Trip.com Partner Scams Customer with Fake Credit Card Error for €180 Insurance Fee

I rented a car from emr Car Rental Albania through Trip.com between August 16 and 22, 2026. I also purchased car insurance through Trip.com prior to the rental. When I went to the company's office to pick up the vehicle, the attendant told me that the insurance I bought through Trip.com was not comprehensive enough and that I could end up being liable for damages, but I clearly stated that I did not want to buy additional coverage.

When we got to the deposit payment stage, the attendant claimed my credit card wasn't working and said they couldn't hand over the car unless I bought extra insurance for €180 to cover the 6-day period. However, they managed to charge this €180 extra insurance fee to the exact same credit card without any problems. Because I had to hit the road urgently and needed the car, I was forced to accept this additional insurance against my will. Even though I had already purchased insurance through Trip.com, I feel that I was pressured and misled under the false pretense that my credit card was not working.

When dropping off the car, I went to the rental company's office at 9:30 AM. The office employee told me they were stuck in traffic and wouldn't arrive on time, telling me I could just leave the key inside the car and head out. I dropped off the vehicle this way. Later, I contacted them on WhatsApp and requested written confirmation that there were no issues with the car. The employee stalled, claiming they were still in traffic and hadn't reached the office yet, and eventually stopped responding to my messages altogether. At that point, I left the airport and went back to the office. The employee was shocked to see me and stubbornly refused to give me a written document, insisting that I had insurance and there wouldn't be any problems. However, another employee stepped in and wrote up and signed a handwritten note stating that the car had no issues.

As a result of this opaque, coercive, and untrustworthy practice throughout the entire process, I demand a refund of the €180 additional insurance fee that they charged me.