Car rental firms can't hold customers' passports

Sharjah - Sharjah Economic Department introduces unified contract to be signed between the customers and car rental companies.

The Sharjah Economic Department has banned car rental companies from holding the passports and personal documents of customers.
In a move to make the car rental services hassle-free in the emirate, the department has introduced a unified contract to be signed between the customers and car rental companies.
The contract stipulates many articles that maintain the rights of customers and the rental firms. Both the sides have to sign the contract at the time of renting the car and oblige with its articles.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ali Fadul, Director of Trade Protection at the department, said that the decision of introducing the unified contract was taken after series of consultations with operators of car rental firms who explained the issues they face. "We decided to end the continuous disputes between car rental companies and customers. Many customers complained that the car rental companies are charging too much as security deposit, ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh5,000 and hold the passports and IDs, while the companies complained that many customers failed to settle their dues and return the cars after the specified period."
He added that the contract would protect the rights of both the sides and unified the conditions for all companies. It would stop the car rental companies from forcing their own conditions on customers.
Rashid Al Amin, owner of Delphine Car Rental Company, said that the contract would reduce the disputes and ensure the rights of car rental companies. "We don't hold passports or any personal identification documents any more after the contract was introduced, but we still have issues that the customers keep the cars for longer period and refuse to settle the dues."
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

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