Right Cars - Greece - Heraklion Reviews 630

We booked a Volkswagen Golf (gasoline) through DiscoverCars for 12 days in Crete and fully prepaid online, including insurance. What should have been simple and transparent turned into an absolute nightmare with RightCars Crete.

When we arrived to pick up the car, instead of providing the reserved Golf, the staff pressured and intimidated us into signing a completely new contract. They told us directly that unless we immediately paid an extra €288, we would lose our entire prepayment and be left without a car at all. This was not presented as a choice. It was forced on us. Staff even shouted at us, making the whole experience extremely aggressive and stressful.

Under this pressure, and with limited English, we had no choice but to sign and accept an Opel Astra diesel – a car we never booked, never wanted, and which is not equivalent to the Golf petrol we had reserved. This felt like outright fraud and coercion.

It is true that our €100 deposit was later refunded, but the €288 we were forced to pay has never been returned. On top of that, their claim that we received “free assistance” is a complete lie – we did not receive any additional service whatsoever. At no point were the conditions or reasons for these charges properly explained. We were simply bullied into paying.

The impact was enormous: instead of enjoying our trip, this ruined our honeymoon. We spent days stressed and frustrated, not knowing if further problems would appear when returning the car. This company completely destroyed the peace of mind we had paid for.

To make matters worse, when we later looked at other reviews online, we saw many other customers reporting the exact same experiences: forced extra payments, aggressive staff, cars not matching the reservation, and no accountability. This clearly shows it is not a mistake or miscommunication – it is a recurring scam built into the way RightCars operates.

We are still trying to get a proper resolution through DiscoverCars, but RightCars refuses to take responsibility. Their conduct is shameful, unprofessional, and fraudulent.

If you are considering renting a car in Crete: avoid RightCars at all costs. Do not risk your money, your vacation, or your peace of mind with this company.

Terrible experience with Right Cars.
We were given a diesel car, which has never happened to me with other rental companies across Europe. Not only are diesels more polluting, but the car was clearly not a recent model. During the trip, the DPF warning light came on several times – a problem typical of older diesel cars. The interior also showed signs of wear, which is unacceptable considering that rental cars are usually expected to be new or at least modern.
To make matters worse, there was a notice inside the car forbidding sand or wet clothes. Completely unrealistic, especially on an island known for its beaches!
The worst part happened when returning the vehicle: after refueling, the fuel gauge did not move up. When we reported tu to the receptionist, she said it was “normal” and told us we would lose our €100 deposit unless we filled up again. We were forced to refuel once more, ending up returning the car with significantly more fuel than it had when we first picked it up.
I have traveled all over Europe and never had such a bad rental experience. Strongly advise against using Right Cars.

I would not recommend Right Cars. During my rental, I found that the company is extremely nitpicky when returning vehicles. Even minor marks from normal driving, such as passing through roadworks or construction areas, were treated as damages and I was billed excessively. Instead of fair treatment and customer care, the focus seems to be on finding any excuse to charge extra. For anyone looking for a hassle-free rental experience, I would strongly advise choosing another provider.

We booked via stressfreerental and were sent to Right Cars. An awful experience. They tried to give us a smaller car than promised on the booking. Luckily we checked the car. The backseat was broken too. The lady at the reception was rude and argumentative saying we didn't pay anything and that we can go somewhere else if we don't like it. Which we did in the end. The other company mentioned to us that Right Cars has a bad reputation. Awful. Avoid.

I try not to leave negative feedback, but hiring from RC has been a really terrible experience, and I wish I'd checked here first. Hopefully this saves at least somebody from what appears to be a very, very familiar story.

First off, after a 30 minute wait at pick up, I found it was the wrong car they were giving to me - I had ordered an *intermediate* sized SUV (Kia Sportage or similar) specifically for the boot space with 3 people and 3 large cases. RC however were trying to give me a Seat Arona which is most definitely a compact SUV, with space for only one large case in the rear. Even RC's website agrees. The agent quoted the "or similar" clause and said they were similar - I stood firm that compact and intermediate are two distinct size categories, she did eventually agree but then it was another 45 minute wait while they went elsewhere to get the right size car. I had my own insurance policy, and so RC took a €1,480 deposit, which is high, but at least expected. I took a video and photos of the car including the damages that I could see, as they advise you to do. They of course tell you that "any dents or chips less than a 1 Euro coin size, we won't worry about, you only need to note any major damage". Nevertheless, I was careful in photographing everything that I could see.

Through the rental it was generally okay, the car was externally pretty tatty, scratched, dented, and as I found out during a flash shower, had badly perished windscreen wipers which caused something of a safety issue until I could stop and clear the screen manually with towels. But other than that, it generally worked fine at least, with no real issues.

