Economy Bookings Reviews

Hi - I recently purchased the Economy Booking "full coverage" on a rental car in Mexico, for $900 US. When we went to pick up the car, the agent said our policy did not include 3rd party liability which is mandatory in Mexico,

So, I cancelled the insurance from Economy Booking before picking up the car, and bought proper coverage from the agent.

For the last 7 weeks, I've been trying to get ahold of an agent online or in person but only got form letters.

Finally, today I was informed that "full coverage" does NOT include basic insurance, so even though I did not use the Economy Insurance at all, there is no refund.

Found Economy Booking, or Booking Group, online when thinking about renting a car for a Cozumel vacation. The price for the rental car was going to be about $27/day for five days so we thought that would be a great deal. We had never heard of Fox Rent a Car but "how bad could it be?" The rental info said they offered what looked like Full Coverage insurance for a nominal price. After checking with my State Farm rep, I learned that my insurance in the US would not cover me in Cozumel so I decided to take the Full Coverage from Economy Bookings. Even though the rental and the Full Coverage where on the same website page when I checked out, the email receipts/vouchers were separate. One stated the rental rate and total while the other stated I had "Full Coverage!"

Once I arrived at the Cozumel airport, we looked for the "Fox" rental stand but none of the stands had that name. We asked several people in the airport who told us to go outside to the end of the parking lot to a portable building in one direction, then back to the terminal, then back out to the other end of the parking lot.... Finally, we were told that EuropCar was the Fox rental agency. What a waste of time. We waited in line and overheard another group complaining about "buying" insurance on line but had to buy additional coverage at the rental desk. Our turn came up and sure enough, the agent said the "Full Coverage" I bought was not what was required to rent from them. Even though our rental was $137.95 for five days, the mandatory insurance would another $35 per day to take the car. I cancelled the rental. Once at the hotel, I contacted American Express about what I thought was bait and switch. I sent AMEX the two emails I received from [email protected] and explained what I had just gone through. I then sent emails back to Econobookings by responding to their two receipt/voucher emails explaining what I experienced as bait and switch. After that, I tried to call them at their (347)897-9795 number and a rude young man told me "sorry, there is nothing he can do." I also sent the email threads to [email protected] as I was instructed but the AMEX rep. I received an email response from Megan stating I had a chargeback status and I should go back to my credit card company for the claim outcome. Today, a week later, I receive notice from American Express that the chargeback was overturned and we WILL have to pay the $137.95 after all.

This is just bad business. Booking Group, or Econo Bookings pushed their "Full Coverage" and the fact that you "owe nothing" at the rental car pick-up. But what seems to be the real kicker is nowhere in their "Full Coverage" voucher does it say it is actually INSURANCE. Had I known the low, low price rental rate would have a mandatory insurance charge, more than doubling the price, I might have still gone with them. Not knowing the insurance charge would be more than the rental amount seems a little shady to me but finding out AT THE RENTAL DESK was not right. Just like their marketing of "Fox Rent a Car" without mentioning the name change, buy out, whatever, to EuropCar is just poor customer service.

Be VERY careful about using Economy Bookings or Booking Group for your next international car rental. If you are like me, you want the professional service providers to be professional, and/or provide service. Not explaining the insurance requirements for their car rental partners is not good business. I'm sure they don't care but I will be booking with more reputable services in the future.

Avoid this Company

They are under investigation

Yep. Crooks. I had to catch a later flight and it turned that would be out of hours for the rental office and incur fees. Of course I then started to look at cancellation. Their cancellation policy is scam. The big print says free cancellation up to 48hrs before. The small print says, only if you accept voucher. You can't get a refund that is unless you pay a cancellation fee! I don't want a voucher. I want my money back!

Then I looked at the reviews on their homepage. there's only a snippet of each review with lots of stars for that review, but if you actually read what's there people are saying no stars despite 5stars at the top of the box. There can be no doubt their reviews manipulated. As noted on this site many positive reviews seem to appear on the same day. CROOKS! DO NOT USE!

I had rented a car for 5 weeks but after 1 week, I had to cut my vacation short due to an unexpected emergency. When I returned the car, I was surprised there was absolutely no refund. I was told its in the "fine print". I was expecting some type of penalty but to have to pay $650 for the car when it was returned does not seem reasonable.

I booked a car and the site said FREE cancellation, Book with confidence! You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours before the pickup. No worries, no hassle.

