Charged me 136 rand to have my "full…
Charged me 136 rand to have my "full deposit" returned, despite two agent who said my deposit would be returned in full they surcharged me with a spurious fee that was covered in my agreement with Carjet.Refused to escalate the complaint above the useless customer service agent.Refused to provide HO contact details so I could take my complaint forward.Their customer service sucks Tempest are fraudsters for adding this extraneous charge. For me it was 136 rand, imagine they're ripping off every customer how much that becomes? What an appalling business ethic.The car was booked through Carjet. They gave me a voucher to cover the entire rental, end of.Charging me to have my deposit returned has to be fraud to the point of theft.But we're not finished yet. Watch this space.Don't hire a car from Tempest carhire. They are not to be trusted.
Jim Taylor
Not a transparent company
Not a transparent company, not what they make out to be. They get you to initial boxes with alarming haste. Then when you return your car they charge a further R136 for document filing (not a huge amount but that is not my issue it is the poor transparency. When you question them they state you ticked the box and its in their terms, albeit hidden. Just not a nice way to do business, conning clients. I am happy to pay car hire fees but hiding additional charges is lousy in my opinion. DO NOT USE THESE PEOPLE
Jonathan Johnson
AVOID AT ALL COSTS - 100+ Days to get a refund!
I strongly advise anyone against renting a car with Tempest Car Hire South Africa. My experience has been a complete nightmare, and I only received my refund of R 4,785.23 after involving the Motor Industry Ombudsman (MIOSA).Here is the reality of their "service":Illegal Retention of Funds: I returned the vehicle on October 10th, 2025. Despite my full cooperation, they kept my deposit for over 100 days without any valid reason.Disgraceful Customer Service: I spent countless hours emailing their "Customer Relations" department. I was repeatedly ignored or met with empty promises and repetitive requests for documents I had already sent multiple times.Bad Faith: Even after my bank card was stolen and I provided my official IBAN/SWIFT details for a transfer, they continued to stall. They only took action once they received a formal notification from the Ombudsman (Case 513651).Stress and Time Loss: This company has zero respect for consumer rights or the South African Automotive Industry Code of Conduct.Do yourself a favor: Rent elsewhere. A company that only pays its debts when forced by a mediator is not a company you want to trust with your money.
King Gio
New fraudulous procedures - you better read this
1. The whole rental started unpleasantly by having to wait more than 1 hour at the Tempest airport station to pick up the car as too few staff was available.2. The deposit for the car was not blocked on the credit card but actually charged. Despite protesting against this unknown and unacceptable procedure at pick-up, Tempest charged EUR 611.68 to my card and only paid back EUR 557.51. My loss is EUR 54.17 3. The car given was not the Toyota Corolla Cross (or similar) I paid for, but an unsafe Tata of inferior quality. The car was not from Tempest but Europcar. This sounds European but is a US company with whom we had already serious fraud and quality problems in the past. 4. We had a further delay of half an hour, as nobody from the staff knew how to open the trunk and release the handbrake. The inside of the wind shield had a smeary layer which we could not remove despite buying a special glass cleaner. Driving during the night or against sunlight was almost impossible due to the reflections on the wind shield. The head lights were very dim and driving during darkness was extremely unsafe as we could not see more than 20 meters. The blinker did not work properly. The diesel engine was very loud, but had hardly any power. Going uphill or passing other cars was very difficult. Opening the trunk with the key did not work. One always had to press a hidden tiny little button almost breaking one's finger nails. Shifting between drive and reverse was very erratic and could take up to several seconds. There were also other flaws. The car was big but nothing else positive can be said about it.5. Before returning the car, I completely filled it up at the BP airport station just next to Tempest/Europcar. Despite presenting the receipt, I was charged ZAR 253.70 for refueling the car. The man who took over the car confirmed that the tank was full, but offered a very unusual service to take us to the airport terminal with the returned rental car. We thought it was a new nice gesture and accepted. After dropping us off, he must have driven either some 40-50km or simply stole some gas from the tank. 6. Despite specifically asking for it, I did not get a confirmation that the car was returned without damages. Not even when I called the head office. Given the behavior of the man who took over the car leaving the rental car premises, the door is open for arbitrary fraud. This happened a few years ago with Europcar, who caused a scratch after the return and charged "smart repair".7. It takes up to 30 days before most of the deposit is returned to the credit card account. Exchange fees, refueling, smart repair, etc. are withheld.
Manfred Otter
Unfortunately i didnt check the reviews!
Unfortunately i didnt check there reviews in advance!defenetly a fraud as they never gave me a slip on my way out!they charge me for 4 days instead of 3 mentioning that i took the car 1 hour late wich it was a fault!on the invoice they gave me after my request it was mentioned that i took the car at 12:48 but i at that time i was just paying for the car and i have the prove from my visa card charge!on the way back they mentioned that i took the car back at 13:30 but this was only a result of there delay to check the car as there was a q waiting in from of us!from the deposit they took they didnt refund me the whole amount because they charge me an extra day!so redicullus!and the company is related with europecars!never again!!also from the rental day i requested to have an invoice on ,my companies name and they sent me an invoice on my personal name and when i asked them to arrange it the answer was negative!all in all the experience was too bad!!
paschalis charalambous
Tempest Thieves Car Hire
I reserved a vehicle online with a deposit of R4, 569 as indicated on the invoice.When the vehicle was collected they wanted R6, 996. They said it was because of a debit card, so I paid with a credit card and they stole R6, 996 anyway.They refuse to refund me the balance and now claim no knowledge of the reservation yet somehow we have the vehicle.No one their sounded like they had any intellect.
