Dollar Now Requiring Refill within 7 miles of airport

[NotUrsula]

There have also been reports that Budget and Avis are charging a "top-off fee" of about $10 for any renter who does not drive at least 75 miles but returns with a tank reading "Full"; the theory being that the gauge will still read "full" for that long, and you would not top up. A receipt from a nearby station will get it taken off, but they don't notify you that they are adding it, so be sure to check before leaving the garage.

They are interpreting a "full tank" to mean just that. Not the gauge reading, but the actual tank capacity. If you are not within one gallon of top capacity, they will try to charge. I'd be prepared for *all* of the rental companies to begin to do this, especially at MCO; they are hurting financially, and they know that the majority of renters will have gassed up around WDW.

As to any damage on the car, be sure to not only document it, but get it recorded at the booth; they give you a diagram of a car so that you can mark the damage on the diagram. The diagram is multiple; you get a copy and so does the company. Film or no film, that slip of paper is the only real documentation they respect.

 

[deltachi8]

I dont understand the fuss really. If its posted, then thems the rules. If you don't like it, you can do business elsewhere.

I have to say I have rented from Dollar once at MCO and they did have very good service. However, I usually use National or Thirfty as they beat Dollar with price (for me).

 

[Lewisc]

I dont understand the fuss really. If its posted, then thems the rules. If you don't like it, you can do business elsewhere.

I have to say I have rented from Dollar once at MCO and they did have very good service. However, I usually use National or Thirfty as they beat Dollar with price (for me).

The question is if this new policy is posted or is buried in the fine print. My other question is if Dollar is actually topping off the tank. I'd hate to think they're demanding a filled to capacity gas tank when I return the car but not giving me the same when I rent it. Under the old policy most of us just gassed up near WDW, the gage read F. For the most part we got the car with as much gas as we returned it with.

I rented from Thrifty in Vegas the the gague was below F when I got the car. When I complained they said that's the way the guage reads when the tank is full. When I gassed up the gauge read F, I went inside and made them take some $$$ off the rental.

 

[bicker]

having read thru this entire thread, I'vd not seen anything on what Dollar does if you don't have the receipt....if the gauge says Full, they don't have much of a leg to stand on.

On the contrary, as another poster indicated:

There have also been reports that Budget and Avis are charging a "top-off fee"

So, Dollar is just being more up-front with customers about their policies on refilling. As much as I laugh about their efforts to pin "damage" on customers when customers return the car, I prefer that to finding that the rental car company added an extra $80 for "damage" without even mentioning it to me when I turn the car in, as Alamo tried to do to me once.

The question is if this new policy is posted or is buried in the fine print.

It isn't in the fine print. If I remember correctly, it is stamped in red on either the rental agreement or the acknowledgement of condition form they make you sign.

I'd hate to think they're demanding a filled to capacity gas tank when I return the car but not giving me the same when I rent it.

I think the point is that they only fill the tank when the previous renter had the fuel-purchase option or admits that the tank isn't full. By requiring proof of a close-to-the-airport refuelling, they are actually protecting the next renter more than protecting themselves.

You're right that they are no under incredible financial pressure, and we can expect them to get more meticulous about exploiting every legitimate opportunity to raise money, even perhaps more than we think is healthy for their market share. If all the low-priced agencies are doing it, it won't harm any of them. That makes it even more critical to keep them honest. I'll definitely be videotaping everything from now on.

 

[Lewisc]

More than 10 years ago Avis got in trouble with NY State. They kept charging customers for the same damage, never fixing it but charging renters that didn't notice the damage when they got the car. They were also charging the "list price" for a repair which was considerably more than what they were paying to do the repair.

It never bothered me if the previous renter filled up the car by WDW. I did the same and it balances out. I wouldn't be surprised if we learn Dollar, and other rental car agencies, are pocketing the "top off" charge and only topping off cars that don't show as F. When I filled up my car by DTD I'd overfill the car. Is Dollar getting any more gas if I fill up the tank near MCO but stop when the automatic shut off happens?

I read the fine print at Dollar's website. The normal rule is 10 miles not 7 and they use the gague or miles from your fill up to estimate how many gallons to charge you. The example they give is if the gague reads 1/2 they'll charge you based on half the capacity of the gas tank. That borders on fraud because almost all gas gages are calibrated so there are 2-3 gallons in the tank when the gage reads E. The gauge is OK to use in charging the customer but not OK when determining if the tank is F.

