Overall customer experience with Thrifty is highly polarised, with many reporting extremely negative interactions while others praise specific locations. A significant number of customers allege unfair and excessive charges for minor or pre-existing damage, often citing difficulty disputing these due to out-of-hours returns or unclear inspection processes. The insurance and deposit policies are frequently criticised as a scam, with reports of forced expensive insurance, high credit card holds, and demands for impossible documentation to use alternative coverage. Hidden or unauthorised extra fees are a major complaint, with customers charged for upgrades, fuel, or add-ons they did not agree to, sometimes with forged signatures. Service quality at major airports like Shannon, Cork, and Dublin is often described as poor, involving long waits, unhelpful staff, and being pressured into costly upgrades when booked cars are unavailable. Vehicle quality is inconsistent, with complaints about old, dirty, poorly maintained, or incorrectly sized cars, including serious safety issues like bald tyres or wheels falling off. Positive experiences are largely confined to specific locations like Derry and Cork Airport, where staff are praised as friendly, professional, and helpful, offering good value and seamless service. The returns and refund process is problematic, with delayed or non-refunded deposits and unexpected charges appearing days after the car is returned. Booking and payment systems are criticised for being inflexible, particularly regarding mandatory credit card requirements that can strand customers. Ultimately, satisfaction hinges heavily on the specific rental location and staff encountered, leading to a stark divide between customers who feel scammed and those who had an excellent, value-for-money experience.
What customers love
- Good value for money and competitive
- Positive experiences with third-party bookings through
Common concerns
- Unfair damage charges and disputes over
- Predatory insurance and deposit practices with
- Hidden or unauthorised extra fees and
- Poor vehicle condition (old, dirty, unsafe,
Last updated 4 months ago
