NQ Rentals in receivership

Travellers stung in car firm's collapse

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Young travellers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket
after a national campervan rental company collapsed, and the case has
highlighted complaints of fraud by firms who target interstate or overseas
backpackers.

The Northern Territory's commissioner of consumer affairs, Richard
O'Sullivan, said the problem was damaging tourism and has called for
national regulation of the rental sector.

NQ Rentals was placed in receivership this week by a court order. Fair
Trading offices around the country have fielded complaints, in some cases
stretching back 10 months, from tourists whose credit cards had been debited
by $5000 by NQ despite having safely returned vehicles.

Problems are believed to be widespread. A 2003 report for the
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs warned that unfair contracts,
massive overcharging for repairs and fine print allowing unlimited charges
to credit cards put consumers at a disadvantage. Of 600 complaints between
2000 and 2002, half came from interstate or overseas tourists.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Some of them don't even know their credit cards
have been accessed until they get back to their country."

The report proposed outlawing such practices, a mandatory code of
conduct and licensing that included checks for financial solvency. But no
changes took place.

The Queensland Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech, said her
office received 51 complaints about NQ and delays in the refund of deposits.

Florian Dirscherl, 38, was told by NQ's Darwin depot last June that a
$5000 bond for a four-day hire would not be refunded until money was sent
from its Cairns head office. A month later the German traveller had not got
a cent and contacted Northern Territory Consumer Affairs, which recovered
the sum after two months.

Yoshinobu Kawahara, 36, hired an NQ campervan in Darwin in December to
travel to Sydney. "The guy at the Sydney depot checked the campervan and
said it was fine and we would be returned our bond in a few days," he said.
He has not seen his $5000.

Samriti Goyal, an English dentist, 25, had $2000 taken from her credit
card without consent after hiring a car from a Sydney firm. Five months
later it has not been returned despite her "distressed and frustrated"
international calls.

NQ customers seeking bond refunds must deal with its receiver, PPB
Business, and liquidator KPMG. But consumers come last in the queue of
creditors.




--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

Thanks Tony.

Tourism in this country certainly doesn't win when such events occur.
Unfortunately it would appear that there is very little protection for those
who book services direct with companies which may not be financially sound.

The company appears to be still trading - with no mention that I could see
on their website that they are in receivership.
See http://www.nqrentals.com.au/ As they don't appear to be a licensed
travel agent, there is presumably no fidelity fund.
Asd you point out, people who book their services are unsecured creditors,
who join the queue after the secured ones such as mortgagees and the tax
office.

I'd recommend anyone booking an overseas holiday take out insurance so they
are protected against the potential financial insolvency of service
providers.

Regards

David Bennetts

"David Bennetts" wrote in message
news:tTl9e.115 I'd recommend anyone booking an overseas holiday take out
insurance so they
are protected against the potential financial insolvency of service
providers.



And read the fine print first.

I suspect that someone with a bit of money who has had a credit card hit by
these people might like to get into the situation of taking direct legal
action against the Directors on a matter of fraud.

It may not end up getting anywhere, but it might frighten a few of the
*******s.

The major problem would seem to be that hire car firms are not covered as
travel agents in any of various state legislations (and I can see the
reasons for this.)

Not having any knowledge of how overseas travel wholesalers work, but with
some knowledge of how the Australian Outbound market works, I would make a
suggestion to potential car hirers.

If people are travelling from Australia to any of the mainstream overseas
destinations and intend to hire a vehicle for anything more than 2 or 3
days, it is NEARLY always cheaper to use one of the specialist travel
industry firms here in OZ (Driveaway Holidays, Renault Euroloease etc.) than
it is to go direct to the major car hire firms.

I realise that this does NOT really protect you against deposit theft at the
point of hire, but it DOES insert another player into the action who has
their own reputation to protect and IS registered as a travel providor under
relevant state legislations.

Those who have read this far should also ponder the fact that purchasing an
air/rail/bus ticket directly from the operator usually does NOT provide any
travel industry protection either!

--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

"David Bennetts" wrote in message
news:tTl9e.115 I'd recommend anyone booking an overseas holiday take out
insurance so they
are protected against the potential financial insolvency of service
providers.



And read the fine print first.

I suspect that someone with a bit of money who has had a credit card hit by
these people might like to get into the situation of taking direct legal
action against the Directors on a matter of fraud.

It may not end up getting anywhere, but it might frighten a few of the
*******s.

The major problem would seem to be that hire car firms are not covered as
travel agents in any of various state legislations (and I can see the
reasons for this.)