At check in, (and all rather inevitably given that they knew I had taken out my own insurance and going by past reviews), the agent went directly to the windscreen and held a piece of white paper inside to highlight to me a 1mm chip in the windscreen glass. I see from previous reviews this is not an uncommon occurrence. He then insisted I fill out an incident report, including a signed disclaimer that this had occurred during my use, which I of course could not agree to. I had been the sole driver and there had been no impacts to the glass during my holiday. The agent charged my credit card just under 650 Euros for this damage, ostensibly to replace the windscreen, so he claimed. I asked if he would be providing evidence of windscreen replacement / invoice after completion to help with my insurance claim, he replied that RC would not be doing this "due to their policy" which is all rather suspect and makes you wonder if anything they charge for ever actually gets rectified or if it's just an extra income stream. I'm sure that this chip was there all along, and I am convinced that no replacement will happen. No doubt the next renter will be stung for the exact same chip if he doesn't spot it.



As stated, I had taken a video and photos at check out, but no inspection / videoing / photographs by the customer in the full sun glare will pick up these kind of tiny blemishes, especially if you don't know the paper trick, so to be sure of avoiding these tactics, I'd suggest you simply go elsewhere.

I should have checked Right Car's reviews before I hired. Going by the majority of experiences they'll clearly do everything possible to punish you and cash in for having your own insurance by finding a small existing fault at check in, a fault that was likely already there and you'll need to be a professional vehicle valeter and photographer to spot and document it. Pay cheap, pay twice as they say. I'll get the money back through my insurance, but the admin faff is a headache and I'm out of pocket for some months while they sort it out.

Confusingly, only one hour after my card was charged the 650 Euros for damages, I received an email from RC stating that the car had been returned with NO damages, and thanking me for my custom. Eh?

I'll be sticking to Hertz next time.

We really struggled with Right-Cars - nothing right about them.
The car they gave us was barely road worthy - ridiculous milage, a nightmare to drive and covered in scratches. An embarrassment.
Unfortunately Customer Service was awful and they really don't care.
We would not recommend them at all

I would not rent another car from RC Right Car rentals. They gave me the wrong car, too small and not what I ordered. I was also made to feel guilty for not taking out their additional insurance as I already had made alternate insurance arrangement. They were rude and not accommodating in the 36c heat. The day before returning the car was suspicious keyed(scratch) and I was charged $415 euros. The cars are tracked I would never use them again. I have been hiring cars for decades and never had such a poor experience.

Profoundly disappointed with the service.** Staff were aggressively hostile: shouting over customers, denying us basic courtesy, and failing to resolve issues. We endured a **3-hour wait in 38°C temperatures with heavy baggage** without assistance or apology. Ultimately left to arrange (and pay for) independent transport. Strongly advise others to reconsider."

not even worth one star. This company is one of the worst I have ever had dealings with in 35 years of coming to Crete. This soured our last day and we had to leave to catch a flight. We ensured the car was clean full of fuel, and no damage that we could see. On return to their office, a woman checked the car over 3 times before pouncing on a small chip to the windscreen. When we picked the car up there was a hard sell to take out their insurance at an additional cost more than the rental. There was a disagreement at the time of return when we disputed the tiny chip however on our return to the UK we have been charged over £500 for this. The staff are rude and not customer friendly. We have not received a proper invoice for this cost and I will be following this up with the address I have in the UK. It is absolutely a rip off to charge that amount for a chip that we unfortunately did not see or was it pointed out to us., but of course its written in the contract which was supplied after we took the car. We booked this through Easyjet and so had no choice of who we were going to be using. Renter beware.....

Scam horrible rent car services charge us for invisible damage 400 euro!!!! Not propositional that cannot been seen before, because his so tiny that I didn’t even take a pic of that just things that I canot see , please run away even if order better u pay the penalty and choose a trusted company . They will find something be shore all the people who been at the office while we waiting get penalty for something they found

RIGHT CARS : My reply to the Head Office

I am somewhat astounded by your reply to my email.
Firstly, you cannot claim that my version misrepresents what actually happened as you yourself were not present and therefore you are basing your judgment on what you have been told from the agency. I fully understand that you must stay loyal to your employees but unless you have video proof of the incident it is their word against mine.
I insist that the car was in perfect condition when it was returned to your agency. I had thoroughly washed it inside and out the evening before and would have noticed if there were any scratches or tar marks on it. Where on earth did the idea of the tar marks come from??? Was this your invention or something that was imagined by the agency once I had left the country??? There was absolutely no mention of any tar at any moment throughout the incident or during the police intervention! As you will see below on the invoice that I was given, there is a mention of a so-called scratch under the door panel but no mention of tar being present!!!