I canceled an hour later, and they told me that they can only give me a voucher for future booking but if I want my money back, they will charge me $65, and the rest of the balance will be returned in 21 business days.

I don’t think this means FREE cancellation, you’ll get a full refund.

Pay close attention to Economybookings. One small careless mistake and they steal everything you paid for in advance.

I had booked and paid for a car rental. We had a guest for our trip. I needed a slightly bigger car. So I canceled my reservation and then rented another vehicle with them. I then learned that the cancellation fees were the total amount of my payment and I therefore did not have access to my money in the wallet provided for this purpose. After 4 attempts to contact by email, I was replied 3 weeks later mentioning their regulations during a cancellation and the fact that they are unable to offer a refund in this particular instance. All I wanted was to rent them a bigger car. They would rather take whatever I had paid in cancellation fees. I just lost $500 with this company that I consider dishonest.

When I tried to contact them, they took 3 weeks to tell me that according to their rules, they could not refund me. When I wrote a review on Truspilot to explain my problem, they responded in less than 24 hours. In a very polite manner, they confirmed to me that there was nothing they could do for me. It's politely stealing.

The administrative fees for a cancellation are the total amount of my payment, i.e. $500. I understand that there could be administration fees but the total amount is excessive, not justifiable and in my opinion it is theft

When I canceled to rent another vehicle with them, there was no warning, no alert to let me know that they were going to steal my entire payment if I canceled.

I booked a car with announced free cancellation.

they charged me 60EUR!! to refund the money (over 20% of the original booking). A shame.

all written in very long terms and conditions stating that they refund it to your Credit Wallet... (not credit Card) if you want your cash back you pay 60€.

For me, neither fair nor legal.

I was booking a car this morning and the website indicated a total amount of CAD 597.56, however when I entered my Credit Card it added another 499.60 to the booking. I would not have booked that car if I had of known about this extra fee/s.

This is not transparent and is tricked my into booking for the larger amount. I would like to immediately request any charges to my Card reversed and need this booking cancelled. I was not aware of any extra charges, and this was not noted at the time of the confirmation.

This is not legally allowed and is deceptive for the customer. As noted below this booking did not show the total amount prior to confirming the charges. I have written multiple emails regarding this. I am requesting the charges be reversed as noted by you call in center.

I have emailed both the booking and support booking group multiple times. The charges on my visa at for total of 436.37 USD or 619.63 CAD.

What a scam!

My first experience w virtual car rental. Upon being dropped off in a parking lot and directed to a kiosk where a virtual person comes on the screen to instruct how to get a rental.

After advising my confirmation stated 0 due on pick up as I prepaid. Virtual person advised me it did not include extra charges? Did u know u can be charged a senior fee if over 70. $14 a day. Never had that before. I got annoyed and walked away hitched a ride back to the airport.

No specifics info on website. Never again.

Howdy, first and foremost know I'm not a angry person. Generally very fair. No understatements here. Don't give this company a penny of your money. They will bait and switch you.

Then drag you along acting like they will help for weeks to months. I lost 200 something to them. That was supposed to be the total cost of the car. We get there in another country, stranded obviously they know people are in very limited option situations when traveling.

We were in Mexico and they tell us the quote "full coverage" we already paid for actually covers nothing in that country and we need to do a safety deposit of 1800 and pay outright 800 plus for insurance. Mind you this was supposed to be 200ish with full coverage all said and done and was paid and "set up" before we arrived in Mexico city.

Also that's pricey even for other places there. Ended up going with hertz for 600 out the door with actual full 100% coverage. I'm still "talking" with their support. But it's a joke, sorry Jessica- I hope you do help me. Yeah huge bait and switch they will wait till your in another country far from Your home with little options, legit putting you in a dangerous situation if you can't afford it and try and force your hand to take more money.

What a sleaze ball of a company. Honestly like I'd bet someone hadn't been able to pay that or had the credit limit. Couldnt get to the place they were sleeping and had to dangerously stay in the streets. What an awful thing to do to another person, ya'll should be ashamed. Youre right up there we with scam callers taking someones last penny. Scratch that you're way worse, this directly impacts peoples lively hood and ability to be safe and have transport. I'm just going to try and post this on as many places as I can and warn people.

Please save yourself and avoid any involvement with them or their partners, you will not get what you paid for. Back charge your card if they do this to you I'd recommend, it's not legitimate company, and I would love to see the bbb do a through investigation of these charlatan practices. Yall are the worst, good job