Spanish car hire company is making customers pay for unnecessary hire car insurance according to newspaper report

The Daily Telegraph reported last Tuesday (4-6-13) that they had received a complaint from a reader who had hired a car through Record Rent-a-car in Malaga in Spain.

The reader's concern was that "On picking up the car I was asked if I wanted to purchase additional insurance to cover the damage excess. I declined and said that I had a separate policy in place.

The rental clerk would not accept this policy and insisted that I purchase Record’s own cover or else he could not release the keys to me. Under duress I purchased the cheapest “Comfort Plus” option for €53 (£47) for the week." He already had an annual car hire excess insurance policy from insurance4carhire"  

Insurance4carhire told the Telegraph's Gill Charlton that "that Record Spain is one of the worst offenders and says it also hears of similar cases at other well-known franchises in Spain and Ireland"

The car hire was arranged via Holiday Autos who have rectified the problem for the customer, but who also said "that renters who find themselves in a similar situation should telephone Holiday Autos’ 24-hour helpline from the rental desk so it can speak with the supplier and explain the situation to avoid these charges being made"

If you are renting via Holiday Autos, take the 24-hour helpline telephone number with you.

The Daily Telegraph's report can be found Here