Alamo rental broke down!

[K9pal]

We have always used Alamo for our Orlando car rentals. Last week, we picked up a brand new (198 miles!) Chevy Lumina at the airport, and drove it for a day before arriving at WDW. Never used the lights, radio, plug ins, wipers, anything. It sat in the resort parking lot for 4 days, and when we went to check out - NOTHING. Couldn't even get in the car with the remote! DH called Alamo and talked with a very helpful lady who informed us that Alamo policy would be a $49 charge for jumping the car - ridiculous, given that we hadn't done a thing to it. However, she told us it would be quicker, and more importantly, FREE, if Disney Security did it. And she even called Security for us while we held the line! Security was there in 5 minutes and they were SO friendly and helpful. They jumped our car and suggested we drive to the Car Care Center and have Alamo look at it, so we drove there right away and switched cars. Apparently it was a computer problem, since the car would not start again.

So, if you have car troubles, I'd highly suggest Disney Security!

 

[gmeh1]

We have always used Alamo for our Orlando car rentals. Last week, we picked up a brand new (198 miles!) Chevy Lumina at the airport, and drove it for a day before arriving at WDW. Never used the lights, radio, plug ins, wipers, anything. It sat in the resort parking lot for 4 days, and when we went to check out - NOTHING. Couldn't even get in the car with the remote! DH called Alamo and talked with a very helpful lady who informed us that Alamo policy would be a $49 charge for jumping the car - ridiculous, given that we hadn't done a thing to it. However, she told us it would be quicker, and more importantly, FREE, if Disney Security did it. And she even called Security for us while we held the line! Security was there in 5 minutes and they were SO friendly and helpful. They jumped our car and suggested we drive to the Car Care Center and have Alamo look at it, so we drove there right away and switched cars. Apparently it was a computer problem, since the car would not start again.

So, if you have car troubles, I'd highly suggest Disney Security!

I am glad that was so easily resloved. But, we don't have Chevy Luminas, they have not been produced since 2001.

 

[bytheblood]

We have always used Alamo for our Orlando car rentals. Last week, we picked up a brand new (198 miles!) Chevy Lumina at the airport, and drove it for a day before arriving at WDW. Never used the lights, radio, plug ins, wipers, anything. It sat in the resort parking lot for 4 days, and when we went to check out - NOTHING. Couldn't even get in the car with the remote! DH called Alamo and talked with a very helpful lady who informed us that Alamo policy would be a $49 charge for jumping the car - ridiculous, given that we hadn't done a thing to it. However, she told us it would be quicker, and more importantly, FREE, if Disney Security did it. And she even called Security for us while we held the line! Security was there in 5 minutes and they were SO friendly and helpful. They jumped our car and suggested we drive to the Car Care Center and have Alamo look at it, so we drove there right away and switched cars. Apparently it was a computer problem, since the car would not start again.

So, if you have car troubles, I'd highly suggest Disney Security!

Did you mean Impala? That is generally what they give my husband for business. That is a bunch of crap that they would charge you to jump start a car, especially a brand new one, for something you have 0 control over. My husband does not care for Alamo because of little things like this and usually uses Enterprise for business, unless he has no alternative.

I am glad to hear that Disney was so accommodating though.... I am not surprised.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We have always used Alamo for our Orlando car rentals. Last week, we picked up a brand new (198 miles!) Chevy Lumina at the airport, and drove it for a day before arriving at WDW. Never used the lights, radio, plug ins, wipers, anything...

Before you leave the parking lot with a rental car, you really should make sure you know how to use, at the very least, the headlights and wipers and make sure they work.

 

[seashoreCM]

...suggested we drive to the Car Care Center and have Alamo look at it, so we drove there right away and switched cars. Apparently it was a computer problem, since the car would not start again.

If the car just needs a jump start and you get that and drive a short distance and turn the car off, then it is possible the alternator did not put enough charge back into the battery for a restart.

 

[gmeh1]

Did you mean Impala? That is generally what they give my husband for business. That is a bunch of crap that they would charge you to jump start a car, especially a brand new one, for something you have 0 control over. My husband does not care for Alamo because of little things like this and usually uses Enterprise for business, unless he has no alternative.

I am glad to hear that Disney was so accommodating though.... I am not surprised.

Just a FYI, Enterprise owns Alamo and National. I can understand you thinking that it is absurd to charge to jump start the car, but, without seeing the car we don't know what is wrong with it and we have to pay the people we send out to jump or repair the car. You can get coverage on the car to prevent these types of charges.

 

[gmeh1]

Before you leave the parking lot with a rental car, you really should make sure you know how to use, at the very least, the headlights and wipers and make sure they work.

Also does not hurt to know what you are driving.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Did you mean Impala? That is generally what they give my husband for business. That is a bunch of crap that they would charge you to jump start a car, especially a brand new one, for something you have 0 control over. My husband does not care for Alamo because of little things like this and usually uses Enterprise for business, unless he has no alternative.