Not having any knowledge of how overseas travel wholesalers work, but with
some knowledge of how the Australian Outbound market works, I would make a
suggestion to potential car hirers.

If people are travelling from Australia to any of the mainstream overseas
destinations and intend to hire a vehicle for anything more than 2 or 3
days, it is NEARLY always cheaper to use one of the specialist travel
industry firms here in OZ (Driveaway Holidays, Renault Euroloease etc.) than
it is to go direct to the major car hire firms.

I realise that this does NOT really protect you against deposit theft at the
point of hire, but it DOES insert another player into the action who has
their own reputation to protect and IS registered as a travel providor under
relevant state legislations.

Those who have read this far should also ponder the fact that purchasing an
air/rail/bus ticket directly from the operator usually does NOT provide any
travel industry protection either!

--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

There are references in this article to some government consumer ministries
etc.

Can anyone advise if there is a website (or multiple websites), or other
sources, where the results of such consumer complaints are published (i.e.
after investigation), as one possible means of checking out some of these
companies prior to entering into a rental contract with them?

RQ

"Tony Bailey" wrote in message
...
Travellers stung in car firm's collapse

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Young travellers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket
after a national campervan rental company collapsed, and the case has
highlighted complaints of fraud by firms who target interstate or overseas
backpackers.

The Northern Territory's commissioner of consumer affairs, Richard
O'Sullivan, said the problem was damaging tourism and has called for
national regulation of the rental sector.

NQ Rentals was placed in receivership this week by a court order.
Fair Trading offices around the country have fielded complaints, in some
cases stretching back 10 months, from tourists whose credit cards had been
debited by $5000 by NQ despite having safely returned vehicles.

Problems are believed to be widespread. A 2003 report for the
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs warned that unfair contracts,
massive overcharging for repairs and fine print allowing unlimited charges
to credit cards put consumers at a disadvantage. Of 600 complaints between
2000 and 2002, half came from interstate or overseas tourists.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Some of them don't even know their credit cards
have been accessed until they get back to their country."

The report proposed outlawing such practices, a mandatory code of
conduct and licensing that included checks for financial solvency. But no
changes took place.

The Queensland Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech, said her
office received 51 complaints about NQ and delays in the refund of
deposits.

Florian Dirscherl, 38, was told by NQ's Darwin depot last June that a
$5000 bond for a four-day hire would not be refunded until money was sent
from its Cairns head office. A month later the German traveller had not
got a cent and contacted Northern Territory Consumer Affairs, which
recovered the sum after two months.

Yoshinobu Kawahara, 36, hired an NQ campervan in Darwin in December
to travel to Sydney. "The guy at the Sydney depot checked the campervan
and said it was fine and we would be returned our bond in a few days," he
said. He has not seen his $5000.

Samriti Goyal, an English dentist, 25, had $2000 taken from her
credit card without consent after hiring a car from a Sydney firm. Five
months later it has not been returned despite her "distressed and
frustrated" international calls.

NQ customers seeking bond refunds must deal with its receiver, PPB
Business, and liquidator KPMG. But consumers come last in the queue of
creditors.




--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

"RQ" wrote in message
. ..
There are references in this article to some government consumer
ministries etc.

Can anyone advise if there is a website (or multiple websites), or other
sources, where the results of such consumer complaints are published (i.e.
after investigation), as one possible means of checking out some of these
companies prior to entering into a rental contract with them?

RQ



It's fairly piecemeal, as each State/Territory has its own Department of
Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs.
Suggest what you're saying is a bit like closing the door after the horse
has bolted, and it's better to heed general advice before purchasing
services, eg
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index...romItemId/8135

Regards

David Bennetts

"RQ" wrote in message
. ..
There are references in this article to some government consumer
ministries etc.

Can anyone advise if there is a website (or multiple websites), or other
sources, where the results of such consumer complaints are published (i.e.
after investigation), as one possible means of checking out some of these
companies prior to entering into a rental contract with them?

RQ



It's fairly piecemeal, as each State/Territory has its own Department of
Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs.
Suggest what you're saying is a bit like closing the door after the horse
has bolted, and it's better to heed general advice before purchasing
services, eg
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index...romItemId/8135

Regards

David Bennetts

Hi I'm one of the many who have prebooked a car and payed a lot of money in
advance (3000AUD). What is the situation really. No car for us? No refund?
Another company taking over?

