Dollar says Mousesavers cancelled my rental car reservation...UPDATE pg. 3

[Kathi OD]

I just saw this thread. As others have posted, MouseSavers.com did NOT cancel your reservation! There is no way I could -- I don't even have any way of knowing who books cars through my site. I don't enter into the reservations process at all. When you click through from a link on MouseSavers, you are directed to the rental car company's own web site and you are booking directly with them.

That said, some (not all) of the car rental companies, including Dollar, do track sales that come from MouseSavers.com links. They pay me a small referral fee, long after the rental is completed. Since this is handled automatically, it's possible that Dollar does have MouseSavers listed on your reservation as the "travel agency" that booked your rental (even though my site is NOT a travel agency and I am NOT a travel agent).

I have no idea why Dollar would claim I cancelled your reservation. I'm sorry they are giving you such a hard time. If I were you, I would call Dollar back and escalate this to a supervisor.

For future reference, there is a "contact Mary" link on every single page of MouseSavers.com (toward the bottom of the left side menu). If you ever have a question or issue like this again, please contact me directly. I do read my mail, and if it requires a reply, 99% of the time I respond within an hour or two.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Mary,

I just want to say that this is why my original post said "supposedly." I really didn't think this was possible and I really thought they just realized that they let out an awesome code for that type of vehicle that included a very high traffic time of year.

Also, I did try to email you, but as sometimes happens, I forgot to put the "s" on the end of your email addy and it got bounced back into my spam folder, which I just saw this morning. I was so frustrated with the situation, given that there is so little time before I leave, that I thought my friends here might be able to offer alternative solutions.

I'll try calling Dollar back again this morning.

 

[Kathi OD]

Thanks Mary, for responding to this. Your site is chock-a-block full of good info and I would hate for anyone to think that you, or your site, had anything to do with that cancellation.

People.....I will say it again...be absolutely sure you qualify for a code or pin when renting a car. The car companies are within their rights to not honor that code if you can not provide proof of eligibility.

I am eligible for the code. All you had to do was book using Amex, which I did, and have travel dates before 4/20. We're coming home on 4/19. There was no notation to location limitation.

I really think they screwed up on their end, realized they could get another $500 for that rental period, and so cancelled my reservation.

 

[Lewisc]

Some suggestions:

1. Make a DME reservation. No penalty if you don't use it.
2. Tell Dollar you checked with mousesavers. Mousesavers didn't cancel your reservation.
3. Tell them you'll be complaining to AMEX. I wouldn't do this but you could go so far as to take the mini-van then file a credit card dispute. You have the confirmation. Mary confirmed Mousesavers didn't cancel your reservation. You're using an AMEX promotion.
4. Can you use a smaller car if some of your group, and all your luggage, uses DME?

 

[keishashadow]

I do have a printed confirmation. My concern is that since I already called them, it will be documented in their system that I already know. Not looking forward to standing at their counter at midnight, with a handicapped dad (early stages of Alzheimer's in addition to mobility issues) and getting nowhere with them.

we weren't happy with service @ the desk @ MCOonly reason we book with them (ever) is they typically don't charge a drop fee to TPA for short rentals.

not sure who you spoke to, but i suggest calling back & asking to speak to a 'supervisior'. do you belong to their frequent renter program (the name escapes me lol) ?, if so there might be a dedicated phone # you can call to try & resolve this.

fyi im sure they do have verbage somewhere on their website as to being able to adjust 'mistake' quotes, what you have may just be that...i'd demand a better explanation though, good luck!

 

[Wendaeh]

The bigger problem is that we NEED a mini-van and there are no more available for our dates.

Could you use an SUV? With the Orlando Magicard corporate code (004m001010) I can see an SUV for $365 over Easter break through Thrifty.

 

[mdsd8700]

Wow that is terrible! I am so sorry to hear this happened. I would also agree that you should call and talk to someone in a supervisory capacity and see if there is anything that can be done. Obviously you didn't cancel the reservation but when it was cancelled did you receive the e-mail stating it was cancelled? Is that how you found out? I am sorry if I missed that in the thread somewhere. I know you are at their mercy, but hopefully if you explain what happened a manager will try and rectify the situation. Good Luck and hoping some pixie dust comes your way with this.

