>> Hope it isn't too late to reply, but I have used the Ford service through
the Accomdata website and found the service excellent. <<

>> After posting a message in the UK Travel Forum(Compuserve) about car rentals in the UK,
Penny responded and directed me to the firm she represented. We had a very
humourous exchange of messages about the service. <<

>> My credit card statement came in yesterday, and after the currency
conversion, renting from AccomoDATA/Ford was close to $300 cheaper than renting from
one of the big boys 2 years ago. So long, Hertz/Avis! <<

>> Yup, on the whole I give your set-up high marks for ease of use and reducing
stress in car rental. I hope to use it again when we next visit the UK. <<

>> To be honest, I think of cars as not much beyond metal boxes with wheels. To
be honest I don't think I ever noticed what model of Ford the rental car was.
The lack of hassle was the big factor for me. <<

>> Anyone travelling to Great Britain and wishing to rent a car should
consider using Accomdata/Ford.

>>You go directly to their web site (www.accomodata.co.uk/ford.htm), select the size car
you want, fill in a form detailing when and where your plane lands, and cough
up a credit card number.

>>When you arrive at the airport, you are met by a gent who walks you to your
car. No more waiting for a shuttle bus to take you to the Hertz or Avis
buildings! No more waiting in line to fill out paperwork or getting shafted
with additional insurance costs! There's some minor paperwork, and then the car
is yours. The gent gives you the key and a parking lot ticket (more on that),
and you're off.

>>When you return, you bring the car back to the same parking lot, put the car
key and parking lot ticket in the trunk, and call them to let them know where
you've parked. And that's it. Simple, clean, hassle-free.

>>It's a beautiful system, and I recommend it highly.

>>Note that the prices quoted at the website are exactly what you will pay.
There's no add-on insurance.

>>A few caveats (but these are very minor):

>>1. Stumbling off a plane at 6:30 am and having to look for a handheld,
handwritten sign with my name in a hall full of other handheld, handwritten
signs required sharp eyes. ( Hey, can't the Ford people afford a black
marker? The pencil was a little light!)

>>2. The parking lot ticket: Americans are used to getting a parking lot ticket,
and when exiint, driving to a parking lot booth where a live person takes your
money. In England, you have to go to a machine where you insert the ticket,
deposit the requested amount, then take your ticket and put it in a another
machine as you exit the parking lot. Get the gent to carefully explain all this
to you. Otherwise you'll find yourself at a machine with an invalid ticket and
a bunch of cars in line behind you.

>>3. The rental agency will slap a L100 "security deposit"on top of the rental
fee to cover any damages to the car, or if you don't return the car with a full
tank of gas. (Will someone explain to me why the poor schmucks have to pay for
a full tank of gas when returning a car if you have no idea where the nearest
gas station is, and in the case of Heathrow, not easily found?) Your credit
card will be credited with the balance when you return the car. (in our case,
we were charged nine-odd pounds for gas.)

>>As I said, those are three minor caveats. I can't stress how great it was to go
straight to the car, and how easy it was to return it.

>>This is a great system. Use it!

>>Tomoko Okamura << I was pleased with your service when I was in the U.K. But one thing I want to mention is that the man who greeted me at the airport did not tell me what kind of petrol that car should be filled. It was diesel . I usually use unleaded petrol for my car. So I would have been appreciated if he had mentioned it when he took me to the car. But he was very nice man and I felt relieved when he greeted me. The car was very economical and neat. Thank you. The car I rented was Ford Fiesta (the smallest one) for 9days. Sorry I do not remember how much I paid exactly at that time. >>

Michael Dyson << It's been so long since holidays, I couldn't tell you what kind of car we rented. I can tell you however, I certainly was pleased with the service and have been telling my friends just that, and how to get in touch with you. As to cost, now that you mention it, I don't remember seeing you on my Amex Card billings!! Have you in fact posted the bill with Americal Express, I may have just not seen it. I just pay the bills as they come in. We arrived in London on June 12th, and left on the 16th. >>

David Holdway

<< 1. We were very pleased with all aspects of the service. The staff at Ford were very helpful, especially considering we picked up and dropped off the car on a Sunday morning.I would recommend Ford to my friends.

2. We rented the car for seven consecutive days - Oct.5 to Oct. 12,1997.

3. The car was a Ford Mondeo.

4. The total charge was 175 pounds for the rental and 18.65 pounds to top up the petrol which would be correct.