Craig Wasserman
The worst customer service ever
The worst customer service ever! Do not use Tempest Car Hire ever! Also, I was given a poorly maintained car.
Ebrahim Matthews
“Repeated Missing Items and Shocking Service – Avoid Tempest Cape Town Airport”
I am posting this publicly because customers deserve to know how Tempest Car Hire by Europcar at Cape Town International Airport handles situations involving lost or reported items.During our recent rental, my pregnant wife’s wedding ring slipped into the car on our way to return the vehicle. We immediately phoned the branch, explained exactly what happened, and were told to bring the car back so they could search for it. I clearly told them where the ring must have fallen — either into the handbrake compartment or under the carpets where there are open gaps in the floor.Despite this, Tempest did nothing more than a basic, surface-level check. They only opened the handbrake compartment. They did not check under the carpets, even though I asked for this from the very beginning. I only found this out a full week later when someone finally contacted me — and the only reason they reached out at all was because I began threatening legal action after being ignored for days.From that point on, communication was appalling. I phoned them daily for more than a week, and the phone rang endlessly without anyone answering. On the rare occasions when someone actually picked up, I was promised that someone would contact me later the same day. Not a single one of those promised callbacks ever happened.After two weeks of silence and being unable to reach anyone, a staff member finally admitted that they had still not checked under the carpets, and that the vehicle had already been rented out again before they even attempted a proper inspection. Only on 8 December — almost three weeks after the ring went missing — was I told that they were “finally going to look under the carpets.” By then the car had been used, cleaned, driven, and handled by multiple people. Any real investigation was already impossible.Tempest’s final reply was to deny responsibility, quote generic Terms and Conditions, and abruptly declare the matter “closed.” They stopped responding altogether once confronted with their own staff’s statements and the clear, documented timeline of events. Their behaviour showed no accountability, no urgency, and no respect for a customer dealing with the loss of an item that carries significant sentimental value.What makes this even worse is that this is not the first time something has gone missing with Tempest. A few years ago, I accidentally left a USB stick in the radio. I called shortly after returning the car, and — just like this time — they claimed they “found nothing.” That makes this the second missing item in a row, which is not a coincidence.This experience has made it absolutely clear that Tempest by Europcar does not treat reported lost items with any seriousness or professionalism. They failed to follow instructions, failed to act promptly, failed to secure the vehicle, failed to communicate, and failed to provide a credible or consistent explanation. The entire process was chaotic, dismissive, and deeply unprofessional from start to finish.I strongly urge anyone renting from Tempest to be extremely careful with their belongings and to think twice before trusting this company with anything valuable. No customer should have to go through the same frustration, disappointment, and complete lack of accountability that we experienced.
Corrie Bolton
They are stealing fuel!
Rented a vehicle from Tempest at OR Tambo International. On the way to return it, we filled the tank at Engen 1-Stop closest to the airport. We paid for the fuel using the last of our cash (Rands) as we were returning home to the US. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry and didn’t wait for the fuel receipt. As we unloaded our bags, the Tempest attendant surveyed the vehicle and said everything looked fine. Tempest now sent us the invoice, and they charged us a refueling fee, as well as an amount for gas equaling about 10 liters of diesel. We returned it FULL! I have no proof that we did refuel before returning the vehicle. It is not even about the amount they are charging. It is about the fact that we are being defrauded. Someone there is literally stealing gas and having customers like us pay for it. And they do it because they know we will likely just let it go. Keep your receipt for refueling!
Elke Pieterse
beware the small print as they double billed me
they double billed me for a one way rental from kruger airport (Nelspruit) to Johannesburg. I had a prepaid booking through Argus Car Hire that included the above mentioned fee. They made me sign a contract that double billed me in the small print and didn't give me either a hard or soft copy to review, either at the beginning or at the end of the rental period. Both them and Argus are now washing their hands of any responsibility and refuse to refund me.
Salam
Worst car hire experience we have ever…
Worst car hire experience we have ever had, firstly we were not given the car we had booked and there was no change to the amount charged, secondly there was a small chip on the windscreen which they wanted to rip us off and charge the earth for and finally, the cherry on top, we received a fine of R200, they sent us a bill for R400 admin fee, what an absolute joke, I will never, ever hire a car from them and will always advise anyone needing to hire a car to steer clear of Tempest!!!!
