ALAMO at MCO-- BAD EXPIERENCE!!

[kilee]

We just returned from our much awaited Disney Trip. Everything was perfect ! My only complaint and hitch in the trip was the service at ALAMO. I have used ALAMO many times before but never at MCO. Well, I will NEVER use them again-- anywhere after this expierence. First, I had reserved the car online and brought all the correct documents with me. We started out by waiting in line for nearly 40 minutes (those clerks work at a snails pace!!). Then we get to the counter and the man insisted we needed to take the insurance. I brought proof of insurance. DH kept insisting-- no coverage. Finally they relented and said okay-- please initial here, here, here, and here. Well, after making it 200% clear we DID NOT want the insurance--- Mr. Alamo clerk very specifically told DH to initial that line, for the extra coverage. Granted DH should of read the fine print-- but by this time it's been near an hour and he's hot, hungry, and frustrated. They give us the receipt-- it is $150.00 more than my rental confirmation. I tell the clerk "oh-- no you made a mistake." The clerk (Phil) insisted we wanted the insurance, afterall we intialed the line. WE HAD A 15 MIN. CONVERSATION PRIOR TO THIS ABOUT US NOT WANTING THE INSURANCE!!! I was fuming-- well he disappeared (to correct this)-- almost a 1/2 hour later he comes back and says we need to start again. He ended up reprocessing the entire thing-- charging me twice-- which took almost a week to be recredited. And still couldn't give me the price on my confirmation. He came within a few dollars after a lot of arguing. So I finally took it so I could get out of there--- we were tied up at Alamo for almost 2 hours!!! It was the worst rental car expierence I've had! I will now only rent w/ Hertz, Dollar, or Budget!

 

[HappyMommy2]

Thanks for the warning! I've heard about aggressive selling of insurance but haven't encountered it yet--I'll definitely be on guard next time I rent.

Glad you had a good trip in spite of this hassle!

 

[Pinnie]

Unfortunaltely we had a similar experience at ALAMO earlier this year that soured us on ALAMO forever. Our flight got in at 11:30 p.m. and we waited over 2 hours for 2 clerks to process a huge line. We were also given a high pressure sales for insurance and we refused to buckle.

There are too many other car rental companies out there and they will be getting my business from now on.


pin

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Here is a hint, become Quick Silver members or join the Alamo.com feature. Anyone can join QS, you just have to have a "business". so, what business do you own? with QS it is all printed, no nonsense about insurance, etc.
The reason the agents seem to be slow is because of incidents like what the OP detailed. The agents are under pressure to sell that insurance and while I disagree with the tactics, I understand the pressure they are under. Also, they are often mistaken for the Chamber of Commerce and have a lot of questions to answer.
I have waited a long time at Avis and Budget because of this.

I thank the OP for posting her experience, it is an excellent warning to check what you initial before you initial it.

 

[CarolA]

About 10 years ago I had a simular experience at the ALamo in Atlanta. (Acutually it was even worse, but I will spare you the details) Because of that I have NEVER rented from them again. It only took once for me to decide NO WAY. I was really worried bout the National merger, but since I have only used EA so far so good....

 

[nuthut]

Congratulations, you are now a member of the Say no to Alamo club. Club members consist of many people who have been ripped off by Alamo... Thanks for joining.

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, what an awful experience! I can understand why you are angry!
We have rented with Alamo at MCO several times through Priceline and have been very fortunate. No pressure about the insurance...they just ask once and that's it. I wonder if it's because they think I'm a Priceline cheapskate
We've only had to wait really long once, and one time hubby noticed that another agent was doing a real major hard sell on another person at the counter. It was a family from Europe...I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not.
For us, they've been very decent at the counter, thank goodness. I would not take kindly to those high pressure tactics...one "no" is all it should take.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[BobH]

I have rented Avis, National, Budget, Dollar and Alamo and have never been pressured for insurance. Hovever my kids tell me that I usually have a look on my face at the airport that would discourage discussion. I rented once from Alamo at MCO and had the 40 minute wait treatment from them. Maybe they have slightly lower rates in Orlando.

 

[xlstacey]

Well, I joined Qucksilver today because we have reservations w/Alamo on January 2nd. They are by far the cheapest rental we have found ($221 cheaper) We are picking our minivan up at the Lake Buena Vista site. I have it all printed out and hopefully all will go well ... never had problems before. Also, anyone who is interested to know mousesavers has a new code and just saved me an additional $31 for Alamo.

 

[xlstacey]

Kilee - I am sooo sorry for your experience. I know that is so frustrating!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by xlstacey
Well, I joined Qucksilver today because we have reservations w/Alamo on January 2nd. They are by far the cheapest rental we have found ($221 cheaper) We are picking our minivan up at the Lake Buena Vista site. I have it all printed out and hopefully all will go well ... never had problems before. Also, anyone who is interested to know mousesavers has a new code and just saved me an additional $31 for Alamo.

did you join QS after you made the reservation? If so, you may have to call and have them linked or rebook them and cancel the original. It won't automatically link if you joined after you made the reservation.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Alamo is the comapny that moved me to never rent a car again, and rather take Mears and Disney buses!

