HOW TO AVOID CAR SICKNESS

When it comes to selling car hire, it can be a jungle out there. This is the warning from Affordable Car Hire, which wants to make the process as simple as A to B for TTA members.

Affordable points out the traps:
So called 'all-inclusive' prices offered by some companies may turn out to be not quite the bargain they first appear. How many agents have quoted a price to a client only to find at the time of booking there's a 'hidden charge', such as an excess insurance fee or booking cost that makes the rate less competitive than it first seemed?

Affordable Car Hire's mission is to wipe away any confusion by offering one rate that means just that. The price you see is the price your client will pay.

Angela Day, ACH Managing Director, says: "Our sales team on the road report time and again that this is a major bone of contention among agents who often lose the sale because, once all the 'hidden charges' are added in, clients think the price is too much.

Clients say they can book it cheaper on the Internet but they often encounter the same problem, with headline prices being bumped up as they process the booking. By then though, the client is fed up searching around and will just book it anyway. Either way, the agent looses.

The ACH product to nearly all major holiday destinations includes a 'no excess waiver' on the price displayed on our website. This all adds up to a saving of as much as £20 per week compared to other car-hire companies.

There have been press reports recently about misleading headline prices from some car-hire companies.

We believe that our pricing means that everyone is a winner and that agents can provide value for money to their customers."

And for clients new to hiring cars (or even those who book vehicles regularly) ACH recommends the following nuggets of advice to avoid hassle and to save money.

• Customers with a new plastic card licence must take the paper document along at pick-up to prove validity.
• Advise clients it's always cheaper to refill the car with fuel than opt to return it empty.
• Tell clients to ensure they, and a member of staff, thoroughly check the car before driving it away.
• On return, advise clients to leave plenty of time for a post-hire check. Don't just park up and drop the keys off.

"How to Avoid Car Sickness", TTA Newsletter Edition 32

Categories: Car Hire Advice, Car Rental Advice