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nd1990Sydney, NSW
- Verified customer
Do not trust this company
We rented a 4wd in Perth in 2018 for 3 weeks. Had no problems. Returned the car freshly cleaned, they inspected the car and ticked off the form.
A week or two later we received an email saying that there was damage to the car door and they actually accused us of breaking into the car at some point on our holiday - "It appears as though there was an attempt to unlock the vehicle using a foreign object, such as a metal wire or hanger." (direct quote from email).
Conveniently for them, their mechanic's quote was roughly the same amount as our $2...Read more
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Urs L
- 2 reviews
- Verified customer
Don't even think about...
Don't even think about renting a vehicle from this company or its successor. After two bankruptcies, the third company (registration number ACN 638 025 911 Pty Ltd.) is now running the business under the slightly changed name "explore4wdhire". Between the time when the press reported the bankruptcy of the former company and the information of the new company that the lease agreement would be maintained, a month passed. During this time neither the website nor office was available. As a customer, you had to assume that the company would no longe...Read more
r exit. Reason why you had to rent a car elsewhere. The company finally cancelled the rental contract, but without refunding the deposit. The promise to credit the deposit with the next booking under these circumstances seems outrageous.
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- Verified customer
Got $5000 bond back
At first we were a little sceptical about our recent Darwin trip with this vehicle company. We rang the office to express these concerns about all the reviews on this page and on another. I was quite worried about giving the $5000 straight up, not a pending payment.
Once we returned from our trip. The vehicle was looked over, then was lifted up to see internally. 2 days later an email was received. Then the next day the $5000 came up into our account.
Happy with this outcome as I was very worried going into this.
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RosemaryPerth, WA
- Verified customer
Scam - refusing to return $2500 bond
Do not use this company or the new owners "Explore 4WD Hire" - explore4wdhire.com.au - they took our $2500 bond and keep giving us the run around saying that it is with their accounts and it will be refunded but it never is. Now they are not responding to our emails or our calls. Extremely unprofessional stealing money from people! Especially at a time like this!
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Chris P.
- 3 reviews
- Verified customer
SCAM and SHONKY - I hope others read this email before renting. Bond not returned
The car had pretty much bald tyres, drove 175 Klm in then Fridge was US and the drive back to Darwin paid $100 for a nights accommodation so we could have a fridge, to keep our $150 of cold stuff from going off. The battery was faulty and replaced. drove 300Klm to Kakadu, only to find they had not put the tent poles in so sleeping in this was like an oven. decided to stay in a hotel for the second night as was too hot after first night. Took the car back another 300KLM and told them the vehicle was unusable and returned early. I was happy...Read more
to pay the 3 days and get another car form a reputable company. Car was checked and all OK. The manager [name removed] pretty much said, too bad you signed the paperwork to say you had everything and no credit for unused days.. Rude and no idea about customer satisfaction. Now they not answering calls and no sign of My BOND - email bouncing back. $6120 down the darwin for 3 days in a poorly maintained car.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
NamGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- Verified customer
Consider other options
We had an issue where the vehicle we booked could not be provided due to circumstances outside their control. The request to cancel based on this information was not well received and we were made to feel like we were committing some gross injustice with the request for a refund. Although their actions are defendable within consumer law, their conduct was not becoming. We felt harassed and told our decision to seek further counsel on the matter was taken as a threat. Furthermore, some quick research demonstrated a string of previous unscrupulou...Read more
s behaviors logged with the Office of Fair Trade Queensland, ACCC, as well as the media. Recently Tim Nicholls MP added to the discourse. Now we are out of pocket an one thousand dollars. Although there have been plenty of happy customers, our experience dealing with this issue would suggest that if things go wrong you will receive little sympathy from this company. It is also worth paying attention to the terms and conditions on their website, as some clauses raise the eyebrows. We know there are plenty of other vendors in the area with competitive pricing that can provide an excellent experience with a smile. We know this because one of them made an excellent holiday possible at very short notice. Anticipating an rambunctious, resentful response i will add that this review is not designed to slander or defame this company. There will be no conversation about who was right or wrong. It is simply to provide what i hope is a measured retelling of my experience.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
PhilGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- Verified customer
Security bond problem > solved
Update:
We tried to reach the company via the old website and phone number which seem not to exist anymore. Thanks to this website here I got I. Contact with another actual customer and got the new website.
Today I got my bond back in our account.
Will have an eye on my credit card if there are any further charges and update my experience here.