Bob

"Tony Bailey" skrev i en meddelelse
...
Travellers stung in car firm's collapse

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Young travellers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket
after a national campervan rental company collapsed, and the case has
highlighted complaints of fraud by firms who target interstate or overseas
backpackers.

The Northern Territory's commissioner of consumer affairs, Richard
O'Sullivan, said the problem was damaging tourism and has called for
national regulation of the rental sector.

NQ Rentals was placed in receivership this week by a court order.
Fair
Trading offices around the country have fielded complaints, in some cases
stretching back 10 months, from tourists whose credit cards had been
debited
by $5000 by NQ despite having safely returned vehicles.

Problems are believed to be widespread. A 2003 report for the
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs warned that unfair contracts,
massive overcharging for repairs and fine print allowing unlimited charges
to credit cards put consumers at a disadvantage. Of 600 complaints between
2000 and 2002, half came from interstate or overseas tourists.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Some of them don't even know their credit cards
have been accessed until they get back to their country."

The report proposed outlawing such practices, a mandatory code of
conduct and licensing that included checks for financial solvency. But no
changes took place.

The Queensland Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech, said her
office received 51 complaints about NQ and delays in the refund of
deposits.

Florian Dirscherl, 38, was told by NQ's Darwin depot last June that
a
$5000 bond for a four-day hire would not be refunded until money was sent
from its Cairns head office. A month later the German traveller had not
got
a cent and contacted Northern Territory Consumer Affairs, which recovered
the sum after two months.

Yoshinobu Kawahara, 36, hired an NQ campervan in Darwin in December
to
travel to Sydney. "The guy at the Sydney depot checked the campervan and
said it was fine and we would be returned our bond in a few days," he
said.
He has not seen his $5000.

Samriti Goyal, an English dentist, 25, had $2000 taken from her
credit
card without consent after hiring a car from a Sydney firm. Five months
later it has not been returned despite her "distressed and frustrated"
international calls.

NQ customers seeking bond refunds must deal with its receiver, PPB
Business, and liquidator KPMG. But consumers come last in the queue of
creditors.




--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

Hi I'm one of the many who have prebooked a car and payed a lot of money in
advance (3000AUD). What is the situation really. No car for us? No refund?
Another company taking over?

Bob

"Tony Bailey" skrev i en meddelelse
...
Travellers stung in car firm's collapse

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Young travellers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket
after a national campervan rental company collapsed, and the case has
highlighted complaints of fraud by firms who target interstate or overseas
backpackers.

The Northern Territory's commissioner of consumer affairs, Richard
O'Sullivan, said the problem was damaging tourism and has called for
national regulation of the rental sector.

NQ Rentals was placed in receivership this week by a court order.
Fair
Trading offices around the country have fielded complaints, in some cases
stretching back 10 months, from tourists whose credit cards had been
debited
by $5000 by NQ despite having safely returned vehicles.

Problems are believed to be widespread. A 2003 report for the
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs warned that unfair contracts,
massive overcharging for repairs and fine print allowing unlimited charges
to credit cards put consumers at a disadvantage. Of 600 complaints between
2000 and 2002, half came from interstate or overseas tourists.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Some of them don't even know their credit cards
have been accessed until they get back to their country."

The report proposed outlawing such practices, a mandatory code of
conduct and licensing that included checks for financial solvency. But no
changes took place.

The Queensland Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech, said her
office received 51 complaints about NQ and delays in the refund of
deposits.

Florian Dirscherl, 38, was told by NQ's Darwin depot last June that
a
$5000 bond for a four-day hire would not be refunded until money was sent
from its Cairns head office. A month later the German traveller had not
got
a cent and contacted Northern Territory Consumer Affairs, which recovered
the sum after two months.

Yoshinobu Kawahara, 36, hired an NQ campervan in Darwin in December
to
travel to Sydney. "The guy at the Sydney depot checked the campervan and
said it was fine and we would be returned our bond in a few days," he
said.
He has not seen his $5000.

Samriti Goyal, an English dentist, 25, had $2000 taken from her
credit
card without consent after hiring a car from a Sydney firm. Five months
later it has not been returned despite her "distressed and frustrated"
international calls.

NQ customers seeking bond refunds must deal with its receiver, PPB
Business, and liquidator KPMG. But consumers come last in the queue of
creditors.




--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

"Bob" wrote in message
. ..
Hi I'm one of the many who have prebooked a car and payed a lot of money
in
advance (3000AUD). What is the situation really. No car for us? No refund?
Another company taking over?


You've paid NQ direct or you've paid a supplier in your own country?

--
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books