Credit card scam at Faro airport petrol station

[James Faro]

21 to 25, staying with Roy4eyes.

see here

Megalomania is a word defined as:

1. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

The word megalomania is derived from the Greek words "μεγαλο": megalo-, meaning large, and "μανία": mania, meaning madness, frenzy. The first attested use of the word "megalomania" is in 1890 as a translation of the French word "mégalomanie".

[shanagarry]

the car needs refueling you can purchase petrol at the station over there"

Believe it or not - that is the best way to hire a car - that way you only pay for the fuel you use. When you get the car with a full tank, you are paying the cost for the rental company to fuel it and that is more than the pump price. The most cost effective way is 'empty to empty' (not stone dry) enough to get you to a fuel station. From Faro Airport you can get to the BP Garage at Forum Faro with a spoonful of fuel (if you don't want to use the one in the airport). If you reflect on the cost you are charged by a rental company to refuel the car you've used - you will see that it is usually 15% - 25% more than if you did it yourself. The reason for this is that the fuel is bought and resold with IVA added each time. In short the rental company buys the fuel from the petrol station at a price that includes IVA and then resells it to you with IVA added again (because they have provided a service by refuelling the car for you).

The reps are not on a fuel commission, they're probably self-employed and are cash-flow conscious and do not want the hassle/cost of refuelling - as in the main they are brokers. The difference being - a rental company can recover the IVA - a broker (depending on his turnover) may not be able to or at best a proportion of it. The guys who operate from the place in the car park are all brokers and are probably living from hand to mouth. Car rental is a cut-throat business and not very profitable.

Apologies for the epistle but it is something I thought might be helpful

[Gary/Gaynor]

the car needs refueling you can purchase petrol at the station over there"

Believe it or not - that is the best way to hire a car - that way you only pay for the fuel you use. When you get the car with a full tank, you are paying the cost for the rental company to fuel it and that is more than the pump price. The most cost effective way is 'empty to empty' (not stone dry) enough to get you to a fuel station. From Faro Airport you can get to the BP Garage at Forum Faro with a spoonful of fuel (if you don't want to use the one in the airport). If you reflect on the cost you are charged by a rental company to refuel the car you've used - you will see that it is usually 15% - 25% more than if you did it yourself. The reason for this is that the fuel is bought and resold with IVA added each time. In short the rental company buys the fuel from the petrol station at a price that includes IVA and then resells it to you with IVA added again (because they have provided a service by refuelling the car for you).

The reps are not on a fuel commission, they're probably self-employed and are cash-flow conscious and do not want the hassle/cost of refuelling - as in the main they are brokers. The difference being - a rental company can recover the IVA - a broker (depending on his turnover) may not be able to or at best a proportion of it. The guys who operate from the place in the car park are all brokers and are probably living from hand to mouth. Car rental is a cut-throat business and not very profitable.

Apologies for the epistle but it is something I thought might be helpful

I may be missing something here but if you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with one then surely what you have said does not apply

Gary

[cereza]

I always use Zit Auto and pay cash. They are the principals to the contract. They will accept credit card as a last resort but they are not very happy about it. They will not accept Multibanco cards under any circumstance!
On fuel their cars usually have some in and they ask you to return with the same amount. Some companies such as LuzCars do not have permanent reps in the car park and often their cars are empty of fuel.
As far as credit card payments are concerned I always check the amount before pressing OK - if the cashier has already pressed OK then I would ask to see the amount again so that I may press OK myself

[shanagarry]

I may be missing something here but if you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with one then surely what you have said does not apply

The scenario I outlined is 'empty to empty' which usually reduces the rental you pay - quite significantly. You are right - if you get it full and return it full - you pay the list rate - unless you don't return it full, in which case you go through the increased pump price I outlined.

Not all rental companies operate 'empty to empty' - because it is a lost profit opportunity.

I work on the basis that any way I can take cost out of the equation - I will. This is one way.

[bruce]

Our car from Zitauto had half a tank and they just asked us to return it with a half tank of petrol.

[soulman]

Do ZITauto do 'spot' rental.

[Michael Crane]

21 to 25, staying with Roy4eyes.

see here

Megalomania is a word defined as:

1. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

The word megalomania is derived from the Greek words "μεγαλο": megalo-, meaning large, and "μανία": mania, meaning madness, frenzy. The first attested use of the word "megalomania" is in 1890 as a translation of the French word "mégalomanie".

wtf?

[Michael Crane]

Our car from Zitauto had half a tank and they just asked us to return it with a half tank of petrol.

This is what I have always done with zitauto - returned it as I found it. I sometimes have to nip into the 'scam' garage to top it up a bit, paying in cash, of course.

[pato]

Our car from Zitauto had half a tank and they just asked us to return it with a half tank of petrol.

This is what I have always done with zitauto - returned it as I found it. I sometimes have to nip into the 'scam' garage to top it up a bit, paying in cash, of course.

If, as I have, picked the car up with a full tank and return it, I can fill it up in Cvo and drive to the airport and the gauge will still show full.
I have had on occasion been advised that the tank is quarter full and when I get in and start the engine it's only 1/8 full. Again when I had the last car broken into and the rental people removed the vehicle I asked what about the half full tank of petrol, they said the replacement car had a tank 1/4 full and that's it, it wasn't 1/4 full either.

[shanagarry]

I asked what about the half full tank of petrol

and you didn't make a fuss

[pato]

I asked what about the half full tank of petrol

and you didn't make a fuss

I did a teeny bit

[md 600 driver]

it would be an idea if someone with portugese writing skills send a letter or email to portugal BP to highlight what may be a problem the garage has and tey can investigate it
will anyone do this and report back

[ceh]

When I picked up a car at the airport last week I was told that the gauge was on empty and that as the low fuel light was on, I needed to get petrol at the garage at the entrance to the airport. I was really glad I'd read the original post beforehand so paid in cash. Thanks allenhouse.

I have noticed that YOR cars are writing down all the details from the credit card when I pay in cash as well as taking an imprint of the card for the excess.

[shanagarry]

YOR cars are writing down all the details from the credit card when I pay in cash

Of course they are - how else can they trace you if you run off with their car