Apollo Camper Vans

[Peter Ward]

I'll just stick to the facts.

My recent trip from Alice to Darwin required a camper van....and due demand (possibly because of an annular solar eclipse) Apollo were one of the few vendors with vans still available.

A security deposit was required. Fair enough, but it was $2500

Further, this deposit incurred a "credit card fee" of another $51.00

What wasn't mentioned was the deposit would be kept for nearly a month ( interest free) and the "card fee" was pocketed by Apollo as well.

So just to make this clear... they had $2500 of my money for nearly a month and charged me $51 for my trouble. JAYSUSWEPPED!!!

We had other problems with the rental.

I personally would NEVER use them again for a van rental and will advise others to do the same.

[zorkon]

I was fortunate enough to see such warnings about Apollo posted online by other travellers, and your report indicates it is indeed the case! I was able to rent with Mighty Campers, which turned out infact to be a Britz van from Alice Springs. Mighty at least will take a imprint of the card for the bond, and cancel it when returned, and no credit card fee was charged. Can say the van was nearly new and had a great trip without hassles, so I can recommend Mighty (or Britz?) from Alice Springs anyway.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Ha... that was a rental? I thought you bought a new toy. Should have taken the mustang. Let it rip.

[Rob_K]

Funny, opposite experience to you Peter. Hired an Apollo van from Alice Springs last year after the Cairns TSE, had it for a week, no probs, good service. Can't remember the security deposit arrangements but I'm sure there was no money up front, just a card swipe. Maybe the fact that you weren't bringing it back to Alice Springs triggered that??? Or maybe you're a suspicious looking character. I'd recommend them to anyone!

Cheers -

[AstralTraveller (David)]

A mate hired from another company for last Nov TSE and I'm reasonably sure he had to stump up the deposit too, not just a card imprint. From the company's point of view, unless they get the money there is no proof that there actually is $X,XXX at the other end of the card. It could be a debit card connected to an empty account or you may have a credit limit that is less then the deposit amount. However keeping the money longer than necessary and having a hidden fee is poor form. That would peeve me.

Another minor gripe about Apollo, or at least one of their staff in Adelaide: After the TSE another mate (ie not the one who hired the car) was in a van park in Cairns next door to a French family who had collected the camper van in Adelaide and driven to Cairns for the eclipse. They commented on how awful all the water in Australia tasted. Well, Adelaide yes, but the rest of the country should be OK. It turned out that the hose they had been given to fill the tank was a standard garden hose rather than a drinking water grade hose (which is also very cheap!) and so all their water had been tainted by the taste of plastic. It may sound minor but after a month it would be very annoying. My mate loaned them the right hose so they could refill their tank and so made some friends!

[zorkon]

With Mighty/Britz at least, whether it's an imprint or a deposit depends on the insurance option chosen (imprint has higher rental cost/day), and they will refund the credit card surcharge for Visa & Mastercard.

http://www.britz.com.au/campervan-insurance-options

By traveller's reports, Apollo appears to just keep the surcharge and take their time to refund a deposit. Sounds like they will take an imprint for the other insurance option but not clear from their own terms. Their terms quote the cc surcharge, but they imply the the deposit is refunded on vehicle drop off.

http://www.apollocamper.com/terms/ap...1314-Quote.pdf

So I'm not surprised they've annoyed a few people. Not sure if the other companies are slow to refund the security deposit though.

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Send them an email request, Peter, for the $51.00.

They refunded the deposit, so they have no right to keep a surcharge on something they have refunded.

I know I would have no qualms about threatening to report them to whomever would listen.

I'm sure this thread alone is going to do some damage in times going forward.

For a couple of minutes each day, you never know ... they may capitulate quickly.

[Astro_Bot]

I read their contract (section entitled Reduction Option 1) and it looks pretty clear to me that they charge an administration fee equivalent to the CC fee for the $2500 Bond deposit:

A Bond of $2,500 will be collected at the time of entering into the Rental Contract. Payment of this Bond is only accepted by credit card. The $2,500 will be debited to the credit card account immediately. An administration fee equal to the merchant surcharge applies.

Keeping the money for a month is a bit rich, though. I'd be pretty annoyed about that, especially when they imply prompt refund:

The Bond is fully refundable when the vehicle is returned to the correct location on time, is full of fuel and all other terms of the Rental Contract have been complied with.

I suppose you'll never know unless you ask. You could enquire as to whether they will return the CC fee as a show of good faith and compensation for keeping the bond for so long.

[zorkon]

You're quite right, and Reduction Option 2 is a card imprint. Obviously I was a bit lazy there.