Toll roads in portugal

[siobhanwf]

But the REAL question is WHEN??? did the government mean April 2012 for the start of tolls

[Waterdog]

lagosguy. Many thanks for the update & current state of play.

Re credit cards - experience has shown that the rustle of chrisp notes usually unblocks the problem.

[lagosguy]

[quote=robc;633563]

Originally Posted by lagosguy

RobC
[B]

OK, so reasoned argument goes thus......

If the hire companies are going to bear the cost of the tolls as they are the registered owner of the vehicles they will have to recover the monies from the Hirer by some means such as
1. Increase the hire charge
2. Provide pre-paid boxes
3. Undertake post hire recharge to the hirer

Now I reason that there are two ways to do this, proactively in a structured manner whereby the transition goes smoothly, Hirers appreciate the additional service and respond with their future purchasing decisions accordingly.
The second way is to do nothing, sit and moan about it all, lose business, goodwill and profit.

Their choice.

With regards to Faro, you may not have been to Luton Airport when it was undergoing change, it got so bad that queues of up to 40 mins were experienced on the M1, just to get to the roundabout, so what happened.

The hire companies went off site, then minibussed (I think that is the right spelling) Clients into and out of the Airport and because they had more than 8 passengers could use the rapid transit bus lanes.

So you were minimally inconvenienced.

It just takes a little thought.

Rob

In order to have the kind of off site operation you describe the hire companies need

1. A base that is easily accessible to arriving and departing customers
2. Depending on how far the base is from the airport, two, three four or more mini buses to take the customers to and fro
3. Drivers to drive the mini vans between the airport and base
4. Staff to operate the base and staff to maintain it.

You are describing the type of operation that already exists at Faro and which only the major hire companies like Europe Car can afford. I used their service once. Never again. It took me well over an hour to get my car instead of the 15 muinutes it takes at the airport and over half an hour to drop it off compared with 5 minutes at the airport. From my perspective a far worse service at far higher cost.

The small companies that I and very many tourists and regular visitors to the Algarve use have minimal overheads. They operate out of the airport car park (for which they probably have to pay a fee; but nothing approaching the cost of running a full scale off-site operation) and they can get by with a single person booking cars out one or two booking them back in at any one time. Because of their small overheads they can charge extremely low fees, vastly lower than the large companies. That is what most customers want and, if, in order to maintain that price advantage, they have wash their hands of the tolls and adopt your option 3, then so be it.

[lagosguy]

Originally Posted by Waterdog

lagosguy. Many thanks for the update & current state of play.

Re credit cards - experience has shown that the rustle of chrisp notes usually unblocks the problem.

I've seen many people try at Faro and not one succeed. I'd advise you to check with some of the companies before you fly out just to see if they will waive the credit card requirement. Otherwise I fear you could arrive at Faro and find yourself stranded.

Good luck.

[canoeman]

Originally Posted by Waterdog

lagosguy. Many thanks for the update & current state of play.

Re credit cards - experience has shown that the rustle of chrisp notes usually unblocks the problem.

not if MrB is to be believed, think you'll find it extremely difficult to hire out of Faro without a Card of some description and certainly virtually impossible to pre book especially online.

[robc]

[quote=lagosguy;633684]

Originally Posted by robc

In order to have the kind of off site operation you describe the hire companies need

1. A base that is easily accessible to arriving and departing customers
2. Depending on how far the base is from the airport, two, three four or more mini buses to take the customers to and fro
3. Drivers to drive the mini vans between the airport and base
4. Staff to operate the base and staff to maintain it.

You are describing the type of operation that already exists at Faro and which only the major hire companies like Europe Car can afford. I used their service once. Never again. It took me well over an hour to get my car instead of the 15 muinutes it takes at the airport and over half an hour to drop it off compared with 5 minutes at the airport. From my perspective a far worse service at far higher cost.

The small companies that I and very many tourists and regular visitors to the Algarve use have minimal overheads. They operate out of the airport car park (for which they probably have to pay a fee; but nothing approaching the cost of running a full scale off-site operation) and they can get by with a single person booking cars out one or two booking them back in at any one time. Because of their small overheads they can charge extremely low fees, vastly lower than the large companies. That is what most customers want and, if, in order to maintain that price advantage, they have wash their hands of the tolls and adopt your option 3, then so be it.

I do not doubt the complexity of setting up this type of arrangement, but I think the point is being missed here. It is not about what you and I think, it is about the rental companies coming up with a solution for a short term logistical mess, their business, their profit, or loss, and their choice.

Having used both the minor companies and the major hire companies not just in Portugal but all over the world, I would always go large, I have always found them to be better.

Again this is subjective personal opinion and preferences, the point being that if there is a problem with a situation then you (you as in a business affected by the problem situation) are faced with a series of choices and constraints.

Time for them to choose what they want to do, again subjectively I have found moaning and complaining rarely solved anything.

Rob

[siobhanwf]

Originally Posted by canoeman

not if MrB is to be believed, think you'll find it extremely difficult to hire out of Faro without a Card of some description and certainly virtually impossible to pre book especially online.

I said that to my son who came out with the family at Easter.... and he proved me WRONG. Booked online. Paid in advance taking out the car hire companies insurance (Europcar) NO credit required here and he is not in the habit of palming off any cash!

[lagosguy]

Originally Posted by siobhanwf

I said that to my son who came out with the family at Easter.... and he proved me WRONG. Booked online. Paid in advance taking out the car hire companies insurance (Europcar) NO credit required here and he is not in the habit of palming off any cash!

I'm suprised he was allowed to do that given what we've been saying about the hire companies recovering tolls etc through the hirers' credit cards.

[lagosguy]

[quote=robc;633746]

Originally Posted by lagosguy

I do not doubt the complexity of setting up this type of arrangement, but I think the point is being missed here. It is not about what you and I think, it is about the rental companies coming up with a solution for a short term logistical mess, their business, their profit, or loss, and their choice.

Having used both the minor companies and the major hire companies not just in Portugal but all over the world, I would always go large, I have always found them to be better.

Again this is subjective personal opinion and preferences, the point being that if there is a problem with a situation then you (you as in a business affected by the problem situation) are faced with a series of choices and constraints.

Time for them to choose what they want to do, again subjectively I have found moaning and complaining rarely solved anything.
Rob

The point which is being missed is that the hire companies already have a solution, which they have apparently implemented in the areas where tolls already apply. It amounts to ignoring the tolls and simply passing on any charges and fines that they receive. However much you may wish they would do something different, they can continue this practice indefinitely.

[siobhanwf]

The situation is no different in Ireland. While there recently I only became aware of the automatic toll across the Liffey when I mentioned to my sister that I hadn't realized that the tolls had been removed. Should have been due for a fine but called and paid 24hours late and they let me off!!!! Piad by c/c over the phone