A warning about Alamo

[Letsbgoofy]

My friend just got back from MCO yesterday. She had a reservation with Alamo for about $113. When she went to pick up the car, she was told her reservation was over $300. She was also told that she had to purchase insurance.

Fortunately, she had her confirmation and insurance card with her, so she was able to keep her lower rate and not pay the insurance.

I told her to bring these things because I have heard about this happening with Alamo. With National, I never had any of these issues. I always carry my confirmation, but have never been given a higher price. I haven't ever been asked for my insurance card.

Of course, I have a reservation for a SUV for 5 days for $90.88 with Alamo, so I'm not going to complain! Just want to warn everyone to make sure you have all that you need if you are renting with Alamo.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks for the heads up!! I didn't realize we needed our insurance card either!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks for the heads up

 

[troy mcclure]

I've never had to show an insurance card to any rental car company. It's very easy to just say no to their insurance. Alamo, among others, has a reputation for occasionally doing a hard sell for their insurance, but you can always decline it.

One way to avoid a lot of hassle is register for the company's frequent renter program. Often you can bypass the lines; your profile is updated showing that you automatically decline their insurance; walk to your car and drive away.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

The same thing happened to me with Alamo last April. When I rented out of Sanford Airport, I never had that problem, but the rep at MCO implied that I would not be able to take the car without purchasing the insurance, which tripled the cost on my confirmation.

Last week when I flew into MCO and rented from Alamo again (they had the best online quote), I did bypass the counter and completely avoided that hard-sell.

 

[seashoreCM]

the rep at MCO implied that I would not be able to take the car without purchasing the insurance, which tripled the cost on my confirmation..

Ask to see written rules that require insurance or coverages, on the spot.

Some rental companies specifically including Payless, L&M, and EZ do reserve the right not to rent to you if you decline their coverages and also do not have collision and comp' on a car of your own back at home. FOr a few more companies I don't know which, this applies to foreigners.

I didn't think Alamo was in that categorry but you should check their "policies" or rules which should be accessible on line. You can also get a synopsis of the rules on Travelocity; if the rule you did not want to see is there you don't have to look further.

Always bring a written confirmation, for any rental company, any hotel, and any airline.

If you feel you have to sign something you don't like, write the words "under duress" above where you will sign just before signing.

Car rental hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/carrent.htm

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've never had that issue with Alamo, either. I just refuse the insurance, no problem. Is it possible the OP's friend is under 25, and that's why the cost of the rental went up (and why Alamo insisted she purchase insurance)? The only time I've ever brought proof of insurance is once when I rented from L & M, and only because I was using a debit card and the website informed me I'd have to buy their insurance if I didn't bring proof of coverage.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think proof of insurance is an unreasonable request, and I am surprised that rental companies don't require it. After all, most states you are driving the rental car in requires it. I do hate the "hard sell" on insurance, and Alamo is not the only company to do that...I'm willing to bet many companies base some sort of employee bonus on the sale of insurance.

I've not had a problem with Alamo, or any other company (and I love Natl EA) honoring the confirmation price, but I do always have a copy of the confirmation with me, just in case.

I was very skeptical of using Alamo, as I had some poor treatment from them years ago, prior to Alamo/National having the same parent company, but since the change over, Alamo has been fine for me.

 

[troy mcclure]

If you feel you have to sign something you don't like, write the words "under duress" above where you will sign just before signing.

Just because you don't like something in a contract doesn't mean that you are signing it "under duress." Duress usually must constitute actual or threatened violence or imprisonment thus forcing someone to enter an agreement against their will. Annoyance and/or persuasion I do not believe constitute duress. Being told you cannot rent a car without the purchase of additional insurance is not duress; it is simply a company or franchisee's policy. Unless the rental agent is threatening the life and/or safety of the renter or holding them hostage to sign the agreement, I doubt one would be able to get a court to void the contract. The renter can always go to another rental car company or hire a limo, take a bus or taxi.

 

[clkelley]

I do hate the "hard sell" on insurance, and Alamo is not the only company to do that...I'm willing to bet many companies base some sort of employee bonus on the sale of insurance.

You better believe there is an employee bonus on the sale of insurance!! Their job depends on it!! My brother was canned from a rental company because he didn't sell enough of the LDW. It didn't matter that he was working at a dealership location where 99% of the rentals were being paid for by insurance companies due to collision work, or paid for by the dealer due to warranty work. He was flat told that he was being terminated for not meeting a 75% LDW goal. (This was not a trivial part-time job for him either, he was courted by this rental car company after his business degree graduation to be on a fast track to upper management).

Things did work out though, he decided to go back to school to become a teacher, and now has a wonderful job at a great private school.