I am glad to hear that Disney was so accommodating though.... I am not surprised.

I won't use either of these. Both of them have proven that "customer service" was an afterthought.

I still use National, but I worry the "Alamo/Enterprise" model will spread!

(And really does it matter WHAT they were driving? If it came off the Alamo lot it's suppose to GO when you turn it on. I rent every week, have a rental right now.. can't tell you what it is, but it's black!)

 

[Alexander]

I won't use either of these. Both of them have proven that "customer service" was an afterthought.

I still use National, but I worry the "Alamo/Enterprise" model will spread!

(And really does it matter WHAT they were driving? If it came off the Alamo lot it's suppose to GO when you turn it on. I rent every week, have a rental right now.. can't tell you what it is, but it's black!)

 

[arthuruscg]

They rented a GM. They make the same car with 15 different names, and sometimes change the name mid production. She had a midsized gm/ chevy/ ponti/ dewo/ what ever they are calling it now car.

 

[NancyinCt]

Hi,

Does AAA come out to jump car with a membership card in hand

Nancy in Ct

 

[K9pal]

Also does not hurt to know what you are driving.

Well, you obviously work for Alamo and were offended by my post, which was NOT my intention. We always get the manual out before leaving the terminal so that we know how to operate the headlights, wipers, etc. We didn't use any of them because we did not have the need to use them.

Oh, and it was a MALIBU. My bad.

 

[gmeh1]

Well, you obviously work for Alamo and were offended by my post, which was NOT my intention. We always get the manual out before leaving the terminal so that we know how to operate the headlights, wipers, etc. We didn't use any of them because we did not have the need to use them.

Oh, and it was a MALIBU. My bad.

I was not offended at all and I certainly did not intend to offend you. Yes, I work for Enterprise Holdings, Inc. I only corrected you so that others would not get the impression that we have really old cars. My comment about knowing what you were driving was snippy and uncalled for and I do apologize.

 

[gmeh1]

I won't use either of these. Both of them have proven that "customer service" was an afterthought.

I still use National, but I worry the "Alamo/Enterprise" model will spread!

(And really does it matter WHAT they were driving? If it came off the Alamo lot it's suppose to GO when you turn it on. I rent every week, have a rental right now.. can't tell you what it is, but it's black!)

I am sorry you think that customers service is an afterthought with Enterprise and Alamo. Fortunately, our customer satisfaction number disprove that thought.
I am glad that you use National .
Of course one expects that the car they rent will run and continue to run, however, as the OP mentioned, something in the computer went south. Could have happened with a National or Enterprise car since we do share them. It is a machine, things happen. Nothing is perfect.
If you rent every week, you must have achieved some very high status by now. Like the kind only available by invitation only.

 

[K9pal]

I am the OP and just want to state that Alamo was very helpful with our problem and the rep sympathized with us about the fee, which is why she suggested Disney Security. Like I stated, she even contacted Disney for us while my DH was on the other line. And once we got to the Car Care Center, they offered to switch cars and we were on our way in 5 minutes.

We have always rented from Alamo (and occasionally National) and will continue to do so in the future. I rec'd a customer satisfaction survey from Alamo Roadside Assistance after we returned home, and gave them high marks for their assistance.

 

[uva185]

Hi,

Does AAA come out to jump car with a membership card in hand

Nancy in Ct

Yes, AAA will perform all of their regular services on a rental car.

 

[Alexander]

When rental cars are purchased do they come with the standard road-side assistance? All GM cars have RSA for the first 36 months and considering we've never had a rental that was more than a year or so old, it would still be covered. You can call the 800 number and they send someone out. Is this service available on the purchase of rental fleets?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am the OP and just want to state that Alamo was very helpful with our problem and the rep sympathized with us about the fee, which is why she suggested Disney Security. Like I stated, she even contacted Disney for us while my DH was on the other line. And once we got to the Car Care Center, they offered to switch cars and we were on our way in 5 minutes.

We have always rented from Alamo (and occasionally National) and will continue to do so in the future. I rec'd a customer satisfaction survey from Alamo Roadside Assistance after we returned home, and gave them high marks for their assistance.

You gave them high marks??????


They wanted to charge you for a jump start? They assumed it was your fault based on "greed"


You ar much nicer then I am.

 

[gmeh1]

You gave them high marks??????


They wanted to charge you for a jump start? They assumed it was your fault based on "greed"


You ar much nicer then I am.

They did not assume anything, it is a standard charge. I am just glad that the OP was taken care of and was satisfied.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Yes, AAA will perform all of their regular services on a rental car.

Yes, AAA membership follows the member, not the member's own vehicle. So whether one is in a rental car, friend's car, etc. they will take care of you. Though I suppose with a limo service it may not.