 

[Kathi OD]

Could you use an SUV? With the Orlando Magicard corporate code (004m001010) I can see an SUV for $365 over Easter break through Thrifty.

thanks for the suggestion. I checked and the SUV was a Ford Escape, not big enough for the 6 of us and our luggage. =(

Some suggestions:

1. Make a DME reservation. No penalty if you don't use it.
2. Tell Dollar you checked with mousesavers. Mousesavers didn't cancel your reservation.
3. Tell them you'll be complaining to AMEX. I wouldn't do this but you could go so far as to take the mini-van then file a credit card dispute. You have the confirmation. Mary confirmed Mousesavers didn't cancel your reservation. You're using an AMEX promotion.
4. Can you use a smaller car if some of your group, and all your luggage, uses DME?

I just made a DME reservation. At least we'll be able to get to the resort. I will be calling Dollar again in a little bit. I will also be complaining to AMEX.

I would never file a dispute to not pay for the vehicle if I manage to get the vehicle I want, at the price I was confirmed at. While what Dollar is doing is wrong, I have to live w/ myself and I just would have a hard time with that.

A smaller car just might work. I'll have to talk to DH about that later tonight.

Wow that is terrible! I am so sorry to hear this happened. I would also agree that you should call and talk to someone in a supervisory capacity and see if there is anything that can be done. Obviously you didn't cancel the reservation but when it was cancelled did you receive the e-mail stating it was cancelled? Is that how you found out? I am sorry if I missed that in the thread somewhere. I know you are at their mercy, but hopefully if you explain what happened a manager will try and rectify the situation. Good Luck and hoping some pixie dust comes your way with this.

I did speak with a supervisor yesterday. She was the one who told me that it was Mousesavers who cancelled the ressie. I will have to escalate it further.
I am sure I will not be successful in getting this resolved, but definitely will try. I know that even if I am successful, I'll be writing a nasty-gram to Dollar about their horrid business practices.


A big thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I put in an order from Garden Grocer last night and will be changing a few of our dinner reservations so we won't have to deal with the possibility of long transportation times getting from resort-to-resort. You know, if it were just DH and me, or DH, me and anyone else except my Dad, I'd have just gone w/ the flow. I am sure that we will find a way to make this the happy vacation I want it to be for him.

 

[Kathi OD]

we weren't happy with service @ the desk @ MCOonly reason we book with them (ever) is they typically don't charge a drop fee to TPA for short rentals.

not sure who you spoke to, but i suggest calling back & asking to speak to a 'supervisior'. do you belong to their frequent renter program (the name escapes me lol) ?, if so there might be a dedicated phone # you can call to try & resolve this.

fyi im sure they do have verbage somewhere on their website as to being able to adjust 'mistake' quotes, what you have may just be that...i'd demand a better explanation though, good luck!

As per the bolded: the promo rate is still being advertised. Since my original reservation was made on February 3rd, they should have pulled advertising that rate by now. The problem with rebooking is that they are now saying there are no more mini-vans available at MCO for our travel dates.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I saw their prices and then named my price, which was more than what I originally had agree to in the "cancelled" reservation. It came back with a couple of offers. All of them much higher than my original reservation had been for. [snip]

Kathi: It still sounds like you are not naming your price on priceline. You need to click on the "Bid Now" button, cmplete your airport, pick up times and car request, the driver's name and age, and your bid per day (which does not include taxes & insurance), such as $20. Then when you click continue, it will give you the total cost if that bid is accepted with taxes and insurance. If this total is acceptable, you can give them your credit card info and click "Buy My Rental Car Now." If that bid is too low, you can try again every 24 hours or with a different driver.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[keishashadow]

As per the bolded: the promo rate is still being advertised. Since my original reservation was made on February 3rd, they should have pulled advertising that rate by now. The problem with rebooking is that they are now saying there are no more mini-vans available at MCO for our travel dates.

I know that national holds back cars for 'elite' renters, willing to bet dollar does too...i'd dig in my heels & call back...they could easily ship in a mini-van in from another site to cover their mistake.

