Intolerable

[jay]

Never, ever again will I try to rent a car with Payless Rentals. They changed the price quote at the counter (upward), required mileage charges (reservation was for unlimited mileage), were condescending, and the minivan they brought out had been in a fender-bender and had a meter-long scratch and dent along the rear left quarter panel. And wasn't non-smoking. When patgreene and I walked away from this peachy deal, the agent informed us that since we hadn't given them 72-hour cancellation notice, they were going to charge us one day's rental ($100) even though I'd never touched the keys.

Vacation in jeopardy, I found an SUV (sigh...) at Hertz for a $50/week higher rate. But it was worth it to be dealing with a reputable, service-oriented company.

Aargh. I'm simultaneously exhausted and want to demolish something. Just what I needed, this week...

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

You weren't the first one to renege on the deal - they were. Are you going to find some way to get your $100 back?

[redbird]

Challenge that with your credit card issuer: they breached the contract, by not delivering what you had agreed on (a nonsmoking van at the stated price and with unlimited mileage). As such, they have no enforceable claim against you.

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

What she said. That's the joy of paying for things with a credit card -- if they try to shaft you like that, you can simply refuse to authorize the charge, and the card issuer will reverse the charge if their investigation shows you to be in the right.

You'll need to provide documentation of what the original contract was for, but your card issuer ought to stick up for you on this one. Worst comes to worst, it'll show up on your statement for a month or two before they get it pulled off. You may have to be firm about it, but it'll happen.

I'd consider lodging a Better Business Bureau complaint, too.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

ObAOL

[geekchick]

Another vote for disputing the charge with your credit card company, especially if you've got a copy of the original quote. After one experience renting from a non-major company (due to lack of credit card at the time) which got me a 10-year old Toyota whose alignment was so out of whack that I spent the entire drive essentially turning left, I swore that I'd never again rent from a similar company, theory being I got exactly what I paid for. =/ Next time you might try using Travelocity or Hotwire or something similar to look for rates at the national chains; I got the Lancer I had out there in January for something like $18/day through Travelocity, and there were a couple of even cheaper options.

I'm glad to hear you got something worked out though. Have a wonderful vacation, and take pictures! =)