Europcar hires out thousands of vehicles daily, so it is not surprising
that a survey of its branches revealed some strange excuses for damage and
late return as well as some rather unusual items of lost property.
While the Europcar survey revealed some surprising results, perhaps one of
the most amusing was supplied by a car hire customer who got more than he
bargained for while he waited for a horse to pass on a country lane, after
the horse decided to take a rest on the bonnet. The driver watched in
horror as a horse, complete with rider in tow, slowly backed onto the car
as a vehicle on the opposite side passed in a narrow country lane.
Another unusual animal encounter was reported when Europcar staff at the
Newport car hire branch noticed a large chunk was missing from the bumper
of one of their cars. The customer explained they had visited Longleat
Safari Park and driven through the lion’s enclosure where a lion had taken
off a part of the bumper with his claws.
The survey also showed that while sunglasses, CDs, mobile phones and keys
are among the most common items left in Europcar’s vehicles, sometimes
stranger items can also turn up – ranging from items like a mannequin, to
50 fluorescent light bulbs, and a Scottish Piper’s black ostrich hat. As
well as these strange items, Europcar’s customers have also been known to
leave more valuable goods. One customer left £1000 worth of designer
clothes in the boot of a car.
A Derby car hire customer nearly lost their cool when they were hit by a
van driver from behind. When Europcar’s staff asked why he had driven into
her, she explained that he’d been distracted by the ice cream he was eating
flying onto his seat.
Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar commented, “There’s never
a dull day in the life of a hire car as some of these stories and items of
lost property reveal. Our staff are always professional and understanding
no matter what the reason for late return or damage and often go to great
pains to reunite lost and forgotten property with their rightful owners.”