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The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Decode Car Hire

Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for Decode Car Hire. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with Decode Car Hire.

On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used Decode Car Hire's products or services. Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service.

Whether you're considering doing business with Decode Car Hire, or you've already had an experience with them, our community's reviews and complaints will give you a valuable perspective on what to expect. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money, and we hope that our platform will be a valuable resource for you.

Please feel free to browse our reviews and complaints and share your own experience with Decode Car Hire. Your feedback is an important part of our community and will help others make informed decisions.

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4:05 pm EDT
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Decode Car Hire Fraud --> Do Not Use DECODE!

I rented a van through Decode Car Hire in September 2010. They charged the full price of the van to my credit card and then gave me the details of the local Czech company I would pick the van up from. Everything was in order until I went to pick the van up and the local company informed me that I had to pay them in full and Decode shouldn't have charged me anything. So I paid the local company and worked with them to try and contact Decode.

I submitted several complaints on their website, emailed their support address multiple times, mailed them a letter and tried calling their phone number at least 30 times throughout the week (I'm convinced they don't have anyone answering the phones because no matter what time of the day I called their representatives were "busy' and I had to call back). The local car company also emailed and attempted to call them.

After two weeks I still had no reply from Decode so I decided to contact my bank. After a couple weeks of working with my bank I was refunded the money on my credit card and the bank canceled my card due to "fraudulent activity". Thank goodness my bank was able to get my money back... Decode never even contacted me! This is definitely a scam, whatever you do DO NOT USE DECODE.

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11:52 am EDT
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Decode Car Hire Extra Charges

Hello, I also booked a car hire from decodecarhire.co.uk for Murcia Airport in Spain and had a similar experience to John52. My reservation was said to be all inclusive and I expected so. After i made the reservation, decode contacted me and said that my pick up time i requested was not during the normal business hours of the car hire supplier. Then they offered me to either pick up the car at the same time and pay an additional 10 euros or change my pick up time so i would not have to pay the extra charge. I went ahead and paid the extra money and the rest of my experience with decode was really good actually. Upon further research, i even found a part in their FAQ page where it says something about paying an extra fee for an off hours pick up.

In conclusion, I do not have a problem with the way decode handled my situation and actually i was impressed they responded to me so quickly because i have used other companies that would never have told me about this additional charge. I will most likely use decode again in the future.

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Julian Newcomb
Melbourne, AU
Oct 07, 2010 12:40 am EDT

I am surprised to hear that you actually saw a hire car from them, I dont actually believe you, Decode dont have cars to hire, they only take money on the promise of one, they are a sham marketing Co. Do not go anywhere near them.
Be very careful there is no way of getting your money back.

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john gamblin
Southampton, GB
Mar 06, 2010 11:24 am EST

to all that use car hire from malaga by MARBENJO SL .KEEP ONE EYE ALL WAYS ON UR BANK . They have takeing £134.36 3 months afther i hire a car. I booked it through reservations@decodcarhire.co.uk

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5:37 am EDT
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Decode Car Hire not delivering payed service

Find Decode Car Hire on the internet. They offered the best rate for a 2 weeks car hire at the Malaga airport, Payed the invoice. After not getting a conformation I finally find out thet they could not deliver the hired car. Did speak to them on phone and mail in order to get my paid money back. Filled in the necessary form Decode mailed me. Spoke again several time by phone with them. Last contact was Friday 25-09-2009. Promished me by phone to pay the money back next week. Went for 2 weeks on holidays, after returning no refund.
They don't answer the phone any more and I don't get any replies om my mails.
I think the Decode Car Hire is just an other SCAM company.

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Hmilligan
Glasgow, GB
Feb 01, 2011 9:37 am EST
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Hired a car for 2 weeks at alicante last sep with suncar who are now decode car hire, same thing happend to me had to pay again on arivval as decode had not paid the spanish rental co ( rentagain.com )however after months of emails and attempted phone calls to no avail I got my bank onto it (HBOS master card)had to provide the story and all receipts invoved, they wont do this at the drop of a hat however they did eventually get my money back .However they are still at it as I have just found out as i have a car to pick up tomorrow Wed 2 Feb the problems start again as the hire company in Spain more or less directed me to this site, they will however honour my booking providing I pay again.

