During My visit in Fiji in August 2010 I was greeted by an Employee of Satelite Rental at the Nadi Airport at 6:00 a.m. and driven to their office on the main road in Nadi where I rented a 2009 Toyota Camry and left for my destination in Ba to meet my family. The car drive fine during the day time and had no problems with its driving condition. It was at night when I discovered that the headlights of the car were dangerously out of whack and not aimed at the road. I got caught by surprise because I was in Sigatoka in the evening enjoying my visit at Warwick hotel for the day and started to leave for Ba to get back home to my relatives and discovered that both of the headlights were not properly aimed at the road. The drivers side headlight was shooting way out to the left at the tall coconut trees while the right side headlight was aimed at low level farms on the right and not the road making it impossible to drive safely. The roads in Fiji are in very poor condition and are completely dark with no lights at all making it extremely difficult to see the road during an on coming traffic.
I called the rental company and they suggested I bring the car back to Nadi to fix the problem. I protested and asked them to exchange the car by bringing me another car but they refused and suggested I take the car to their mechanic in Ba town. The mechanic did not know how to adjust the lights on the Camry and suggested I take to the Toyota Dealer in Nadi. So I took the car on my time and expense to Satelite Rentals office where their so called mechanics attempted to adjust the headlights but had absolutely idea what aiming the headlights meant. They had no idea what th4y were doing. They brought out some crude frame made of pipe with tapes on it and tried to adjust the headlights but failed so they tried to make the target fit the beam of the lights by bringing it closer and adjusting the measurements on the frame and selling me on the idea that it was adjusted. I again protested and asked for another similar car but they refused. Then they suggested I take the car to Carpenters repair shop and have it looked at. When I drive there with my family in the car every mechanic came out to look with interest staring at us like they had never seen people before. Than someone claiming to be their top mechanic came out and said he looked at the car and concluded the headlights were adjusted to the factory specs without looking at where the headlights were aiming at. He claimed that the lights were adjusted tot he specs on the car. I saw no specs or adjustment area on the car when I inspected it.
I have some experience with repairing cars and knew these guys were all pretending to know what they were talking about yet they had no certifications or technical skills in the area of safety of the cars and if they were road worthy or not.
It is my belief that this car was in an accident previously and poorly repaired with no regard to safety and or concern for the welfare of the consumers and the public with whom they did business with.
it is my recommendation that you do not rent a car from Satelite Rental if you care about the safety and security of your passengers and family.
Satelite Rental does not have care or concern for you or your families safety and security. Their only interest is your money and money only. If you love your family and care about their safety and security do not rent from Satelite rentals. Their are plenty of good Rental companies at the Airport you can rent from to avoid the dangers and poor customer service. In fact the owner was disrespectful and unapologetic and in fact abusive with his language. Their mechanics are all untrained or certified and cannot be relied on for your safety and security while renting from them.
DO NOT RENT FROM SATELITE RENTAL IF WANT TO DRIVE SAFELY IN FIJI. |