 

[bavaria]

You better believe there is an employee bonus on the sale of insurance!! Their job depends on it!! My brother was canned from a rental company because he didn't sell enough of the LDW. It didn't matter that he was working at a dealership location where 99% of the rentals were being paid for by insurance companies due to collision work, or paid for by the dealer due to warranty work. He was flat told that he was being terminated for not meeting a 75% LDW goal. .

A few years ago I had a VERY hard sell from an Alamo agent (and I rent a car every two weeks). I asked if they had recently been to some sort of training, and she blushed and said 'yes' and that they had very tough goals to meet regarding upselling insurance. There was a family next to me who had an increase of over $200 in rate and were very upset; they didn't realize that it was due to insurance and that they had a choice to purchase.

 

[CarolA]

Alamo seems to have some of the toughest sell of the "main line" companies. The worst push in Orlando I ever had was at L&M. Since I didn't have an insurance card they were NOT going to let me rent the car without insurance even though the agent KNEW my Diners Club was primary. The whole experience was so bad I left without a car and went to Hertz. Never again! (I also don't do Alamo, but that was a bad experience at another airport. I vote with my pocketbook. They were horrid, they don't get any more of my hard earned money!)

 

[goofy4tink]

Looks like I'll be at the CCC in May, armed with my proof of coverage sheet from my auto ins co., and my confirmation sheet from Alamo!! Thanks for the heads up!!! If something can go wrong, it always does in my case.

 

[wee-haggis]

if you do the online checkin you dont have to speak or deal with anyone other than the person who looks at your licence and CC when you leave the garage.

 

[DVC-Don]

I don't use Alamo or National any more but did in the past. The hardest insurance speal I've ever had was with Alamo in Tampa. When I showed my declarations page of my insurance policy the woman insisted that I needed the Alamo coverage in addition. I argued with her a bit and then she informed me I did not appear to grasp the insurance principal. That's when I gave her my business card that ID'd me as a Senior Claim Rep of the largest auto insurer in the world. That's when she let me have the car without any Alamo insurance.

 

[DaveO]

Almao is very sleazy in the way they word the insurance question to customers. They will say ' Do you just want the standard insurance?' to most people this means that it is 'standard' and that it is not extra. BUT IT IS !!! You actaully have to say you do not want ANY insurance. This is one of the reasons the lines take so long at Alamo. I saw this happen to almost every customer. The customer says yes standard and they print everything up. Then the customer goes to sign it and notices it is higher. Almo explains it ... customer gets a little annoyed and then the Alamo rep has to redo the contract and print everything up again.

I hate Alamo ... but sometimes they have the best rates and I am always ready for a fight at the counter.

Dave O.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Is it possible the OP's friend is under 25, and that's why the cost of the rental went up (and why Alamo insisted she purchase insurance)?

No, my friend is over 25. They were just doing the hard sell on her. The salesperson tried to make her believe that she couldn't get the car without purchasing insurance, which isn't true of course. I knew she would fold under pressure, so I told her to bring her insurance card. The cost of the rental went up because they were not giving her the Costco discount. As I said, once she showed them her confirmation she did get the discounted rate.

 

[jbdreamer]

My family has had the same problem with Alamo. Our flight was delayed, so we got to Alamo late. They said they no longer had our car, and we would have to upgrade to get a car. We were tired, so we said fine we'll deal with it tomorrow.

When we called the next day to sort out the problem, they said our car was there and asked why we hadn’t picked it up! Apparently we were scammed into an upgrade which we thankfully did not have to pay for.

We will never use Alamo again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Almao is very sleazy in the way they word the insurance question to customers. They will say ' Do you just want the standard insurance?' to most people this means that it is 'standard' and that it is not extra. BUT IT IS !!!
Dave O.

I'm not in ANY way defending Alamo, but this is where being an informed consumer (and extremely skeptical ) comes into play.

My family has had the same problem with Alamo. Our flight was delayed, so we got to Alamo late. They said they no longer had our car, and we would have to upgrade to get a car. We were tired, so we said fine we'll deal with it tomorrow.

Funny (strange, not funny ha-ha)... I reserved a compact car with Alamo in Las Vegas earlier this year with an 11:45 PM pickup time. Between the plane being late, getting to baggage claim and waiting (and waiting) for the shuttle, I didn't get there until after midnight. Aside from a comment about how my reservation was for the day before I had no problems at the counter, well, except the standard "Would you like to upgrade..." which I refused, given it was just me and two suitcases. When I got outside, the lot was pretty empty. I asked an employee if that car at the FAR end of the lot was the only compact and he said they were out of compacts, to take 'this one'; that one turned out to be an SUV, at NO additional cost!

 

[evaready51]

I always get the insurance, after vandals broke the window and motorized mirror on my rental car. Even thought a police report was filed it was still a nightmare, as the company didn't want to wait till my insurance company paid. I had to pay out of my pocket.

I have peace of mind that is worth the extra $$.