I'm stuck at King Shaka Airport for more than two hours. Contract signed, credit card block... Promise to have a replacement ready in 15min... Almost 3 hours later... Still waiting on the promise.... See more
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See what reviewers are saying
A disappointing experience. We rented a car from King Shaka Airport for a leisurely 3 day roadtrip from KZN to Cape Town. As Australian tourists from Melbourne the services of Woodford Car Rental was... See more
Appalling service. On collection of vehicle they suddenly wanted proof of employment in addition to everything else. I'm a freelance guide with 4 customers standing there trying to explain that I'm no... See more
My neighbor recommended Woodford to me. I was a bit hesitant about renting a car there, but car rental companies always have some bad reviews. We traveled for a month, and it was fantastic. The woma... See more
Company details
Information provided by various external sources
South Africa's Largest Independent Car Hire Company
Contact info
South Africa
- customercare@woodford.co.za
- www.woodford.co.za
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Hasn’t replied to negative reviews
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This company is absolutely fraudulent
This company is absolutely fraudulent
You cannot count on any service, there is no reply nor response to emails.
They fail to refund the deposit.
We also paid a zero liability at the start of the contract and yet we are charged almost 500 euros extra!
This is a gangster company.
DO NOT BOOK WITH WOODFORD

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Don't hire a car with Woodford
Woodford has a disastrous service. We have been confronted with 2 damaged tyres during our 3-weeks trip. Woodford refused to provide us service during the trip, so we had to go to a tyre center ourselves and keep the damaged tyres in our car. After different oral confirmations that the costs of the new tyres would be reimbursed (we had zero exces liability cover), they currently refuse to repay the new tyres "because we drove sandy roads". The tyre company however confirmed us that the tyres were of old age. Furthermore, they charged us with administrative fees for looking into our claim. I will never again hire a car with Woodford.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
It's 2024 and still haven't received my…
It's 2024 and still haven't received my refund from Woodford car hire. Emails get ignored, calls got put down on my ear as soon as they hear it's me again wanting my refund. I really feel scammed by this company. Woodford car hire should be investigated. Something is really off. I don't recommend anyone to use their services, they lack empathy and definitely not professional.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Update: Deposit not refunded
Update. I returned the car on the 24th of December with a full tank of fuel and no damage whatsoever. I noticed, 4 days later on the 28th of December, they charged me R12500. I have sent emails to the branch manager and seniot management. I have contacted my bank and will wait for them to deal with these scam artists. Avoid them, just look at the reviews.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Pathetic service
Pathetic service. The agents lack customer service skills.
I've been waiting for my refund and I've been the one to constantly follow up and when I speak to an agent (Mildena from the OR Tambo branch), they spoke over me in a raised voice, without a solution.
I will definitely be advising my friends, family and anyone to NEVER EVER use this rental company.
Absolutely appalling.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Great service today
Great service today. Helpful and considerste. Thank you. Alison Melvill

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Been waiting for my deposit since from…
Been waiting for my deposit since from the 17th Dec 2023 and no help even the branch manager at sandton branch telling me it takes 3 days for the customer service to give a respobd to a query. A whole manager not keen to resolve giving an excuse. My last time using this business. Very bad service and experience!!!

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Common thieves, …
We rented a small SUV from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg. We reserved a Toyota urban cruiser of course, in small print, it says “or similar vehicle”. We were given a Kia, which was an extremely CHEAP car that you should NEVER drive when it rains because it slides all over the road. 😩 All went well with our trip, but when we returned the vehicle (at the Woodford kiosk at the same airport) on Nov 21st we got out, took our bags and an employee then drove the car to their hub to be cleaned. Sadly, I left my jacket behind the passenger seat on the floor. about 30 minutes later I went back to the Woodford office and asked if someone could please get my jacket from the SUV and bring it to me at the office. (Keep in mind the car had been in Woodford’s possession the entire half hour). So The guy came back and said that the “jacket was gone”. He Offered no apology, no payment for the jacket and basically did not care. So be extra careful you don’t leave ANYTHING in your car cause they will HAPPILY steal it!!😩🤪 Needless to say,we will never be using this agency again.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Woodford Car Hire King Shaka Airport
My first time using Woodford Car Hire yesterday, and I would highly recommend Woodford Car Hire, King Shaka Airport. Desigen Soobramoney and his team are absolutely brilliant. Very helpful and obliging. I would also like to single out Snegugu Hlophe at the pickup area. She was wonderful, she helped us load all our luggage and was so friendly and caring. By far the best car hire experience I have ever had, and I hire cars a lot!!!!!