Sounds like a regulatory complaint/class action suit waiting to happen. Only use the gas gague when it benefits the rental agency.

I'd have a different opinion if I thought the agency was actually going to top off the car as part of the prep process.

I checked mapquest. All the gas stations that are S of the airport show as being about 6 miles to MCO. I wonder if they're just over the 7 mile limit to the location of the rental car garage. It wouldn't be fair if they reduced the Dollar standard 10 mile rule in order to catch customers.

On the contrary, as another poster indicated: So, Dollar is just being more up-front with customers about their policies on refilling. As much as I laugh about their efforts to pin "damage" on customers when customers return the car, I prefer that to finding that the rental car company added an extra $80 for "damage" without even mentioning it to me when I turn the car in, as Alamo tried to do to me once.

It isn't in the fine print. If I remember correctly, it is stamped in red on either the rental agreement or the acknowledgement of condition form they make you sign.

I think the point is that they only fill the tank when the previous renter had the fuel-purchase option or admits that the tank isn't full. By requiring proof of a close-to-the-airport refuelling, they are actually protecting the next renter more than protecting themselves.

You're right that they are no under incredible financial pressure, and we can expect them to get more meticulous about exploiting every legitimate opportunity to raise money, even perhaps more than we think is healthy for their market share. If all the low-priced agencies are doing it, it won't harm any of them. That makes it even more critical to keep them honest. I'll definitely be videotaping everything from now on.

 

[elbo450]

Can't say i'm surprised at this stunt from them. They may have the best price, but their service is too shady! We reserved a Dodge Intreped months in advance and when we went to pick it up, they told us they had none and we were passively force into a minivan. When we went to the garage to get the car, the couple who were right behind us in line drove off with a Doge Intreped.

I guess they saw a family of 4 and decided to take us for a ride!

elbo450

 

[bicker]

It is correct that there are no gas stations in range if you come from the Greeneway. In order to comply with the rule, you have to come from the north. There is a gas station three miles north of the airport (though Dollar will deny that if you ask them).

Again, as much as this new rule is disturbing, it is better than what Alamo did to me. Rental car companies start at "bad" and get worse. Be forewarned.

 

[PRaffen]

Again, as much as this new rule is disturbing, it is better than what Alamo did to me. Rental car companies start at "bad" and get worse. Be forewarned.

Bicker - you're making me nervous - I just rented with Alamo for our August trip to DW. What did they do?

 

[Lewisc]

It is correct that there are no gas stations in range if you come from the Greeneway. In order to comply with the rule, you have to come from the north. There is a gas station three miles north of the airport (though Dollar will deny that if you ask them).

Again, as much as this new rule is disturbing, it is better than what Alamo did to me. Rental car companies start at "bad" and get worse. Be forewarned.

According to Dollar's website the distance is 10 miles. Sounds like Orlando has lowered the distance to 7 miles for the sole purpose of ripping off passengers. You're not going to convince me the extra 3 miles makes a material difference in the amount of gas in the tank. In my opinion the rip off will become fraud if Dollar doesn't actually top off the tanks.

 

[sammi]

Does anyone know when their new rule took effect? We rented from Dollar this month and returned our car on Feb 13th (we filled up at the Walmart station on the 535 and took the 417 to the airport)without any problems at all.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I'd be prepared for *all* of the rental companies to begin to do this, especially at MCO; they are hurting financially, and they know that the majority of renters will have gassed up around WDW.

I expect rental car companies to continue coming up with new, creative ways to tack on additional fees to help them make more money.

 

[bicker]

Either that or new, creative ways to reduce service costs.

 

[deltachi8]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=717195

This thread may help you find close by gas stations. I have used the 7-11 on Biggy Creek before..about 6 miles to the aiport.

 

[VacationDad]

Thought I would mention that I just dropped off my car at Dollar this morning and nothing happened. After reading this thread while I was down there I was prepared for a fight. I filled up on 192 near the Super Target and by the time I got to the airport the gauge was still above the Full line.

 

[seashoreCM]

maybe we should stop at a gas station upon leaving the dollar counter to insure that the tank that we leave with is full, if not bring that receipt to them for a discount.

On most cars, a full tank has the gauge reading above the "F".

There are reasonably reliable reports (not singling out any particular city or company) that rental company employees run errands using the cars that appear to be topped off. This causes the tankful to be shortweighted when the next customer gets the car.