Europcar Charged Me Through a Third Party and Delayed My Refund

On May 21, 2025, I rented a vehicle through Europcar and paid the rental fee online using my credit card. I picked up the car from the Europcar office outside Samsun Airport, where a security deposit of ₺6,000 was withdrawn from my card. I was told this amount would be refunded upon returning the vehicle. However, when I reviewed my credit card statement, I saw that the transaction was not made by Europcar, but by PARATIKA/rentoneofis.com. I contacted the Samsun office to understand why this third-party processed the block and to request assistance in lifting it. They explained that although I rented through Europcar, the vehicle actually belonged to another company, and the ₺6,000 would remain blocked for 21 days until Europcar transferred the funds to them. Only then would the block be lifted. When I reached out to Europcar customer service, they confirmed that the block would indeed be handled by that other company. We believed we were renting from a reputable, global brand, but instead found ourselves entangled with third-party subcontractors. Europcar does not appear to provide a transparent or reliable rental process in Turkey. To prevent similar customer grievances, I urge the Ministry of Commerce and the Competition Board to investigate this practice, ensure clear disclosures on the corporate website, and prohibit misleading representations such as web photos that imply a direct Europcar rental when third parties are involved. Best regards, Cem O***.