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
AVOID USING WOODFORD CAR RENTAL
I hired a car on the expectation it could take 4 adults and 4 large suitcases. This was promised again on collection of the car from O R Tambo Airport. After travelling to Pietermaritzburg it was learnt that 4 suitcases did not fit in the cat. There are no branches in Pietermaritzburg. The nearest is 100kms away in Durban. Telephone discussion with Customer Services and Central Reservations advised I have to do the 200km return trip to sort the matter out. If it was a business booking they would travel to Pietermaritzburg. After taking R26000 from my bank, R5000 of which is an overcharge error fir which I now have to fight/wait for a refund, I do not have a vehicle that meets the needs advertised on the website and confirmed by the consultant. No positive attemps to address the issue. Just walk away and leave the customer with the problem.
Think carefully before using Woodford. They'll take you money and simply do not care whether or not your needs are met and are satisfed.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Shocking service
Shocking service. Even though I paid for full cover I was charged for a scratch. Both rental in Jhb and CTown never saw my deposits again. They took it on both accounts without my approval. Very very difficult to get hold of anyone to help revert this. They are a disgrace. I wouldn’t advise anyone to use Woodford they are a disaster. Be warned!!! Very upsetting.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Deposit Refund
I've been renting a vehicle from Whybuycars for over a year and their service was fine up until I returned the vehicle on 15 October 2023 and requested the deposit to be paid back. I've sent emails, spoke to Samke, called Dinesh the manager, but all their promises were not fulfilled. Now they're avoiding my calls, and forever in meetings when you call. This is a terrible service and I want my money back

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Fraud
Fraud, I've paid two more thousand ZAR more than it was confirmed in the booking, extra services that were guaranteed to be included when reserved. After 2 weeks the deposit hasn't been returned back yet. Customer care is disgusting, their answer was you are fool because you agreed to pay more upon check in.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
NIGHTMARE
NIGHTMARE!
My credit card has been debited without any invoice or reference to it. The clarifications are still ongoing. I suspect that WOODFORD is trying to charge us for damage that has already been done to the vehicle! Unfortunately, the staff proved to be highly incompetent both when picking up the vehicle and when returning it. Comments regarding damage on the report were not accepted and so we had problems with this when we returned the vehicle. Even pictures and videos of the damage at handover were only unwillingly accepted.
They also tried to charge us for refuelling, even though the vehicle was filled up 500 metres from the airport.
Furthermore, the invoices we received were completely incorrect and non-transparent. NEVER AGAIN!
Our second hire car was from FIRST, highly recommended!

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
I made the mistake of booking for my…
I made the mistake of booking for my car at umhlanga instead of the airport. I was stressed when I arrived at woodford at the airport but Mr Shikar made me relax 😌 and said he will help me out. In a matter of minutes he moved my rental from umhlanga to the airport and I drove off happily with my starlet

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Customer be warned!
Customer be warned!
I my case, immediately after drop-off the rented Hilux Woodford debited ZAR 2472,50 = € 123 without any explaination.
After weeks and many many emails I got these explanation: "The T-bar-handle and the lock itself [of the canopy lock mechanism] was replaced in order for it to work effectively".
The truth is - and I declare this on oath - that the canopy lock mechanism works well, neighter its handle nor at its lock itself was damaged. Up to now Woodford did not present a prove of the assumed damage.
I reported at drop-off was that I had screwed in a spare part screw for a lost screw of the cage of the canopy lock mechanism to prevent the loss of the remaining second screw of the cage. Unfortunely said spare screw was a bit too long so that its screw head did not reach the canopy surface but held the cage savely in position and preventing the loss of the second screw of the cage. But this cannot justify the exchange of the complete outer parts of the camopy lock mechanism.
To keep the case - in my opinion fraud - under the carped Woodford offered me a 10% discount on a not existing damage.
So please consider this true story when thinking about renting a Woodford car.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Great experience
Great service and good company. Initial issues on refund turned out to be the bank's fault

Reply from Woodford Car Hire

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
Service is the best
Service is the best, I recommend that I will work with them forever.

Reply from Woodford Car Hire
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