Andrew Patterson
Disappointed with Hidden Admin Fees
Disappointed with Hidden Admin Fees – BewareI was very disappointed with my experience using Tempest Car Hire. We received two minor parking infringements, each costing $20, but Tempest went on to charge us an additional $40 “admin fee” per infringement – that’s double the fine amount just in admin costs.This feels like customer gouging and an opportunistic move, especially since they already have your credit card details on file and can charge you without discussion. While it may be in the fine print of their terms and conditions, it’s certainly not fair or reasonable.Beware of the hidden costs – read the T&Cs closely before handing over your card. I would think twice before using them again.
Peter Borain
Here is my honey feedback about you vehicle hire company!!!!
Here is my honey feedback about your hire company's branch in Cape Town Airport after getting an email asking for me to fill in a survey.How likely is it you would recommend Tempest?Your staff member was inconsistent and lacked a great deal of knowledge. Therefore, it is imperative that you provide them with training. The individual who assisted me over the counter was not particularly knowledgeable, and the majority of them were standing around. Additionally, while returning the vehicle, I searched for your designated drop-off lanes; however, none were in sight. A stranger who did not possess your identification contacted me and signalled for me to approach, which caused me anxiety due to the fact that he did not possess a Tempest ID card. Additionally, the road was devoid of signage and the name of your organisation. I have used numerous rental companies at Cape Town Airport and refused to use your services once more. Your company's service was also the most unsatisfactory I have encountered from a rental company.What could Tempest do to improve?The individual who provided me with assistance was utterly ineffective and disorganised. He devoted more time to conversing with his colleagues than to assisting me as a customer.How would you rate the ease of your overall pick-up experience?Ensure that the vehicle I reserved is prepared. In this instance, I was unable to get a VW Polo and was informed of this only after the customer service representative returned from the rear of the agency. Also, your customer service counters are disorganised, and your employees appear to be standing around and conversing. I eventually got a smaller vehicle, which necessitated an extended wait.What could Tempest do to improve?The vehicle was exceedingly diminutive and was equipped with malfunctioning electric window lighting that failed to illuminate and operate. Additionally, the interior lighting was deactivated. The radio was also set to an incorrect frequency. The baggage compartment of the vehicle was so diminutive that I had to unlatch the back seats in order to put in a suitcase. I requested an upgrade to a larger vehicle or an automatic vehicle as a result of the inconvenience caused by the absence of a VW Polo.Do you have any other comments or suggestions on how the branch could improve their service?Your car rental location lacks obvious signage. While I was en route to drop off the vehicle, an unidentified individual approached me and extended his arms. I did not feel at ease leaving the vehicle with an individual who was unable to produce a Tempest Company ID.
Dillan
Worst experience ever
Worst experience ever, made online booking, went to collect and pay, could not swipe card for more than 5k at a time for some bazzare reason, oh and they refuse to swipe more than once , wanted to swop to my partner instead for different bank, oh no now they want bank statements but we are ready to pay, like what the hell? Oh and quite the unprofessional attitudes of the reception/ booking ladies to put the cherry on the cake, thank you for waisting my money and time.....
Robert Griesel
Full tank returned but still charged.
No inspection report was emailed to me on collection from the airport. On delivery I refilled the petrol tank on returning the vehicle on the 26/11/2024 but was still charged for refuelling and a service fee charge on the 28/11/2024. Very disappointed and feel ripped off. I won’t use this company again.
Rion Ribeiro
Made to feel tat I crashed their car while it was exactly as I got it.
Upon returning the car I rented to Cape Town International the agent tried to force me to fill in an incident report. Apparently there were scratches on the hub cap and I have to pay for new hubcaps. I returned the car exactly as I found it, albeit a bit more dusty and not filled with petrol, yet he insisted that I was somehow responsible for damage that I couldn’t see and must have been how the car was given to me. He made me feel like a criminal and I refused to fill in any report.I travel to Cape Town often and always rent a car. I’ve never had any experience like this and will not be using Tempest again.
Cornel Stander
Been using Avis for years for business…
Been using Avis for years for business globally and now tried Tempest while in SA, never again. They are utterly useless in communications and issuing invoices. If you on a business trip and need to claim, avoid them at all costs. Receive a speeding fine, they issue you automatically an "Admin Fee" per fine without proof of guilt and ignore all communication you send to customer care. So be warned if you decide to use them.
Trevor
My claim was handled serious, fair and correct.
I had an issue with my car and I had to pay the damage (which i could reclaim from my insurance). Although it took me more than 2 weeks that my deposit was returned my claim was treated seriously and transparently. I had to pay initially a fee of Rand 5000 but they returned the excess when the broken tire was fixed, I also received a proper incoive with all details. First I was the impression that they charge me twice but that was not the case. Customer or Claim Support was responsive and clarified my confusion. A great thanks to Hanlie at the Openclaim Support.
Oliver Gawlowski
This company has taken unauthorised…
This company has taken unauthorised payments from my accont post rental. I cannot not get anyone to help me. Cuttently i've been overcharged by 100% of my original rental
MartV
excellent
I have changed my review of Tempest , i made a mistake thinking they had kept my deposit when in fact they had returned . Excellent company and would definitely use again
terry bowler
