We hired a van in Perth, it’s was filthy and not fit for use. Broken lights, windscreen, too many bangs and scraps to mention. The seat belts did not work and the door kept filling off. The staff refused to write down all the faults on the collection check list which meant we lost our bond.

Wicked should not be allowed to operate. Don’t to it.

We met loads of other wicked hirers with even more serious issues.

We booked the van through Darwin’s tourist office the previous day. They actually recommened Wicked to us.

Our plan was for a one way lease from Darwin to Sydney over four week’s.

We arrived to pick our van up on at 10.00am. We went through the necersary paper work before we were shown the van. We left the depot to start our journey.

We did’t get very far before we realised that there had been a misunderstanding at the tourist office and we had booked a vehicle without air-conditioning. Considering the time we were planning to have the van, the distances we would travel and the temperatures we would encounter this would be a big problem.

We returned to the depo and explained the situation. We were prepared to pay the extra for a van with air-conditioning and were shown another vehicle. This would have been simple if it wasn’t for the fact that even the meichanic couldn’t figure out how to colapse the rear seats to form the bed. The idea of renting a camper-van is that you can sleep in it so obviously this one was useless.

After stating this we were offered a four wheel drive vehicle that was equipt with air-conditioning and appeared to have a suitable sleeping area. We agreed that we would take it and would return in an hour alowing them time to ensure the vehicle was ready.

We returned to collect the new van an hour later (it was now around 1.00pm). We filled in the paper-work and were shown around the van before we left, relived that we were now on our way.

The relif didn’t last long! We had driven about 100 meters when there was a loud rubbery noise and a burning smell. I thought to start with that I had a flat tire. We called your help-line and we were told to return to the depo. When we got out of the van we saw the belts off the front of the engine as they fell to the floor underneath the van. This does not exactly install confidence in the reliability of their vehicles.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that we were egar to get on the road we would have cancelled our booking and found a another rental company!

A rather embarresed member of staff then offered us one of their premium campers, it was so late in the day and we had to make up so much time that we accepted it straight away hoping that the previous problems were just bad luck.

A few day’s later, on our way south along the Stuart Highway we thought we’d make use of the vehicles sun-roof. It opened electricaly as it should, when we came to close it; it stopped short and a warning light appeared next to the switch. It was starting to get dark and the weather forcast was for rain. It was clearly stuck so we improvised, covering it with a plastic bag.

We very soon reached Alice Springs and decided it would be best to pay a visit to your depo to get it fixed. Here we met another Wicked employee: Danny. Danny attempted to fix it but obviously didn’t have the tool’s or the knowledge to solve the problem. At one stage he even told us that we might have to pay for it to be repaired, this made me quite angry. The problem was a vehicle fault that was certainly not caused by the way we had used it.

It turned out that it was a common fault and that the sun-roof should have been de-activated but hadn’t. This again show’s a lack of profesionalism in this company. Firstly- it hadn’t been de-activated when it was claimed it should have been and secondly- if you provide a camper-van for lease surley all of the equiptment on the van should be functioning? If there are common faults such as this one maybe they should consider replacing that vehicle with one that is more reliable?
Surley the logical solution for our situation would have been to refer us to an auto-glazing company who would be more qualified to fix the sun-roof? Instead we had to wait for Danny to find something to cover the roof with to keep water out until we reached Sydney. This again took more of our time, we had not intended to spend an extra day in Alice Springs. In the end all Danny did was to tape the edges of the sun-roof and advise us to buy our own tape should it come off. Again this did not exactly fill us with confidence; there has been record levels of heavy rain in Northern Australia this year has there not?

We arrived in Sydney on . The van was due to be returned at 3.00pm, we left Darling Harbour at 1.30pm beliving that we had left a very generous lenght of time to reach the depo within the same city. We had been given a map to find the Sydney depo on George Street, this made it slightly dificult because there apeared to by two George Street’s in Sydney. Also the map did not show how to get there from the city center. We were struggling to find our way, stopping for directions several times. At 2.30pm we called the depo to ask for directions, the lady we spoke to had no idea how to direct us even though we gave her the precise address of where we were and offered no help. We struggled along, asking for directions from several people. It seem’s even locals were confused by their map, what chance did we have?

We called again at 3.50pm to explain that we were lost and that we needed directions. We were now outside Apollo camper-vans, we told her this and the only help we were given was “your not far away”. She told us quite rudly that she had to leave at 4.00 to collect a child form school (very strange during the Easter holiday) and that there was noone els there who could help us (yet we passed one of their employees in a camper-van just minuets before we eventually found the depo). We were then told that if we arrived after 4.00pm we would have to “leave the key on top of the exhaust pipe”. I had absolutly no inention of doing this! As I see it that vehicle is my responsibility untill my bond (a substansial amounth of money) is returned. What would have happened if the van had been taken, with the key’s from an unlocked yard over-night?

Eventually we asked for some help in the Apollo office, we asumed that being a rental company they would have a better chance of knowing where your depo was. One of their employee’s actually voluntiered to come with us and show us the way. It goes to show that some companys are willing to be helpfull.

We arrived at the Wicked depo at 4.15pm to find, as expected, that noone was there. I would have no complaint about this if it wasn’t for the fact we had asked for help and directions and given nothing. Not being to leave the key’s in an unsafe place we left the van but took the key’s with us.

We returned to the depo (taking up more of our time and unessisary expence) first thing in the morning to return the key’s. We tried to explain to the staff that we were not happy but as always we were presented with blank faces and indifference. We filled in a small review card describing some of the issues we had with the van. We have had no response from that card which mean’s I can only persume it has either been discarded or ignored. Either way I find this increadibly rude seeing as we took the time to fill it in.

This was the first time we had ever hired a vehicle, had we been aware of what most company’s provided in the way of service we would have steered well clear of Wicked.

