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UK: Regulator orders Spanish car hire firms to reveal hidden costs

 |  March 25, 2019

Britain’s competition authorities have for the first time taken cross-border action against Spanish car hire firms, after widespread complaints about misleading practices.

Two large hire firms operating in Spain—Centauro and Record Go—have been ordered by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to change the way they tell customers about charges. Goldcar, another big player in the Spanish holiday car market, has also been brought under a separate enforcement regime that applies to the big five car hire companies in Europe, after its recent acquisition by Europcar.

The CMA said it took action against Centauro and Record Go “following concerns that UK holidaymakers were being misled by their practices.” It said Centauro Rent-A-Car and Record Go have agreed to improve the way they display information on their websites, ensuring they include all compulsory charges upfront. Neither Centauro nor Record Go admitted any wrongdoing or liability in agreeing to make changes.

Full Content: The Guardian

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