Woodford Car Hire Reviews 

Directly fined by a mistake not made by purpose (entering Swaziland for the first time). Our telephone cable taken out the car when we returned it and saying it was never there. Misleading texts about refueling the car by returning it. Never Woodford again!!

Being a loyal client of Woodfords for many, many years, my last experience is nothing short of dissatisfaction.
I hired a Cherry Tiggo 4 vehicle in March 2024 for 16days. On collection I received the keys to the vehicle from Dinolan who assured me that I don't have to do the usual routine inspection as all defects/damage are recorded on the computer. On my return I was shown a small
chip measuring approximately 5mm on the windscreen. In all honesty I was not aware that the chip was either present or caused during my extremely careful driving.
Be that as it may, my bank account was debited with an astronomical R5922.50 for repairs to a "minute" chip. This a totally unacceptable. This sounds like the cost of a 'new' windscreen!
I would've paid far cheaper if I had it repaired by a
reputable glass fitter as PG Glass.
This situation leaves our company with no option but to rather engage with another car hire company from here onwards!

This is the most dishonest business I have ever dealt with. The front desk makes promises which management will not honour. They also twice before taking the vehicle confirmed that it had Apple play which was not the case

Super service both on pick up and delivery

Operating fraudulently by doubling charging people now even when you have proof you did pay them and currently not owing, to make it worse there’s no communication sent or even invoices showing what you are being charged for they are taking advantage of having access to your bank details. I have called them a thousand times and no one can tell me why I was debited R11335.00 and still have not received a refund even now.

Hello, I am writing to you because I don’t understand where else to turn. I found myself in this situation: after I returned the car to the Woodford company (Cape Town Airport) at the employee gave me his WhatsApp number +27 82 474 5463 and later asked me to pay for the body part that was damaged in my possession as much as possible rather according to his details. When I asked why it was impossible to take money from the deposit, he replied that first he would pay for the damage to the car, and then return the deposit (check screenshots). After 2 months, your company began debiting money from my card. When asked “why” - they answer for damage to the car. I have already paid this amount to the employee from the screenshots. This email is completely ignoring me capetown @woodford.co.za . I am forced to launch this mass mailing, please help, return my 2462 zar to me and stop debiting money from the card, sort it out yourself with your employee.

I paid R1740 to Woodford when I booked the car. When I picked up the car I paid R5000 and a few days after giving it back Woodford took R 2200 out of my account. Up to now I havent received my pay back. So I paid R8940 to use a car for two days and travel more or less 1000km.

At this point they are keeping roughly R15000 from me, the haven't payed the deposit back and deducted (without any explanation) R5400 from my bank accound. The customer service seems to be a bot and doesn't answer questions. I am seeking legal support at this point. NEVER RENT A CAR HERE

Where is my deposit refund? 7 weeks later and 3 emails withs customer service and still nothing. You owe me R5,394.
Previously a really good company that I have recommended so many times but no more.
A good company thats gone wrong since the Enterprise partnership.

I don't actually know what has happened here with Woodford Car Hire at Cape Town International Airport. I used Booking.com and booked a rental.

The rental term was from 27 March - 4 April. I paid R6300 via booking.com on 27th March, and collected my vehicle. Then on the 4th of April I went into the store and extended my rental for 2 days. The sales agent at Woodford then charged me R7 253.35 for the full term with the extension instead of just for the extra 2 days. When I queried the amount I was told I will be refunded in full R6300.

Woodford have since paid me back a deposit of R3 425, from the R7 253.35 and they stated that they have released the full R6300 back to me. Its now 1 month later and nothing.

Terrible communication between Woodford and myself have ensued over the last few days. I have to now highlight this with booking.com and my bank.

Terrible experience. I do not recomend unlesd you want money taken from you and you want ti struggle endlessly.

Gives Cape Town tourism a bad name and also the industry as a whole

It has been 20 working days since I returned the car in perfect order and still no deposit has been returned. They acknowledge that there is a refund due. Shady, vague reasons as to why nothing has been paid yet. BE VERY CAREFUL! DO NOT USE. The negative reviews all over the place are true

On Tuesday, 16 April 2024 at 07h21 we collected a car at Woodford Car Hire Cape Town International Airport. Upon collection we noticed a dent on the left rear door. We showed the dent to a Woodford employee, where after he said the dents were already marked on paper. He also advised us to take photo's of all the dents the car had - luckily we did take photo's off ALL the dents.

On Sunday, 21 April 2024 at 05h15 we returned the car to Woodford CT International Airport. As Woodford was still closed, we left the car in the parking area at Woodford (and took a video of the car before we returned it) and threw the key in the Woodford box.

At 14h02 Sunday I got an e-mail from Woodford, stating "NEW DAMAGED NOTE - Dent left rare door". This was exactly the same dent the car had when we collected it on Tuesday. I immediately rep**** Woodford and also forwarded the e-mail to *********** on Monday, 22 April at 09h56 with screenshots that shows the date and time I took the photo of the dents upon collection. On Monday, 22 April 2024 at 09h59 I got a reply from Rubin, regional claims administrator, that indicated that my e-mail were received.

On Monday, 22 April at 15h08, I got an e-mail back from *********** stating that the damages have been noted and that I have 24-48 hours to complete the incident report. I then phoned Woodford and spoke to Tuscany - what a sarcastic lady.

I haven't heard anything from Woodford again and still did not receive my deposit back.

I will NEVER hire a car from Woodford again.

