A MAN who was told he was too old to hire a car during a holiday to Kefalonia has been given a full refund.

Europcar refused to give Malcolm Lethbridge, 80, of Brookside Close, Colchester, keys to a car he had booked and paid for in advance because he was over 75.

Malcom had given the company his date of birth when he booked and has used the company for the past five years, while also over the age limit.

Staff at the airport desk refused to give him a refund, meaning he and his wife Sandra, 68, were without a car for the duration of their two-week break.

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Mr Lethbridge has now been given a refund, but believes the company should also give him compensation. He said: “I didn’t really see that they could kick up a fuss about the refund. For all the inconvenience, stress and trauma caused I think a compensation offer might be in order.”

He is still waiting to hear back.

A spokeswoman for the company apologised for Mr Lethbridge’s experience and confirmed it does have a 75 upper age limit.

She said:“When a customer makes an online reservation they are required to confirm their date of birth, at which point the terms and conditions for the country appear on screen, including the upper age limit, which the customer should read before proceeding with the booking.

“In Mr Lethbridge’s case, it appears he did not read the terms and conditions which clearly state the upper age limit for Greece.

“Europcar is very sorry for the inconvenience and has arranged a full refund as a gesture of goodwill.”