When I brought the car back I was asked to go into the agency and sort out the paperwork whilst a member of staff did the observation of the vehicle. In other words, I was not present and could not see what he was doing when examining the car. To my great surprise, I was told that there was a scratch under the door. (but no mention of any tar!) I was in total disagreement with the observations made by the agency making this claim and decided to call the police.
The two police agents arrived and one of them greeted the two members of staff & stayed in the office chatting to them (he obviously knew them). The other police officer checked the car with me and witnessed the fact that the paint just peeled away when I gently rubbed it with my finger.
For your information two staff members, two police officers and myself makes five people in total (and not seven as you claim!) Since dealing with your agency we have read a great deal of feedback from other clients with similar experiences including one just a week before us. He too observed that the paintwork of the car was obviously masked and he, in turn, was accused of scratching the paintwork.
All that you are “making clear” in your email is that you are dishonest and unprofessional in your approach towards your clients. You certainly do not have to “invite” us to refrain from renting with you in the future! We have absolutely no attention of doing so and we will do our upmost to warn friends, family and social media of your lack of professionalism and integrity.

Emma is very nice

Maria was great ... Really good help

Very nice experience at Herakleion airport,friendly staff and new cars

Will try to grab as much money as they can.

Arrived late, due to flight delay, they charged an out of hours fee. Up selling of car insurance an absolute rip off.

Scammers!!! Very rude staff!!! Damaged vehicles that never get repaired and each new dent is paid for by the drivers, on average £460. Both ways you’re screwed: you pay additional insurance or you’ll pay £460 for any new scratch…. they just cover up old dents with blotched jobs which fail and you pay then!!! Stay away!! We contacted the tourist police now

Location was Heraklion Airport, Crete.
Absolute rip-off company.
Like others gave said, they try and force you to take our their insurance, even though we paid extra at the time of booking with CarJet.
When we returned the car they did a cursory look around the outside before homing in on the valance under the front bumper.
A few scuff marks were shown to me and they said that I did it, which I refuted.
I asked for the pictures that they had on file for prior to the collection but they refused.
Ended up costing €330.
100% a SCAM company.
DO NOT USE THEM, you have been warned.
CarJet needs to remove them.

FYI.
It was a white Skoda with the registration PEP 9359

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! As many previous customers warn! They are total scammers, we arrived as a big family on a summer holiday requiring a big car, and should have been alarmed at the argument going on in the background with a previous customer as we did our initial greet. We did not damage the car in the slightest, upon return of the vehicle the woman had a vague look around the car and then went straight to where she knew we wouldn’t have taken images of previous damage. Which was under the back bumper. They argued to death, they pull out all the stops and they have all the t’s and c’s in place to nail you. They are scammers and snakes, they will somehow try and force you to pay so do not use this company.

Turned up at about 11.00pm to get car. Staff were drinking beer, and offered us one. We turned them down as we were driving. No mention of things not to do. However we know them. Took photos of car but did not get underneath car to check out underside. I have never done this, now I know you should. But pretty hard to do in the dark. On returning car a lady started the usual checks. We have had 3 previous cars from them. However this time it took ages and every inch of the car was checked with a fine toothcomb. At one point she went into the office and said "I cant get a good enough look due to the sun". She then came back out and re-started. She found what she said was a Scratch on the front bumper. We could not see one and eventually they agreed it was not there. She then went under the bumper to find some small damage marks. They claim they took photos before we took it and showed us a photo of the bumper. We asked to see the date registered on the photo, but they refused. We asked if they had photos of the car back seat that had salt stains on. We found these the morning after we hired it. Right Cars have a strict policy that you cannot stain the seats this way. She replied this was irrelevant. All the way through they kept telling us we have no problems we can claim through our excess insurers. I am positive they are using this method now to make money from people that do not take their insurance out. They deducted £450 for the damage from our deposit. Looking at other reviews it confirms our suspicion. Be aware even if you take out full expensive insurance with several of the Greek car rental companies, they have a clause that it does not cover underneath the cars. I will be telling the excess company that I think a Con is going on. This might not help my claim but it is shocking how they are treating people. Ruins their whole holiday. What kind of people are Right Cars?
In reply to Right Cars.
I am 69 years old and do not get down underneath cars and take pictures or check for damage. Especially in the Dark after long flights. You claim the car had no damage underneath when we took it, but refuse to show dated photo,s showing no damage at this time. You also refuse to coment about all the other people that you have taken money from for the same reason in the last 2 months. It apears that these are all people that have taken out external insurance.