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david genner
Nottingham, GB
Oct 20, 2010 10:31 am EDT

we went on holiday to Faro Airport in Portugal, we paid you to hire a car in May, however when we got to the airport(Faro) AirAuto who Decode were ment to be paying said to us that you have not been paying them so our booking was no good, and had to pay again, tried ringing decode, but no answer? Air Auto was the local office and they told us to contact you on return for a refund? Contacted Decode when we got back and they said they would refund as we showed them the receipt to show we had paid again and they said I would have a full refund, waited 28 days as noted still no refund! Still awaiting refund. on website number to call has gone and online web cate has gone!. They owe us £198

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cpennycook
Norwich, GB
Mar 14, 2011 8:29 pm EDT

I am still waiting for refund since august 1010. Did you solve your issue?

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Douglas Crew
Redruth, GB
Nov 10, 2010 10:30 pm EST
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Mail sent to the company address is returned marked 'GONE AWAY'

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Douglas Crew
Redruth, GB
Nov 10, 2010 10:28 pm EST
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Letters to the address shown are returned marked 'GONE AWAY'.

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Walks
Leeds, GB
Nov 10, 2010 9:57 pm EST

Went on Holiday to the Algarve, 5 days before they changed there terms and conditions so we had to pay for the car on collection (twice the price quoted)
Sent many emails and one telephone conversation as they do not pick up any calls or now even reply to emails and guess what still no refund.
What they did do is for my personal banking details! to send the refund.
I have now reported them to the credit cards services for fraudulant trading.
Please keep away from them
PS they have a sister company called Sun Car Hire

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mickeyrooney1000
, IE
Oct 15, 2010 6:35 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I assumed DECODE would pay Alamo and take a commission...But no!

THIS E-MAIL (BELOW) IS FROM DECODE CAR HIRE:

YOUR CREDIT CARD PROVIDER IS YOUR ONLY AVENUE"!

DECODE is a latvian company! Yes Latvian... WIth an office on London.

Searching thru hundreds on threads of complaints i found a number for michael.ribzamen@decodecarhire.co.uk
who is a manager in Decode +37 [protected] (latvia) . I rang it getting through to a Michael Ribzamen.

This guy answered saying he was in Latvia and very bluntly asked if i wanted my money back!
I said yes of course why else would i call?!

He said to send him an e-mail with my reservation / confirmation number so i did. Within15mins... YES 15 mins, i had a reply from him on my email saying decode would be in touch with me. Literally 5 minutes later i had an e-mail from DECODE saying the following:

Dear Client,

Accept our apologies for the delay of our reply.
We have been encountering problems with our system management, that have partly blocked our ability to provide prompt refunds.
In order to receive a refund in the given situation of shortcomings regarding payment types, please contact the Bank or Credit Card company operating your remittances.
By making an application of reclamation on the given amount charged by our company, it can be pulled back to your account, which as a reclamation will be accepted from our side.
The given process will include time consumption from your side, but it’s the most effective way to provide that the refund will take place in the nearest future.
Best regards,

Decode Car Hire Team
St Clements House
27-28 Clements Lane
London EC4N 7AE
Phone: +[protected]
Fax: +[protected]
E-mail: info@decodecarhire.co.uk
www.decodecarhire.co.uk

My credit card provieder called me and within a few hours i had my money back!

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Roland Poetscher
, AT
Oct 14, 2010 7:48 am EDT

I was on holiday in Malta last week and booked a rental car for 8 days via Decode Car Rental. At Malta Airport there was no car and I called PRINCESS CAR HIRE specified as Decode's partner in the contract. I paid 100, 55 EUR to Decode by credit card.
But Princess Car Hire did not know anything about my reservation and explained that this is SCAM BY DECODE - and very well known (even police is informed and several people have been betrayed so far)!
So I am another proven example for this scam ...
Roland Poetscher from Vienna/Austria

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Douglas Crew
Redruth, GB
Oct 07, 2010 12:00 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

When will the authorities take legal action against this Compant? I'm just one of many people who have been ripped off by this company!

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cherryvale
Calgary, CA
Oct 06, 2010 11:10 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I booked a car with Decode on September 6th 2010 online.They took full payment from my credit card, and then emailed me to say that no car was available.
They then said they would refund me, but could not refund on my credit card so asked for bank account details.(Uh oh!)
Luckily I used a bank account I have with no money in it, otherwise I am sure that they would have emptied it!
Needless to say, I have not received any refund, and all my emails are ignored.
I am a UK citizen, but currently live in Canada.Anyone advise me how I can report this company to trading standards (etc.) from here.

DECODE ARE A SCAM COMPANY!

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