Absolutely astonishing how they treat their staff infront of clients. Tell me is this the norm in South Africa? Because if you threaten your staff in front of me. How do you treat them behind closed doors? I can't support a company who violates human rights. And there for I can't trust them. Because if they can be cruel to their own staff. The can be cruel to their clients.

I rented a car at Marriott Century City in Jan 2024 thinking it was Enterprise but it turns out it is a franchisee called Woodford Car Hire. We had full coverage with zero liability and all the other extra options one could choose. In other words, fully covered according to their staff at the site. We had an accident but not to worry said the staff, "Sir you are fully covered". Fast forward a couple of weeks and I get an email from them claiming that due to negligence, I should pay for the repair of the car. Approximately 135,000 ZAR. Basically as if the car was never insured at all. Invoice attached with banking details and please pay soonest. I contested this claim by mail and immediately canceled my card via my bank as I suspected what type of company this was. Unfortunately, due to human error and lax procedures by my bank, they did not close my account connected to that card. Therefore this company could enforce a withdrawal even though the card was canceled and they took approximately 60 000 ZAR. This is theft and fraudulent according to my bank. So word of advice, if you give them your card details, make sure to cancel that card as soon as possible and close the account connected to it as well. And good luck dealing with them.

I rented a car in September of 2023 from Alamo and when I arrived at Cape Town Airport, I was directed to Woodford Car Hire's office to pick up the car. Got the paperwork done and off I went.

The return process went smooth, and it never crossed my mind that I was dealing with a bunch of friendly fraudsters. This became clear when Woodford Car Hire failed to return my deposit and also charged my credit card with a +-$ 35.00 charge for what appear to be the cost of filling up the gas tank, the same gas tank that I filled up minutes before driving into the airport property.

According to Alamo, these charges never happened as they do not appear on the Alamo invoice and were paid directly to Woodford Car Hire (clever move), so Alamo's snotty response was to go talk to your bank. Shame on them as well.

After this experience, I researched Woodford Car Hire and found that scamming customers is just part of their way of doing business.

The takeaway:

1. Avoid doing business with Woodford Car Hire.

2. Rent from a reputable international car rental company that has legitimate offices in the country you will be visiting. If things go wrong, you can talk to a person in your home country, and not have to deal with fraudsters in another country.

3. I suspect Woodford Car Hire is targeting customers from other countries visiting South Africa. It is just harder to fight them from the other side of the globe, and they know that.

Most fraudulent car rental company in South Africa.
Be careful before rental from this FRAUD CAR RENTAL company.

good prices good vehicles did have issues with getting the deposit back hence 3 stars

I had a terrible experience with the Woodford Group, which manages customer servises and care for Enterprise rent a car. Woodford charged me twice for the rental car price and the deposit, and inspite of emails and phone calls they have yet to refund me over 18 000 ZAR! I had rented a car with 0 excess insurance, I received a check out invoice with NO damage and a day later they sent pictures of the car with a damage I did not do, showing the display of the car with more mileage than the mileage the car had when I returned it. Clearly someone drove the car after me and did the damage. When I pointed this our in my email with photos I took before leaving the car, I received an email stating that I am liable for "all/new" damage and was sent an additional invoice of ZAR 575 for handling fees with no reference to the double charges of car rental and deposit. Another separate email followed asking how I would rate the experience! I am still waiting for the reimbursement of the double charges and deposit and disputing the handling fees for a damage I did not do to the car! Will never rent from this incompetent car rental group, which includes ALAMO and Woodford.

Warning: Untrustworthy Company

I was given the wrong vehicle upon renting. However, the most concerning aspect of my interaction with them occurred during the return process. Their agents made me wait for an excessive two hours, from 07:30 to 09:30, attempting to contact their manager (who was not available) to rectify a billing issue.

The issue arose because they closed the contract instead of extending it as I had requested. This decision was made despite my explicit request to extend the contract to cater for excess mileage differences. It became evident that their actions were motivated by maximizing their profit, rather than providing satisfactory customer service

Despite more attempts to resolve the issue, they have not taken responsibility for their actions or made any effort to rectify the situation.

I want to warn others to be cautious when dealing with them. Their actions demonstrate a lack of integrity and respect.

I urge anyone considering doing business with them to proceed with caution. It's unfortunate that I have to leave such a negative review, but I believe it's important to share my experience to protect others from similar situations.

Their lack of accountability and disregard for customer satisfaction are concerning traits for any business.

We ordered a Toyota Urban Cruiser for our holiday in South Africa - Johannsburg Airport. After waiting for almost 2 hours! the car still wasn’t available and they offered us a Mercedes A class.
We felt pushed to take this car because the Toyota we ordered wouldn’t be available anyway.
While driving we experienced the car was not suitable for South African roads, this turned out to be true as this resulted in 2 flat tires at the same time. Stuck in the middle of a remote area with these flat tires we were hardly able to contact Woodford for assistance. The operator of Woodford was not authorised to take any decisions which made communication very difficult, nearly impossible.
We managed to get the tires repared ourselves with help of locals. We heared from several people that we were actually very lucky that they stopped to help us because people in South Africa normally don’t stop.
The people who helped us said that this car is not suitable for South African roads except most of the highways due to a lot of potholes (sometimes enourmous).
Due to a blister, not attributable to us, on one original tire we decided to swap the car at Cape Town Airport. To our surprise Woodford charged us for 2!! new tires. Complaints about this were bluntly dismissed.
The car we got here was again a car with low profile tires and again no other suitable car available. With this car we needed to fill up Adblue almost immediately and this car had a slow puncture and worn out tires.
Conclusion: perhaps despite lower prices, go to another rental car company.