happily hand over the keys to the 1st car I declined to another unsuspecting holidaymaker.

Like lots of things in life, you never know how good a supplier will be until you have a problem!!!!

I think they do look after their direct customers better!
They have to give ECH & other agents a substancial cut.
BUT...No excuse for unsafe vehicles.
Hard times taking its toll I guess!
Thanks for your post. We will all have to be more aware.

I'd like to think they look after direct customers better, but unfortunately I have also hired direct with TravelRent and received no better treatment, with regard to customer care, albeit I do still get a Christmas card from them!