We paid a security bond of 1.500 $. 4WDHire has not paid the money back yet. Expect the money as soon as possible, otherwise we will take all possible legal actions.
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- Verified customer
Disappeared with our money
They sold business as we were on our vacation. As we returned the car we've been assured, everything was well. After a few days I wrote them a friendly reminder but they just sent me over to the liquidator, telling me they are "a whole new company".
Phoenixing failed, as they completely disappeared. Their website has been taken off and all their email addresses aren't reachable anymore.
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Janina G.Perth, WA
- Verified customer
Don’t rent of this company !!!
Company had been sold while we were on our trip. When we returned the vehicle we didn’t receive the $5000 bond back as we were told it is with the old owner who have called bankruptcy???
Not to mention that the vehicle Was faulty and died on us in the middle of Australia !!
Water leaking from the windscreen, bold tyres, 4WD not engaging, engine light on, doors not closing properly, EBC not working etc.
Horrible customer service
Don’t come near this company it’s a rip off !!!
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- Verified customer
Not good...
Had hired a RTT 4Wd for a once in a lifetime trip to Australia with my son. Dec 27th to Jan.8th. On top of obvious issues with the truck with almost 300,000km on it, tent poles missing, leaky water jugs or moldy mattress which I could overlook as a seasoned camper.. I'm now facing at the terrible fact that they took my bond money knowing full well they would never return it. I had to provide this bond on Dec 16th 2018 and they filled for bankruptcy on Dec 19th. I hope that all people stuck in the same situation get together and do a class action against this company. This is criminal and unbelievably sad ending of our trip...
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JackandzoeGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- Verified customer
Do not use this Company.
We hired a vehicle and were accused of damaging the it. Money was retained from our bond and never returned.
We took our case to Court and were awarded over $5000 in August 2022. For the past 5 months we have been in discussion with the Company who gave assurances that they would pay. The final date for payment was to be 23rd Dec. This was the date they went into Liquidation.
As with all the other reviews, we were lied to. These people have no ethics or morals. They continue to trade with supposedly "new owners"
It is unbelievable that so many people have had their bonds stolen, even more so when you consider Australian 4WD Hire were being investigated by the ACCC during 2022.
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- Verified customer
Do Not Hire Any Vehicle From This Company
I hired a 4wd from my holidays around Brisbane last two weeks of December 2022. Everything seemed to be ok. Gave the car back on time And in perfect conditions.
today 16th of January I am still waiting for my security bond. And it’s been so difficult to contact them to arrange my payment back.
So disappointed and annoyed
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Conor O.Greater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- Verified customer
$5k security has gone missing, this company is a scam.
I rented a 4wd with rooftop tent for 10 days over the christmas period. The vehicle was in good condition dispite the fact it had 3 A/T tyres and one road tyre, the tent was a bit worse for wear and the engel fridge didnt work. I fixed the engel out of my own pocket on the trip, assured that I would get reimbursed for the expense by Australian 4wd.
I returned the vehicle 10 days ago without any issues on return. I have followed up regarding my expense reimbursement and security bond, I have not received my $5k security deposit or expense reimb...Read more
ursement. I have been informed that Australian 4WD is under new management and the new owners do no have access to the deposits. The previous owners have liquidated the company. Dispite the fact that my rental contract occured post company sale and is with the current owners. This company is a scam and an untrustworthy. Neither the old company or new owners are willing to deal with this issue. Avoid at all costs. If you have been affected like me and lost your bond please contact me as we are looking at ways of persuing the former business owners. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-09/australian-4wd-hire-company-liquidation-customers-owed-thousands/11934270Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
- Verified customer
Gone into liquidation and will not refund $5k bond
Returned car, company said they woudl refund bond in 7 days. Since received a letter saying company has been sold and cannot refund bond. But seems to be trading business as usual. Scam company, don't use them.
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Carly BoundyMurray Region, NSW
- Verified customer
Do not on your life use this company!!
They took our bond money and are now in liquidation. absolute thieves! Equipment was crap. car needed mechanical work. Do not use them. you will lose your money. now dealing with liquidator as company won’t return phone calls.
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- Verified customer
Con Artists
Hired one of their cars over the 2022 Xmas break and returned the car with the inspector having no issues with the car. The company is now "sold to another company and is under liquidation", and says we won't get our $5,000 security bond back. The bond costs more than the car rental!