Amazing how after becoming Disney's official company (not surprising if it was another Imagineers "innovention",) it has not improved much from the times it told travelers there was a station at the airport without telling people you had to wait for a huge shuttle to fill to drive you up a few miles away to get your rental...

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
Alamo is the comapny that moved me to never rent a car again, and rather take Mears and Disney buses!

Amazing how after becoming Disney's official company (not surprising if it was another Imagineers "innovention",) it has not improved much from the times it told travelers there was a station at the airport without telling people you had to wait for a huge shuttle to fill to drive you up a few miles away to get your rental...

Prior to this move to onsite, they actually were onsite, then they moved for a few years offsite. They never told anyone they were onsite and they did say that you needed to take a shuttle.

It used to read airport/shuttle.

 

[xlstacey]

Thank you Gail. When I filled out the application there was room for existing reservations and I put my reservation # in. I will double check it as it never hurts to do so. I also double check all my ressies the week b4 we leave ... I don't like surprises.

 

[TreeOfLife]

They never told anyone they were onsite and they did say that you needed to take a shuttle. It used to read airport/shuttle.

Shame, shame shame, woe is me!

Forgeting that you were there listening to my reservation confirmation with Alamo that first time over the phone. Should have cleaned those ears of mine when I heard the woman tell me that yes, they were onsite at the airport and "forgot" to say I'd have to wait for a Greyhound-size bus to fill before they drove us 3 - 5 miles to stand in another line to check out our economy car!

Maybe she thought I'd choose Budget or Dollar instead, had I known...

I should have gone to your graduate school instead of mine, since I never read airport/shuttle anywhere in such a clear way and this brain of mine never made the obvious connection

No worries, it is a towncar next time, and Alamo never again for me.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by xlstacey
Thank you Gail. When I filled out the application there was room for existing reservations and I put my reservation # in. I will double check it as it never hurts to do so. I also double check all my ressies the week b4 we leave ... I don't like surprises.

That is nice to know, thanks for the information. This is a nice new feature. I always double check also.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
Shame, shame shame, woe is me!

Forgeting that you were there listening to my reservation confirmation with Alamo that first time over the phone. Should have cleaned those ears of mine when I heard the woman tell me that yes, they were onsite at the airport and "forgot" to say I'd have to wait for a Greyhound-size bus to fill before they drove us 3 - 5 miles to stand in another line to check out our economy car!

Maybe she thought I'd choose Budget or Dollar instead, had I known...

I should have gone to your graduate school instead of mine, since I never read airport/shuttle anywhere in such a clear way and this brain of mine never made the obvious connection

No worries, it is a towncar next time, and Alamo never again for me.

someone take away your birthday today? I informed you of what was stated on the site. Nowhere did you say you spoke with someone. it has always been on their site as to what was on and off site. It used to read mco/shuttle. Not too difficult to understand. You need not be so caustic to people who are trying to help others.

 

[TreeOfLife]

... And I recommend you not put words in people's mouths, Gail.
Saying that Alamo never told anyone they were onsite at the airport is not an accurate statement, calling anyone telling otherwise a liar

Moreover, making reservations over the phone does not expose anyone to whatever they printed regarding their shuttles. And if so, "airport shuttle" does not imply anywhere "airport, 3-5 mile ride shuttle when full, wait in line hoping it is not a trainee" process.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
... And I recommend you not put words in people's mouths, Gail.
Saying that Alamo never told anyone they were onsite at the airport is not an accurate statement, calling anyone telling otherwise a liar

Moreover, making reservations over the phone does not expose anyone to whatever they printed regarding their shuttles. And if so, "airport shuttle" does not imply anywhere "airport, 3-5 mile ride shuttle when full, wait in line hoping it is not a trainee" process.

I never called you a liar and never will. I put NO words in your mouth and I only told you what I have seen on the website for years prior to the moving onsite.
I never make reservations over the phone (at least not since the advent of the internet) primarily because a reservation agent in one part the country has NO idea what is available in another. Why they don't have or don't use lists that tell the agents what is available is beyond me. The first time I used Alamo, before the internet, we used a TA and she knew it was offsite.
I am sorry you feel I put words in your mouth or called you a liar, that certainly is not what I did in either case.

 

[Lewisc]

Pre-internet I used 800 numbers not travel agencies. Alamo was the worse for lies, half truths and misrepresentations.

Alamo would always tell you they were on site. If you challenged them, the agents would clarify it and say they are located on the airport property (on site) but that you would have to take a shuttle bus. Most people use the term on site to mean at the terminal but Alamo used the term literally.

I picked up a car in Tampa and the agent tried to selll me a gas plan. When I declined I was told there were no gas stations in Orlando. When I asked her what the people who live in Orlando do for gas I was told she meant there were no gas stations anywhere near the airport.