$115 per Week Alamo Van - BEWARE

[gcindy]

I also took the deal for the 15 Passenger van at $162 for Nov 13-24th. Please post your dates on when you are renting. Maybe there are times when they will have to move down the the regular minivan. So far I have not been contacted.

My rental dates are 10/17/09 - 10/24/09. They contacted me by phone. I had completed my info on their "save time" link. I know of other people who have these rentals and have not been contacted via email. I would suggest calling Alamo at 888-356-1929. Just to get this taken care of. Hope this helps.

 

[mrebuck]

I would suggest calling Alamo at 888-356-1929. Just to get this taken care of. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggestion. I just called about my reservation (11/27-12/6). The rep I spoke with put me on hold and contacted Alamo at MCO. When she returned to my line, the rep said she spoke with Francis, who said as long as I have a printout of the reservation with me, the rate will be honored.

As of yet, Alamo has not contacted me to try to get the reservation changed.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

I logged in to the site to make my reservation because we use the kiosk so I know that they have all my information. I guess we will just sit back and see.

 

[n2mm]

It's going to be difficult to contact alot of us because we only put our names in the form and email addresses. It didn't ask for my phone number. My dates are the same as another poster (10/17-24) and we have to have a minivan or van as we are 4 adults 2 toddlers w/car seats and luggage. Hopefully they'll contact me via email. But I'll deal with that when I return as we leave this week for our summer trip.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't see really where they are stringing customers along. .....Honestly, I think they are doing the next best thing short of just honoring the rate.

This is one example, unless you believe Francis is accurate and the rate will be honored.

Thanks for the suggestion. I just called about my reservation (11/27-12/6). The rep I spoke with put me on hold and contacted Alamo at MCO. When she returned to my line, the rep said she spoke with Francis, who said as long as I have a printout of the reservation with me, the rate will be honored.

As of yet, Alamo has not contacted me to try to get the reservation changed.

 

[mrebuck]

I do have all of my contact information attached to my reservation (both home and cell numbers). So far, radio silence from Alamo.

If someone contacts me, I'll let you know.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

This is one example, unless you believe Francis is accurate and the rate will be honored.

But this might not be "stringing" some one along, rather just poor internal communication. The right hand might not yet know what the left hand found out.

Not saying its not a PR nightmare, but sometimes its best to let things play out for a few days rather than panic.

 

[VAgal76]

John at Alamo called back. They ARE honoring the rate. They did ask if we can be accommodated in a smaller vehicle to let them know so they can change it.

I got a different reservationist for the name change. We are good to go!

I should go buy a lotto ticket, eh?

 

[Lewisc]

I should go buy a lotto ticket, eh?

I would.

Sometimes a business will honor a pricing mistake.

 

[mousey]

Don't buy the lottery ticket until your actually driving out the exit in your van for the said price. Seriously, I hope he isn't lying and you are hassled by one of their rude agents. Best of Luck!

 

[Dizneydaz]

John at Alamo called back. They ARE honoring the rate. They did ask if we can be accommodated in a smaller vehicle to let them know so they can change it.

I got a different reservationist for the name change. We are good to go!

I should go buy a lotto ticket, eh?

Congrats! That's great

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

I just recieved the call from alamo on downsizing from the 15 passenger van. They are going to honor the price that was quoted. He admitted to a glitch in the system but said if a different vehicle type would accomadate us they would like us to change to it. I agreed and said a minivan would work fine. He changed the reservation and emailed a new confirmation. he said to keep our old reservation as the price would not be on the new reservation because he had to manually override everything. I will still be able to use the kiosk and we will have the same base rate.

 

[VAgal76]

It is obvious the initial reservationist I spoke to was not completely informed. They are honoring them but asking people to downgrade if another vehicle size will suit your needs. They are really pushing the downgrades. I'm sure they don't have a surplus of these vehicles. If a car or minivan will suit your needs please take the downgrade. Leave the vans for those traveling with a large group.

I would give them time to contact you. I'm sure they are working the reservations coming up the soonest first.

I feel pretty confident you won't have an issue at pick up either. They probably put out a note about it just so service reps are aware. If you have your printed confirmation and appropriate IDs for the codes you used there should not be an issue. I know - only time will tell, but I have faith in them. Use the kiosk, get your vehicle and drive happy.

 

[mrebuck]

I just recieved the call from alamo on downsizing from the 15 passenger van. They are going to honor the price that was quoted. He admitted to a glitch in the system but said if a different vehicle type would accomadate us they would like us to change to it. I agreed and said a minivan would work fine. He changed the reservation and emailed a new confirmation. he said to keep our old reservation as the price would not be on the new reservation because he had to manually override everything. I will still be able to use the kiosk and we will have the same base rate.[/QUOT

I got a call tonight too and was told the same thing. The rep I spoke with mentioned that over 300 15 passenger van reservations were taken for a 4 week period - obviously too many for them to fill. Although there are 4 adults and 4 kids in our party and the van I switched into seats only 8 so it may be a tight fit, I decided to switch and guarantee having a vehicle on arrival (as much as one can ever guarantee a car is available from any rental company) rather than risk showing up and there being nothing.

I must say I am very impressed at how Alamo is handling this. The rep I spoke with was very polite - not pushy in the least. He explained the problem to me and asked me if a smaller vehicle would work for us. There was no pressure to switch. Also, he took time to make sure that the revised reservation is at the same price (I used a Costco code and coupon) and same free additional driver (per the Costco code) as my original reservation. For all the bad that people have to say about Alamo, I must say they appear to have pulled through in customer service this time.

Kudos Alamo.

If you haven't gotten a call yet, be patient. The rep I spoke with said they had contacted about 1/3 of the people so far - that means they still have 200 people to call.

 

[bzzelady]

Received my phone call this evening...and graciously accepted a minivan for December 5-13th

Has anyone received their email confirmation of the change yet?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

This is one example, unless you believe Francis is accurate and the rate will be honored.

To add, it sounds like Alamo is doing what I expected, calling/contacting those with reservations in date approach order.

 

[eeyoregon]

I can't anticipate when they have a system error or a sale. Quite frankly, it's not the consumers problem and they should have to eat the cost difference for their own mistakes.

Exactly. On a confirmed reservation the only thing the rental company is allowed to change, regarding price, is the fees/taxes as those are not regulated by them and can change.

Wishing all of you affected by this the best of luck!

 

[mrebuck]

Received my phone call this evening...and graciously accepted a minivan for December 5-13th

Has anyone received their email confirmation of the change yet?

I received mine. Everyothing was exactly as the rep told me it would be. My confirmation number stayed the same. The new email confirmation does not indicate a price and when I click on the "modify" link in the email, it takes me to the Alamo website, but indicates that because of manual overrides I have to call to make any changes. The rep. also told me to take a printout of the new confirmation and my old confirmation with me just in case.

Good luck to everyone! Now I just have to worry about my ADRs . . . .

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Exactly. On a confirmed reservation the only thing the rental company is allowed to change, regarding price, is the fees/taxes as those are not regulated by them and can change.

Wishing all of you affected by this the best of luck!

Semi-correct, if there is an error in their website, and they are willing to prove it if challenged, they have every right to not honor the price originally quoted.