 

[Kathi OD]

Kathi: It still sounds like you are not naming your price on priceline. You need to click on the "Bid Now" button, cmplete your airport, pick up times and car request, the driver's name and age, and your bid per day (which does not include taxes & insurance), such as $20. Then when you click continue, it will give you the total cost if that bid is accepted with taxes and insurance. If this total is acceptable, you can give them your credit card info and click "Buy My Rental Car Now." If that bid is too low, you can try again every 24 hours or with a different driver.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

Suzanne, I'm pretty sure I did it right. I put in all the info you just stated. I'll try again tonight. Maybe I was reading something wrong after doing all that, but the lowest price I got back was a whole, whole lot more than my original reservation.

 

[Kathi OD]

Just a note: I edited the thread title, as I realized it was misleading and don't want to cause unnecessary harm to Mousesavers's business.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would never file a dispute to not pay for the vehicle if I manage to get the vehicle I want, at the price I was confirmed at. While what Dollar is doing is wrong, I have to live w/ myself and I just would have a hard time with that.

. Nope, Lewisc doesn't want you to not pay for the rental; his suggestion to dispute with Amex is simply to allow you to pay just the originally-quoted price.

 

[Kathi OD]

. Nope, Lewisc doesn't want you to not pay for the rental; his suggestion to dispute with Amex is simply to allow you to pay just the originally-quoted price.

Ahhh...but here's the rub...if Dollar says they have no more mini-vans at MCO for our travel dates, how do I dispute that?

 

[crashbb]

What are your travel dates? Maybe someone can help you find something.

 

[sammielynn]

Ahhh...but here's the rub...if Dollar says they have no more mini-vans at MCO for our travel dates, how do I dispute that?

They have a zillion cars all over Florida, they can get one.

 

[Lewisc]

Priceline will sometimes display retail rates in respnose to a NYOP "bid" if the NYOP product has no availability. My guess is PL NYOP won't have any mini-vans at this late date.

The OP could supplement Disney transportation with taxis.

 

[Kathi OD]

What are your travel dates? Maybe someone can help you find something.

Our dates are 4/14-4/19.

I've pretty much decided that we'll use DME for transport back and forth to WDW. Once we're on property, we'll make the call as to whether we need to call a taxi for some of our dinner reservations.

When I called this morning to add DME to our reservation, the girl assured me that Dad should not have a problem boarding or exiting the bus, even with limited mobility. I hope that is true.

In the end, this trip is about my dad and giving him one more trip to a place he loves. The good thing is that he generally is pretty good about rolling with the punches (although that has changed somewhat since the Alzheimer's onset). The other members of our party really don't care one way or another. Now that I'm over my initial fury with the situation, I refuse to let this ruin his trip. I'm just grateful I found out before we arrived in Orlando at midnight.

 

[dudspizza]

Our dates are 4/14-4/19.

I've pretty much decided that we'll use DME for transport back and forth to WDW. Once we're on property, we'll make the call as to whether we need to call a taxi for some of our dinner reservations.

When I called this morning to add DME to our reservation, the girl assured me that Dad should not have a problem boarding or exiting the bus, even with limited mobility. I hope that is true.

In the end, this trip is about my dad and giving him one more trip to a place he loves. The good thing is that he generally is pretty good about rolling with the punches (although that has changed somewhat since the Alzheimer's onset). The other members of our party really don't care one way or another. Now that I'm over my initial fury with the situation, I refuse to let this ruin his trip. I'm just grateful I found out before we arrived in Orlando at midnight.

Go for you for the positive attitude. My grandmother progressed very quickly through the stages of Alzheimers. Enjoy this time.

I would still push it with Dollar. I would talk to a supervisor at the MCO location and then take it corporate. If you have done everything correctly, including having a printed confirmation and you qualify for the code you have used (which it sounds you do), then your rate should be honored.

Sometimes people hold two reservations at the same company which causes them to have one reservation cancelled.... doesn't sound like this is your case.

Have a great trip!

Duds

 

[bumbershoot]

Suzanne, I'm pretty sure I did it right. I put in all the info you just stated. I'll try again tonight. Maybe I was reading something wrong after doing all that, but the lowest price I got back was a whole, whole lot more than my original reservation.

Just ignore the email they send back with their counter-offer, wait the 24 hours, and try again going up just a bit higher.


I know from working in customer service that there are some reps (even supervisors) who haven't a single clue what they are talking about, but make stuff up. So this supervisor thought she saw something, and decided it meant that mousesavers had canceled it. She doesn't know what she's talking about since it's *impossible* for that to have happened. Find someone who knows. Good luck!