Dollar Had No Car Even With Reservations

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We arrived on the 26th of December and proceeded to the Dollar window to pick up our minivan and were told they have none. I had a reservation which was reconfirmed by them through email just before I left. I made this reservation at least 6 months ago. I went into the Dollar lot and found several ( at least 6 or 7) minivans and when I went back to tell the manager he said he didn't know why and refused to call the garage for availability. He sent us over to Avis. When we got to Avis the manager had agreed to honor the price until he realized that National was sending over only people who had good rates on minivans (and telling them that they had none). Wow was he mad! He honored ours and two people next to us who were also sent over but refused to take any more..... This is just such terrible business practice from Dollar........If in fact they were telling people with good rates that they had no vehicles and trying to get them to go elsewhere( so they could rent them out for more $ then this is bad business and also a consumer fraud. I am thinking of contacting the Florida Stare Attorney General. Did this happen to anyone else? Does Disney have an offical relationship with them? Although I have used Dollar in the past I am now afraid to do business with them. The manager there was all smirky and told me I should have multiple reservations at different rental places. What a jerk. VENTINGGGGGGG

 

[MariDisney]

Oh, I'm so sorry you had that happen. How frustrating!!! On a lighter note, I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry goes to pick up his reserved rental car, and they don't have any. He does this whole thing about how ANYONE can take a reservation, but it's all in the HOLDING of the reservation. Funny episode....but, you're right,terrible business practices you witnessed!

 

[maine_jennifer]

On a lighter note, I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry goes to pick up his reserved rental car, and they don't have any. He does this whole thing about how ANYONE can take a reservation, but it's all in the HOLDING of the reservation.

My exact thought!!

Boardwalk Tigger - Sorry you had to deal with that. Always a PIA when something doesn't work as planned on vacation. Would definitely look into reporting it, though not sure who you should start with. Good Luck!

Cheers!

 

[seashoreCM]

proceeded to the Dollar window to pick up our minivan and were told they have none. I had a reservation which was reconfirmed by them through email just before I left. I. He sent us over to Avis. When we got to Avis the manager had agreed to honor the price

You got the car (van) at the reserved price so you yourself don't have anything to complain about.

But you could write a "heads up" letter to the rental company whose agent suggested you make multiple reservations, saying that.

If you did not get the car you can ask for the manager and tell him you are planning to go to a different agency, rent a car, and hold the original agency civilly liable for the difference in price. (That's the advantage of renting from an agency with offices near your home town) If push went to shove that far, the manager is almost certainly going to produce a car for you, such as one of the five or six you saw in the lot when you peeked outside to look.

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

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I think I have alot to complian about. It took almost an hour and a half to accomplish getting another car at another rental agency. Why should I go through the stress of that when they have rental minivans at the rental company I had a reservation with. Furthermore it really may be a form of consumer fraud. This happened to quite a few of us with rentals reservations at Dollar. The Avis manager is the one who went through the roof and stated that the only people who were being sent over were those with low rental prices. See what seems to be happening is that many people want mimivans and apparantly are willing to spend a lot of money to get them( $6oo) range. What happened to the poor people after us? I want to write to Disney if they have an official relationship with Dollar, I may also file a complaint with the Florida State Attorney General to give them a heads up on this problem. An isolated instance if one thing but if there is a pattern the Attorney General has the power to step in. I sure wouldn't trust renting with Dollar again which is really sad because we have used that company a lot.Anyone else have this type of problem before?

The person we dealt with at Dollar said he was the manager.....You can bet I will be telling Dollar higher ups about his statement about multiple reservations at other car companies. Thanks for the thoughts

 

[DemoBri1]

Knock on wood I've never had a problem with Dollar. It might be the case that those other vans you saw may not have been fully turned around after they were brought back, and thus the computer may not have been indicating them as ready to rent. This was during probably one of the busiest times of the year in Orlando.

That doesn't explain away the poor attitude of the counter person, however.

I'm hoping that you took down the name of that agent, so that you will be able to single them out in a letter to Dollar's offices.

Brian

 

[WillCAD]

We arrived on the 26th of December and proceeded to the Dollar window to pick up our minivan and were told they have none. I had a reservation which was reconfirmed by them through email just before I left. I made this reservation at least 6 months ago. I went into the Dollar lot and found several ( at least 6 or 7) minivans and when I went back to tell the manager he said he didn't know why and refused to call the garage for availability. He sent us over to Avis. When we got to Avis the manager had agreed to honor the price until he realized that National was sending over only people who had good rates on minivans (and telling them that they had none). Wow was he mad! He honored ours and two people next to us who were also sent over but refused to take any more..... This is just such terrible business practice from Dollar........If in fact they were telling people with good rates that they had no vehicles and trying to get them to go elsewhere( so they could rent them out for more $ then this is bad business and also a consumer fraud. I am thinking of contacting the Florida Stare Attorney General. Did this happen to anyone else? Does Disney have an offical relationship with them? Although I have used Dollar in the past I am now afraid to do business with them. The manager there was all smirky and told me I should have multiple reservations at different rental places. What a jerk. VENTINGGGGGGG

Crappy attitude. I can understand coming in on a very busy day like Dec 26 and finding them sold oout of a particular vehicle class, but I despise crappy attitudes in any customer service field.

The vans you saw may have been recent returns that had not been cleaned and processed for renting yet, but if the manager refused to even call the lot to check, that's a lousy attitude.

Your experience with the Avis manager, however, does sound mighty suspicious. If you realy feel that this is worth pursueing with the FL state atorney, I say go for it.

 

[thelionqueen]

What happened to you definitely sounds like fraud. As far as Disney having any affiliation with them, I don't think they do. Alamo is the official rental car company for Disney I know for a fact. I have never rented with Dollar, and now I won't (at least @ MCO)

I would seriously contact someone who can do something...this is just not right!

On a positive note, sounds like Avis has it together..will keep them in the back of my mind. Thanks for posting!

 

[ddisneymom]

I booked a rental through jet blue, it is with dollar now after reading what happened to you I am a little worried. Never rented a car before and want everything to go smoothe because dh wanted to drive from NY but I got him to think about three kids in a car for 24hrs. Anything I can do before I leave??? Will be getting there 2/14/06 Is this a real busy time in Orlando?? Any help will make me feel better! thanks :

 

[splashmt]

You got the car (van) at the reserved price so you yourself don't have anything to complain about.

This is a really rude comment. OP you do have a right to complain and to let others know what happened to you. Their denial of having the vehicles is completely unacceptable and you shouldn't have to fight so hard to have someone honor a reservation. I can't believe how rude other posters can be to others...... "gee you got a car so shut up already!" that's real nice.

 

[canwegosoon]

Thanks for the heads up...will try to plan for poss. problem next year. I appericate your post, and I feel you do have a right to appeal to the AG...seems to me to be price gouging with a twist-we'll let the other guy's stock run out so we can charge what we want. I would also inform Alamo's management about how nice this person was to honor your rate (even though Dollar had cars)--also lets them know in writing that Dollar is not being a good partner. Good Luck.