Andrew rented a car from Enterprise, which told him online it would charge $37.71 for a one-day rental. When he showed up at the branch, Enterprise said he’d have to pay more than three times that amount because he wouldn’t be allowed to drop his car off until two days later.
He writes:
I recently rented a car from enterprise online via their online reservation service. I was told that the rental would cost $37.71 for the day. When I got to the branch, the whole story changed and my price was changed to $129.11. They claimed that I could not drop it off on a Saturday and that I would need to pay for three days, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. I needed to drop the car on Saturday since my flight out was leaving.I could have refused the rental, however I would have a difficult time renting a car elsewhere without a ride. They wouldn’t even honor my daily rate in my online reservation.
I tried to speak to the assistant manager, manager, and a phone rep and nothing could be done other than refusing their terms set forth once I got there and paying a cancellation fee.
What would you have done in Andrew’s situation? It’s easy to say you would refuse the rental and take your chances elsewhere, but it seemed he didn’t have much wiggle room.
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In my work I rent cars nearly every week. I have used every car rental company there is, including several small one location locals. My preference is Hertz as they cater to business travelers. I am a Hertz #1 member (as well as Avis and several others) I do not stand in line, at major airports my name and car location is on a board, the contract is hanging on the mirror. I get in and drive to the exit where my contract and drivers license are checked. And I am out of the parking lot while the casual travelers (and Enterprise customers) are still in line.
Yes, it can cost a bit more, but my customer is paying $125/hr for my travel time – whether I am standing in line to rent a car or driving. So that extra 15 minutes cost over $20, which may be more than the difference in renting from a cheaper company.
And no, the airport locations are not open 24/7. However as a credit card user, you can put the time of your drop off on the paperwork and drop it with the keys in a drop box. You will have a receipt in the mail in about 3 days. ( I have had them fax a receipt so I could finish an expense report)
Enterprise caters to people who don’t know any better or need a car while theirs is in the shop. When I have to leave my car at the shop, I call the local Hertz, and they pick me up at the shop – They are less than 5 miles away so this works at my location, but it may not work at most other places.
Before renting a car, check with your insurance agent to see if you are covered. It can save you quite a bit as the charge for insurance can be higher than the rental fee. Especially if you are under 30. The rental companies will automatically add the insurance unless you decline it. That may be what happened to the OP.
It wouldn’t matter. I’d hail a cab if I had to. An airport rental car business that doesn’t take turn-ins seven days a week? Come on, now.
I was out of town once, and Enterprize told me i was not allowed to rent a car from them, it said in their computer do not rent to this person! why i have no idea… so i just went to hertz where i got a better price and a nicer car! Their loss my gain!
If you signed up for something and then they changed the terms you shouldn’t have to pay a cancellation fee if you decide you don’t like the new terms you never agreed to in the first place. It’s not your fault they won’t honor what you originally signed up for.
I thought you can drop the car any day at an airport rental place. Is that not ture?
One Rental Car Company to rule them all….
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P0SJ20100426
” It trails privately held Enterprise Rent A Car which has a market share of 53 percent.”
When you deal with an 800 pound gorilla sometimes you get pounded…
Enterprise doesn’t care about customers. They tried to do this to me, but since my auto insurance was paying they didn’t want to upset a large company. A few weeks later my new car needed repair and the dealer arranged for Enterprise to pick me up and give me a car for 3 days – and they left me stranded at my work 25 miles from my home. They called and tried to blame me, saying I hadn’t called them – but we had spoken 3 times that afternoon. I was forced to find rides 40 miles RT for 3 days. I wrote a detailed letter to the corp office and they never so much as returned a letter or called.
I’ll never use them again.
If you were only planning to stay for one day why not try to take advantage of the courtesy shuttle from the airport to your hotel (and back to the airport) and then use a taxi to get back and fourth from wherever it was you had to go while you were there? Surely, that would have been cheaper than renting a car for 3 days you only needed for one???
Im an auto adjuster for an insurance company and have had to deal with this many times. I talk to these goons at Enterprise all day. Most are recent college grads with no work experience and were talked into working there with the promise of quick advancement. Its practically a sweat shop. Poor guys have to dress up in suits and then go wash cars.
You can rent a vehicle for one day on a Saturday even if they close at noon on Saturday and are closed on Sunday. They will give you a confused look but you tell them, “I only need this car for one day. I will return it tonight and leave the key in your secure drop box”
When the employees get back on Monday, they will check it in and charge you for Saturday only. Ive done it many times at different locations.
I would just leave without renting the car, and not pay them anything.