353 Car Rental www.353carrental.ie

Only problem is 353 Car Hire are now "bankrupt" or "no longer trading"!!!!!

We hired a car with 353 over the New Year Holidays to be returned on 5th Jan 2010.

We took the shuttle bus from outside the airport, to their yard with cars.

The condition of the car was OK and we were assured there would be a shuttle bus to take us back to the airport when we returned the car to the yard!!!

Returned car at around 8am on the 5th - there was no one in the office! There was however a notice on the door stating that we should return the car

to Europa Car spaces in the short term car park and return the keys to the desk in the airport terminal.

So parked car as instructed and went to return keys in airport. There was no one on the desk, so we told the situation to the people on the neighbouring desk. They said 353 were "no longer trading".

We gave the keys to the people on the neighbouring desk and wrote a note to explain everything. But there is still 1200 euros caution on my husbands credit card!!!!

There is nobody answering the telephone or emails!!!!

I have never writen any reviews before but wanted to do it this time after panicing when reading such awful reviews of 353 Car Rental in Dublin.

I must say the whole experience was fine and actually better than other more expensive car rental companies that we've used at Dublin Airport. We paid just over £50 for 4 days including the excess insurance through cartrawler. Then we were charged £57 for a full tank of petrol. I've seen lots of complaints about this but this is really the standard with most of the car rental companies now.

We had a new Nissan Micra with only 13,000km on the clock. Not necessarily my first choice in a car, but it was clean and all working well. Last time, we had a car from Europcar which had a full ashtray and was very dirty. The minibus came to pick us up quickly and the cars are kept near the long-term airport carpark so not far away at all.

We had no problems with the car and returned it easily and te minibus arrived quickly again to take us back to the terminal. We did realise that we hadn't paid the M50 toll for Friday morning and I was concerned that they were going to charge me a small fortune but only £9.50 came off my credit card. They've taken the authorisation off my card so that's it.

So, although I believe other people's reviews on here, I think it is quite biased and I definitely did not have any of those issues.

To be honest I read other reviews after booking with 353 and wished I hadn't, but they were great.

Yes you get charged for a full tank of petrol, but it wasn't a rip off, if you use it and have read what they tell you.

Renting for a day or two it is a pain I agree, but we did over 1,000km so used the lot and more.

The lady at the desk was pleasant and said how great it was to deal with someone who had read the terms and conditions.

Bus arrived in minutes to collect the car and the driver loaded our bags.

The guy at the compound was really helpful as well.

Car was a 20,000 mile Micra, 5 door, as booked, no hard sell to up-grade at all from a budget car.

Yes you have to leave a deposit, but if I didn't know you I'd ask for one too. It didn't even appear on my card bill.

Car was clean and tidy and had a tiny dent in the bumper, which when I pointed it out, the guy looked amazed we even wanted it recording, but did so saying he wasn't bothered about small blemishes, I do believe that too.

The car ran seamlessly for a small engine despite me driving it quite hard and on just about the worst roads imaginable.

All the other cars in the compound looked pretty new too.

We returned the car as instructed with virtually no fuel and covered in mud, to be told that was fine and were bused back to the airport in 5 mins.

The only debit on my card was for the fuel and hire, which was far less that any other firms.

Moral of the story, read the conditions before you book not when you pick the car up or drop it off.

Check the car before you drive off and get them to agree in writing it's damaged before you drive it and no worse when you return it.

You will need to leave a deposit,it's the same with most hire companies.

Ok I am 43 with a clean driving license, so younger people maybe different.

Maybe other people have had bad experiences, but not us, will use them for the next trip, superb.

This company ripped us off. Charged for full tank of fuel at inflated price which we didn't use. We asked for an agreement without inclusive fuel, were told they didn't do them, but they do! Multiple minor damages on car. Beware when hiring from them and analyse the small print.

Appears cheap but can be very costly as it cost me over Euros 500 to recover my deposit because I had to employ a lawyer. Use this Company at your peril.

ADVISE: ASK FOR A RECEIPT SAYING NO DAMAGE cause they find some when you're not there.

It says prepaying the fuel is optional on your receipt but the girl at the counter says you have to no matter what. They Authorized 1200euro on my credit card without telling me...it did say it on the receipt I received but who has time to read that when you are at the counter with 5 people waiting behind you. The front tires were nearly bald I was lucky it didn't rain much (for a change)while there. When I returned the car I was told everything looked alright (no return receipt given) and could get on the shuttle bus to the airport, when the bus arrived at the airport(10-15min later) the driver got a call and gave me the phone, it was the guy at the return building...says the front windshield was broken (it wasn't when I returned it)and they are charging me 600+ euro ($800+) to replace it. The replacement cost is about 150Euro including a days rental...this is the way get extra income by ripping off their costumers that have a plane to catch and are going back to America. Stay away from these shysters.

*********DO NOT USE 353 CAR HIRE - THEY ARE CROOKS!!!************

You think that you are getting a good deal until you arrive to collect the car and you are charged for a full tank of petrol whether you use it or not. The petrol is supposedly at a discounted rate - I DON'T THINK SO!!!!! They then forget to mention that you can bring the car back with an empty tank of petrol, so we filled up the tank then relaised that we had paid twice. They then charge you a further 30 Euros if you want to reduce the excess from 2000 Euros and then they charge VAT on top. So what appears to be a cheap deal ends up being £175 for 3 days hire

The car was the WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HIRED. COMPLAINT 1.CAR FUEL POLICY - The policy is unclear to customers, as per my experience and, given a simple web search, many others too. I arrived at knock to be charged 67 Euro and told to bring it back empty. I have NEVER experienced such a policy with any other car hire company and WOULD NEVER HAD BOOKED WITH 353 IF I WAS AWARE. Even booking on the internet customers should not be duped into such hidden extras.When I asked at the airport for the details of the cost of fuel, I could only be given a figure before tax, therfore I did not even know how much I was being charged relative to the price of petrol in Ireland and the capacity size of the fuel tank.COMPLANT 2. THE CONDITION OF THE CAR. I made a detailed complaint at the car pick up point. The car had BROKEN GLASS (fog lamp) and hundreds of scratches and bumps. I sheet recorded 20 but the car was entirely covered in scratches and I was concerned I would be charged on my return. Given I was feeling RIPPED OFF from the fuel experience I simply did not (still do not) trust the people at 353.

The car was the WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HIRED. Given my friends on the same trip got better and cheaper cars elsewhere there was no value and no reason whatso ever that could justify sending me out with this dreadful car.

On collection of the car I find I must pay for a tank of fuel which will not be refunded. Some 50+ euros. No way to use this on a short visit. Futher to this, the car wipers were missing a huge chunk ( so they would not clear the windscreen ) and the only thing the girl at the desk has to say is "that does not qualify for a free upgrade". Days later and it seems there is still a huge charge on my card for any accident damage. I would have expected this to be back next day. Will bever use this company again. Recommend you do not either.

This is probably the worst company I have ever rented a car from. Got into a jam with the car 2 days into the trip. It is the 4th day and they still have not moved a finger to help me. On top of everything, it sounds like they are not only gonna charge me for fixing the vehicle but, they do not even want to refund any of the money I have paid for the 7 day trip. THIS IS THE WORST CAR RENTAL COMPANY!!! DO NOT USE!!!