Do companies actually fix the damage they charge you for?

Tourists are being charged for ‘repairs’ on hire cars that never take place.

Avis Budget, Hertz and Enterprise admit to not always actually doing the work they charge for.

Instead, they claim they accept a lower sale value when they eventually sell the vehicle.

Europcar says that it does not always repair the damage until the points where it is about to get rid of a car.

This allows it to pay significantly less for the work than the price charged to customers, as one paint job could fix several scratches.

The findings have been passed to trading standards officers, who are already investigating some leaser companies in the UK. There are questions to answer over claims they overcharge customers for repairs.

The firm said the case could cost it £30million in compensation and legal fees.

The average excess thatthe six major hire car companies charge if you fly to France, Portugal, Greece or Spain this summer is £1,095. Budget charges an excess of £2,188 if you hire a VW at Faro airport, in Portugal, during the first week of August.