The quality of the vehicle we were provided with was exceptionally poor. In their advertisment’s it say’s “a large comfortable bed”; we are not tall people but our feet over hung the end of the bed, so it is neither large or comfortable. It was dirty when we picked it up and ill equipt for the job. Surely in a camper-van that has cooking equiptment should come with a fire extingisher? We found a dust-pan but no brush, pretty useless, esspecially as we as the customer are expected to clean the vehicle.

When we first collected the vehicle we were given no advice about where we were and were not supposed to camp. We were not provided with any map’s or given any advice about driving on Australia’s road’s. This is actually quite shocking! We had explained the route we were planning on taking the vehicle which included some very remote areas where mobile phone coverage is minimal. We were not advised about the vast distances between fuel stations or the need to take food and water with us. Luckily we had already recived that advice from other party’s but thier employees were not to know that. It is scary to think that they would allow someone out on the road in some quite hazardous enviroments without vital safety information.

Every hire company I have used since ensure that there vehicles are profesionally valteted between customers. One lady at a camping ground actually said to me that she belived your campers looked unsafe and shouldn’t be on the road.

It appears to me that Wicked camper-vans use a fun concept, fluffy hand-cuffs (also not in the van) and interesting paint-work to cover a shody, unprofesional service.

DONT DO IT!!!!!

I hired from Darwin, I am an experienced 4WD instructor, so I can say with some credibility that their vans are unsafe, and poorly maintained. This adds to the very poor customer service at their desk.. I arrived at ten and my van wasnt even ready by 1pm.. I felt sorry for 2 couples who had arrived 9am on the dot and were still there when I left because their van was not ready due to broken windscreen etc..

For what you get, they are not even good value, go with one of the more reputable companies..

Andrew

We broke down three hours into a seven week hire due to, what the garage described as, poor maintenance on Wicked’s part. Basically they forgot to put any coolant in the engine and it was rented to us empty.

To cut a very long story short – we are spending our time in SE Asia trying to get our deposit back as promised instead of enjoying our trip. We have got to the stage where they have asked us not to call any more as there is no one contactable by phone who can deal with returning deposits.

To all the people who have had good experiences – this was not our fault! I am all for having a fun road trip and enjoying the tough times as much as the good times, but keeping your money with no explanation and becoming uncontactable is not something any of you would just laugh off!

To anyone thinking of renting through them – we read some reviews beforehand and weighed them up, shrugged and said it wwould be fine. If you rent through them then you probably won’t have a problem. However, if you do break down, at no fault of your own, then you will lose a lot of money and time and become so angry with the way they treat you that it makes you want to share your experience and warn others in the hope that one day they will stop doing this.

We have got in contact with the Office of Fair Trading in Queensland and a couple of news agencys in the hope they will help us get our money back.

What surprises me is thst there doesn’t seem to be anything in place to stop them taking peoples money with no explanation – they are allowed to get away with fraud and no one cares!

Breaks were really poor, airfilters hadnt been cleaned at all, frontwheel bearing was dead completely, moving way to much, servo-stearing was broken, the screws from the backwheels were loose when i checked after the first day driving ( that means they didnt doublecheck them…could have been our death….).

The best comes now, even though a due date for a traffic penalty ( parking in Melbourne ) is not over yet, WICKED CAMPER KEEPS CHARGING MY CREDIT CARD FOR MORE AND MORE ADMINISTRATION FEES for work they didnt have since the due date is in the future, AND THEY CHARGED ADMINISTRAION FEES ALREADY!!!

They are not that cheap compared to others , especially in summer, so they should have customer service, which they dont have at all and make there shitty vans secure!
My advice, dont take a wicked, they choose the name for a reason!
best,Tom

If someone is super cheap, they are probably going to have lousy service. Better to pay a bit more from a reputable operator – this is something I’ve learnt from long and bitter experience.

If someone is super cheap, they are probably going to have lousy service. Better to pay a bit more from a reputable operator – this is something I’ve learnt from long and bitter experience.

I am a Sydney-based journalist keen to speak to people today about any issues they have had with Wicked in NSW. Please get in touch via lmckenny@smh.com.au, or (02) 9282 2372.

Regards,
Leesha

Here’s proof you should never ever rent from Wicked if you value your life.

For example:

Hey, my boyfriendand i are currently renting one of your vans for 2 weeks. I would just like you express my disgust with the van we were given, we went for the ultra thinking it would be better however upon pick up we realised that the van we were given was ultra shit to say the least! The in…terior is so dirty and stained it’s absolutely disgusting. The engine makes noises that make you feel as tho you’re going to break down at any moment. Overall the van is an absolute piece of crap and we are so disappointed with it.

Here’s a response from a previous customer:

that what you explain, is EXACTLY the wicked camper adventure what wicked camper gives to you!!! clean vans are for pussy´s, fucked up wicked campers are for real man! haha.. thanks wicked camper, we had an awesome trip in june 2009!

Wicked vans are not for everybody. I appreciate all the comments and feedback provided on this forum.

If you hire and have a good experience then your a lucky little camper.

how ever if you hire and your experience was bad then you have every right to voice your opinion. looks to me there are more who are unhappy then are happy so the saying goes, where there is smoke,theres a wicked camper,,,, orrr somthin like that. aye

im not going to hire one.

I hired a van from them, 2 months ago. I hired one of the cheaper ones cus we didn’t want anything too special. I got a good deal on it. Yeah it was old, dented, and had done 250,000k’s, A little lumpy in the mornings but it was fine. I didn’t expect the best cus I didn’t pay for the best. I had an issue with the window winder and the roadside person was very helpful, called the RAA out and they fixed it.
Overall i had a great time travelling and i certainly would hire from them again. I may even splash out on the newer ones!