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| Car hire prices 'unfairly vary' across EU | Car hire prices 'unfairly vary' across EU |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Drivers are being charged different prices online for the same car rental based on where they live in Europe, the European Commission has said. | Drivers are being charged different prices online for the same car rental based on where they live in Europe, the European Commission has said. |
| Charges vary for some motorists, even if they are picking up the same vehicle from the same location and from the same hire company. | Charges vary for some motorists, even if they are picking up the same vehicle from the same location and from the same hire company. |
| The Commission said that price discrimination based on residence broke the rules of the EU's single market. | The Commission said that price discrimination based on residence broke the rules of the EU's single market. |
| The UK's car rental trade body said work was being done to get it right. | The UK's car rental trade body said work was being done to get it right. |
| A spokesman for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) said: "We are actively working with our members to ensure they comply with the European Commission." | A spokesman for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) said: "We are actively working with our members to ensure they comply with the European Commission." |
| Booking block | Booking block |
| The Commission highlights one case in which a German driver searched online for a vehicle to hire in the UK. When the driver filled in Germany as country of residence, the price doubled. | The Commission highlights one case in which a German driver searched online for a vehicle to hire in the UK. When the driver filled in Germany as country of residence, the price doubled. |
| In other cases, some consumers have been stopped from making a booking online after the website identified where they were located through their computer's IP address. This was owing to the website routing them to a country-specific site. | In other cases, some consumers have been stopped from making a booking online after the website identified where they were located through their computer's IP address. This was owing to the website routing them to a country-specific site. |
| The Commission first raised concerns in 2011, and recently wrote to six international car rental companies, telling them to review their pricing policies. | |
| It said that it had received an "unsatisfactory" reply from three companies - Europcar, Hertz and Avis. Consequently, it has made the letter public this week and has requested these companies conduct a full review by the end of the month. | It said that it had received an "unsatisfactory" reply from three companies - Europcar, Hertz and Avis. Consequently, it has made the letter public this week and has requested these companies conduct a full review by the end of the month. |
| "The single market should be a daily reality, not only for major international companies, but also for consumers of Europe," said Michel Barnier, vice-president of the European Commission. | "The single market should be a daily reality, not only for major international companies, but also for consumers of Europe," said Michel Barnier, vice-president of the European Commission. |
| The Commission said that some companies were keeping to the non-discrimination principle, but it was not fully applied throughout the sector. | The Commission said that some companies were keeping to the non-discrimination principle, but it was not fully applied throughout the sector. |
| It also urged drivers to shop around for the best deals and called on EU member states to ensure consumers' rights were protected. | It also urged drivers to shop around for the best deals and called on EU member states to ensure consumers' rights were protected. |
| Rental and leasing of cars accounts for about 30,000 complaints (5.5%) made to the European Consumer Centres network, which deals with cross-border complaints. | |
| The BVRLA estimates that the vehicle rental and leasing industry contributes £14.3bn to the UK economy. Ten million vehicles were hired in the UK last year. | The BVRLA estimates that the vehicle rental and leasing industry contributes £14.3bn to the UK economy. Ten million vehicles were hired in the UK last year. |