Now when you contact them they tell you that they don't have the money and they're now a new separate entity, yet still trading "business as per usual". They will ask for the same security bond, and chances are you won't get it back either. Don't fall for this scam!
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Disgruntled CustomerSouth East Queensland, QLD
- Verified customer
Would Not Recommend
Australian 4WD Hire changed ownership shortly before we hired our 4WD over Christmas. We were instructed via email by the company under new ownership to deposit the bond monies into the bank accounts of the old owners - this is despite the fact that they were to file for liquidation 3 days after this instruction.
We have been in discussions with both the new and old owners of the company attempting to have our bond refunded for weeks now. We have recently just been informed that the old owners have gone into liquidation with $0 in their acco...Read more
unts (despite holding the bonds for numerous customers at the time of liquidation). Also, allegedly, the terms of sale of the company that the new owners may not have taken on the obligation to return the bond monies to customers who paid their bond money before the change of ownership ($$1000's!!). Neither the old or new owners have shown any interest in responding to our claims for a refund. Both the old and new owners of Australian 4WD hire have acted in ways that have been far from desirable and what would be expected from a reputable business. We have been given misinformation that has cost us the entirety of our bond. The car we hired was great, performed well and we had a great holiday - but much of this I put down to our hire being passed off to another rental car company. Despite this we will never deal with this company in the future and I would not recommend anyone hire a car through Australian 4WD Hire. We have reported this company and their business practices to the Office of Fair Trading and we suggest that anyone in a similar position do the same: www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-tradingSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
- Verified customer
Avoid At Any Cost !!!
Here is what I received when asking my bond refund:
This is a courtesy email for all recent Smart Corporation Pty Ltd (trading as Australian 4WD Hire) customers that are waiting on their security bond to be refunded.
As of December 19th 2022 Australian 4WD Hire has been sold by Smart Corporation Pty Ltd and we are now operating under completely new Owners and Management.
We have just been made aware that the new Owners and management do not hold or have access to any bonds that were paid prior to this date as they have been paid into Smart C...Read more
orporations account, and some lingering payments paid after 19th of December 2022. We have also just learned that Smart Corporation is going into liquidation, and any monies that have been paid to them for security bonds or rentals is in the hands of the liquidatorSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Disappointed customerPerth, WA
- Verified customer
Appalling service
Still waiting on a security bond return after 2 weeks!! Car returned and inspected & signed for.
Notified finally that all existing paid funds are now with the liquidators!!
BEWARE this business has just gone bust!!!
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- Verified customer
4WD 25000km
Roundtrip all Australia 25000km without any problem.
The car was very cooperative, and each time i had to contact the company, i received immediate answer. Bond back very quickly.
2 times 10000 km servicing with 4WD garages, efficient.
1 comment
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Review collected in partnership with Australian 4WD Hire
Questions & Answers
N Jacobsasked
what is their new email adress or website?
im still owed 1500 in bond..
3 answers
You'll find all new contact information on www.explore4wdhire.com.au
I really hope this helps you and others, but i may doubt it.
They are off the charts these guys! Trading insolvent !
Hi,
Check out the page Hans mentioned.
Hope it helps. It seems also pending on when you hired / payed bond and to which account.
Conor O.asked
Is this company still operating, ieatwords appears to think you are not? Your website is offline, your email address doesnt work but you are still posting 5 star reviews but not answering customer questions?
1 answer
The company changed its website to Explore4wdhire.com.au. As of today the phone number is disconnected. I rang to ask them about my deposit return. The ABN is the same, 638025911. The ASIC website shows the owner as Mahesh Thakur. The registered address is '1605', 530 Little Collins Street, Melbourne which is a mens tailor who knows nothing about the business. Product Review is doing a disservice allowing these 5 star ratings through given the overwhelming evidence that the company is not trading and owes over $300,000 in bond payments to customers.
Annie McDonnellasked
Is your company still running as I have booked a car in Broome in May and paid a deposit..
Annie
13 answers
Have you tried contacting the agent in Broome to see what they say?
I would honestly try to get your money back and rent off a different company.
Don’t pay them a further cent
The new company is corrupt and Probly a family member from previous owner
They have ripped off countless people
They owe us over 8 k
Our car was a lemon and we still paid 3 k for the hire
Also they have not repaid our 5 k in bond
A total ripoff business
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Brand Manager A.Australian 4WD Hire
Hello Gerard,
Thank you for your valued business and support, we are pleased you have enjoyed your hire with us and we look forward to assisting on your next 4WD adventure!