After we had our beach walk it was time to change our rental car again so off to Dover. This time we were returning a car to Hertz and collecting one form Europcar. I really must make a decision and buy one! I now have my no claims note from my insurance in Cyprus.
We dropped off the Hertz car no problem and walked along to Europcar. I handed over my booking voucher, driving license and credit card even though it had already been paid for. Unbeknown to us Europcar have changed all their procedures. “We now need two official documents with your address on.” They have my driving license and I also had a letter from National savings in my bag. No that wasn’t good enough!! They needed to see a utility bill. Seeing as we do everything online and the bills are in Mal’s name, not possible. I even had my passport with me “No, that is no good, it has to have your address.” Mal had the brilliant idea that there is Barclaycard in my name. He did no more than brought it up on his mobile, all the details there….except my address! We also tried Nationwide but Mal (of course) didn’t have the little machine with him to access the account. I had booked through Car Trawler and the girl suggested we call them and ask that we can use a different company (we had none of this with Hertz. ). I am a Gold member with Hertz and a Preferred customer with Avis and I was seriously now regretting booking Europcar because it was cheaper.
We called Car Trawler and I have never known such a rude individual who told us she could do nothing because we had “gone past our check in time.” Well, yes we had because we had now been standing in the office for an hour and a half trying to get a car!! She also told us we would not get our £300 prepayment back. She refused to put me through to a supervisor. She then repeated the bit about “past your check in time” a further three times and I suggested she stopped talking to me as if I were an idiot at which point she put the phone down on me!! Well, that is customer service for you.
By this time I really have had enough. Finally I asked if I managed to find a Nationwide and got a statement with my name and address on it would this be sufficient. “Yes” was all the jobsworth girl said. Mal and I left and went in search of Dover Nationwide. At the counter we just said “Help” and a lovely assistant instantly, after seeing my bank card and driving license, printed me out a duplicate statement with both my name and address on!!
Please don’t ask me what happens if you come off a plane and want to hire a car from them and you don’t have a heap of utility bills on your person!! Remember they have “changed the rules.” Personally I will stick to Hertz or Avis and NEVER use them again!
The paperwork was finally completed and after three hours I had my hire car. What a way to spend a morning.
However the day, or rather evening was much better. Our Christmas present from Lou and Rhys was a box of drink. This was marked number 1 present. Number 2 present was a very generous voucher for a meal at Wheeler’s Oyster Bar in Whitstable, somewhere I have always wanted to go but had not done. I even have their book on my book shelf so they knew how much I wanted to go! We then discovered that Wheeler’s isn’t licensed so the drink was to take with us! Number 3 present was a voucher for a taxi there and back….perfect so I wouldn’t have to drive and for once could have a drink or two or three as it happened!
Wheeler’s has such a good reputation that you can’t just turn up you have to book a couple of months in advance, which of course we had done! It only has 4 tables and an oyster bar and this really adds to the charm of the place.
Whitstable Taxis (Rhys!) arrived and took us to Whitstable, we were a little early so we had a drink in the Duke of Cumberland first. They had the most gorgeous Red Setter who came and sat with us and when Mal got up to go to the loo, he jumped up on the settee and sat next to me. The landlady said to push him off but I didn’t!
Then on to Wheeler’s. I love fish and so it is a real big decision what to choose. In the end I chose Rye Bay Scallops to start followed by lobster. I then had to force down Apple Souffle which was with cinamon ice cream and apple crumble trifle!! Mal had fish meze, skate and the HUGE cheese board!
The couple at the table next to us had travelled from the Cotswolds just to eat at Wheelers and yes it is worth it! How lucky we are living so close to it. We were so full when we came out of there but what an experience. Our taxi was waiting for us. Thank you to Lou, Rhys and the grandchildren, a wonderful present.
Thought for the Day – “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” ~ Walt Disney
