Alamo tried to get me to buy insurance!

[rayjess]

I just used Alamo last week and the sales rep tried real hard to get me to purchase their insurance. I told the man I had contacted my insurance company and they said it covered rental cars. He still insisted that I purchase their insurance and said if something would happen it could take a month for something (I was starting to block him out by the time he got to that part). I had to say "No" 4 times until he stopped telling me I needed their insurance.

Other than that no other problems getting my car. The funny thing was I got a midsize which was a Malibu. Just 4 months ago a Malibu there and it was a fullsize.

 

[goofy4tink]

Where did you rent from? Just curious since I had no issues with that at the Dolphin....although I was ready for it!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Periodically we hear that Alamo has changed its tactics and no longer does this. But apparently it still goes on. Sounds like a great customer service organization.

 

[rayjess]

I rented at the Alamo at MCO. Did not have this problem back in February.

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't think you have to say you have your own insurance. I don't think you have to say you don't need their insurance. All you need to say is that you don't want their insurance.

Feel free to ask the agent to show you paperwork that you must purchase their insurance if he won't give you the car. Also feel free to call the rental company's headquarters 800 number right from the pay phone at the rental office if the agent won't give you the car.

(A few companies reserve the right not to rent to you if you decline their insurance and don't have your own insurance but I think Alamo is not one of those.)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Aneille]

Same thing happened on our trip in May. I've already posted about it. My DH had to say no many times before being let out. We picked up at MCO.

 

[juligrl]

The rental car company I use to work for granted promotions based solely upon your sales of the insurance. Their policy was "three no's". Maybe Alamo can be like that as well. Yet another reason not to rent a car.

 

[Nairnyn]

When I went in April, the woman at the Alamo counter was flat out a jerk about insurance. I think she was taking advantage of the fact that I was a "young" driver (I'm 24, and you're young until 25) and she probably thinks I don't rent cars all that often, but I do.

I kept telling her that my dad is an insurance agent and that he has always told me I didn't need to buy it. She kept insisting, saying the police were going to pull me over (how would they know I didn't have Alamo car insurance? ), that it was required, and that my sister wasn't covered on the car she was using at home while I was gone if I was using a rental car.

I finally called my dad to double check (I knew what the answer would be) and then she was going out of her way to be nice.

I will NEVER rent from Alamo again.

 

[goofy4tink]

It would seem that it's the people that rent at MCO that are having those 'insurance' issues. Thanks for letting us know. My experience was so completely different renting at the Dolphin. I think I'll keep doing it that way.

 

[Mark P.]

We rented from Alamo last week, and extra insurance wasn't even mentioned.
It's a crappy tactic, though...

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why are you so surprised? ALL car rental companies push the insurance; it's a real money maker for them. Just say no if you don't want it.

 

[deelam]

Alamo tried a hard sell on insurance with me 2 weeks ago. They stressed that even though I have my own insurance, I would still be responsible for paying for "loss of use of the vehicle". So, even though my insurance would cover repairs, I would be responsible for paying a daily loss of use charge for every day the vehicle was being repaired.

I still denied the coverage. I think it was a scare tactic.

 

[o2bacelt]

Alamo tried the same thing with us in the spring. We had some woman, who's name tag said she was some sort of manager, harping on me about "loss of use." I told her no, several times, she said something else and I told her I was sure I could go get a vehicle from someone else. She decided to quit asking but was nasty under her breath. I won't rent from them again, the $20 or so dollars I saved weren't worth that wait in line or the hassle.

 

[deelam]

The wait in line was awful. I was lucky to be about 4th in line, maybe 5th. It took over 30 minutes to get waited on. In the 30 minute time it took, the line behind me had grown into a monster. it wrapped along all of the roped off areas. It seemed that only 2 clerks were working with people. There were other clerks there but I'm not sure what they were doing.

 

[seashoreCM]

People, want to re-reply with the day of the month you used Alamo? Maybe the agents have quotas on how much extras they need to sell by a certain day.

There is at least one talk show host (Tom Martino) who recommends buying the company's collision coverage. He mentions things like loss of use and diminution of value which most credit cards and most personal insurance polices do not cover, and also the hassle and legwork that is yours if you decline the coverages and an accident happens. Also your credit card is charged right away and you need to pay the balance off to avoid finance charges and wait for the accident case to be resolved and for you to be reimbursed.

Still the call is yours, not theirs, when it comes to the coverages.

 

[deelam]

People, want to re-reply with the day of the month you used Alamo? Maybe the agents have quotas on how much extras they need to sell by a certain day.

I picked my car up Sat 5/20

 

[salmoneous]

There are two reasons I always rent through programs like Dollar's Express program. The main one is the don't-wait-in-line thing. But even at MCO, where I never really save any waiting-in-line time, I love having the program because I skip all the sales crap from the agents. No, I don't want to upgrade for $3 extra per day. No, I don't want the insurance. Yes, I understand all about insurance. Yes I meant it I said I didn't want the insurance. No, I don't want to pay for a full tank of gas. Etc.

Instead, I just get handed my paperwork, sign and go.

 

[Nairnyn]

Why are you so surprised? ALL car rental companies push the insurance; it's a real money maker for them. Just say no if you don't want it.

I use Enterprise for all my traveling...personal and business. They have NEVER pressured me. They simply ask, and I always say no. In fact, they are usually apologetic about even asking, saying, "We legally have to ask so that we can have you sign that you decline it....sorry for the hassle..." etc.

The only reason I didn't use Enterprise at MCO was because it was off site.....but I don't think that will matter to me anymore.

 

[Aneille]

Why are you so surprised? ALL car rental companies push the insurance; it's a real money maker for them. Just say no if you don't want it.

Its not that they ask, but you need to say no a lot. Not just once. Its like getting a telemarketer off the telephone. Its just crappy service. And they lie or stretch the truth which is my biggest pet peeve about it.

 

[gavvy]

Alamo tried a hard sell on insurance with me 2 weeks ago. They stressed that even though I have my own insurance, I would still be responsible for paying for "loss of use of the vehicle". So, even though my insurance would cover repairs, I would be responsible for paying a daily loss of use charge for every day the vehicle was being repaired.

I still denied the coverage. I think it was a scare tactic.

Alamo sprang this one on me in May and when I said no he said Fine be uninsured then, even though I had proof of my own insurance.- It was a nasty start to my vacation as even though I knew I was fully insured with my own policy, it does make you think!