Dont rent from Alamo/National!!!!!

[djarhansen]

WARNING--DONT RENT FROM ALAMO/NATIONAL (OWNED BY SAME COMPANY)ORLANDO!!!! Here is why, short version, I promise. After they gave our car away and we had to wait for over an hour (at 1 a.m. with 3 small children) while they figured out why and found a new car for us, the car we got was fithy!!! However we didn't notice it until the next day b/c it was so late and we were so tired after a long day of travel. I am not talking a little dirty, but fithy! There was even headphones in the back drink holder from the previous renter which means they might not have even cleaned it. Then upon returning it we relized we left our daughters MP3 player in it. We were still in the Orlando airport and I called to see if I could go back and get it. I was told NO, I had to wait until Mon. I hung up and called back hoping to get another person who was a little more friendly. Again, another person told me, I can walk back to the rental desk but they might be too busy to help me, its best to wait till Mon. Well, it wasn't worth walking all the way back through the airport and chance missing our flight to have somebody look me in the face and say, I'm too busy to help you. Against better judgement, we waited until Mon. I called first thing Mon. morning and was told the car had already be rented again and wouldn't be back until the following Fri. so either once again, they didn't clean the car or one of the employees got a new MP3 player! Since then, when I have called the customer service number, I have been yelled at, hung up on (by a employee) and been given the run around. They tell me to call this manager, well when I do, that number has been disconnected. Then they give me another number and that number goes straight to a mailbox that is full and then disconnects the call. As of now, I am waiting for somebody, ANYBODY to call me back. I can't believe how horrible Alamo/National customers service is. I will NEVER rent from them again and strongly advise anybody from doing the same!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

We had a bad experience with Thrifty in 2004 - started our vacation off on a really negative note. We had the high pressure - basically yelling at us - to sell us the extra insurance - telling us our car insurance would not cover the "loss of use" - he was even nasty about giving us a map and directions to WDW. My son also had the same experience last year. They gave him the "hurricane talk". Anyway, our State Farm agent told us that we do have all the necessary coverage, and we should only rent from Enterprise, because they work with them all of the time, and they are good for customers to work with. Next time we will stick to Enterprise!

 

[bg4]

These things happen all over and are representative at all.

I can live with most of what you said - its your experience and your opinion.

But how did they give your car away?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We've rented from both several times and have never had any problems with either of them. Customer service was great, extra insurance was offered but once we indicated we weren't interested it was dropped and have always had the car we reserved. Maybe you caught them on a bad day.

 

[CarolA]

These things happen all over and are representative at all.

I can live with most of what you said - its your experience and your opinion.

But how did they give your car away?

They do??? I rent almost exclusively from Hertz.

I have never been hung up on, yelled at or had a really dirty car. (In freezing weather we do get notes that the cars were not washed, which I can understand, but the inside is generally pretty clean!)

I have never been pushed for extra insurance.

I have never not had a car. (I have had that wonderful experince with Alamo. After an HOUR I told them to cancel and took a cab. My next CC Statement had a charge for MY failure to show. I have NEVER rented from them again and National is starting to worry me!)

Yes, I sometimes pay a little more, but.....

 

[Regina]

I'm sorry that you had a problem. We've always had good luck with them.

As far as Enterprise in Orlando, sorry, never again. The cars were nowhere near the condition of what we're used to. The best of them still had an odor, cigarette burn in the upholstery and exterior damage (which I made certain was noted on our contract.) The car had about as much pep as a tricycle.

They were extremely pushy about taking insurance coverage, memorably so.

 

[deltachi8]

Almost always rent from National and never a bad experience.

 

[wdwfan1]

We have not had any problems with Alamo since they moved into the airport. We usually love National, but i had a similar experience with my camera. We left it in the car and now someone else owns it. The lost & found rep was very nice, but said noone turned in a camera like mine (brand new & fairly expensive). But, to be fair, it was our fault for leaving it in the car. They did not make me do that!

Hertz--what a nightmare. Went to return car and noone there to accept. Pouring rain and no help at all. The stupid shuttle was another problem. Never rented from them again. So, it boils down to different strokes for different folks. Good thing we dont all like the same company!

 

[KerriMc]

Like the previous poster said, everyone has a different experience. I rented from Alamo our very first time and had a bad experience with them. Being new to renting a car, we agreed to "basic" insurance (didn't know about the disboards then!!!) ... the worst though was the wait in the line. We were in line for two hours at MCO ... I had a baby crying to be nursed with my mom walking the floor and my dad chasing my 2 yr old around while dh and I were in line. I left to nurse her and came back and we had hardly moved ... two people open ... two chatting ... same long line every time I go by there and I am glad I am not any of those frazzled parents chasing around toddlers who just got of a plane!!!!

I have used National the last two years and even got Emerald REserve (free) last year. We just walked to our van and loaded up and drove off. Maybe that would have worked better for you? I am doing this again this year.

Kerri

P.S. I have to admit that I did write a VERY detailed letter outlining my concerns to Alamo and they did write me a reply and they also refunded the "extra" insurance (not all of it). At least they replied. Sometimes I think things go further if you put it in writing and send it to their head office. Phone calls are so easily "misplaced" on their part ... be sure to file a formal written complaint!

 

[AllyBri]

I rent from National at least 12-13 times a year and at this point have no plans to stop.
But as another poster stated, thank goodness we don't all like the sme rental company.

 

[OntFamily]

Car rental agents receive a commission when they upsell extra services. This is why they hard sell insurance coverage, etc.

I always refuse the insurance, so I ensure I always say "I'm refusing all insurance" -- they usually start the conversation stating -- do you only want "basic insurance"?

What a racket.....

 

[Disneyjosh229]

They do??? I rent almost exclusively from Hertz.

I have never been hung up on, yelled at or had a really dirty car. (In freezing weather we do get notes that the cars were not washed, which I can understand, but the inside is generally pretty clean!)

I have never been pushed for extra insurance.

I have never not had a car. (I have had that wonderful experince with Alamo. After an HOUR I told them to cancel and took a cab. My next CC Statement had a charge for MY failure to show. I have NEVER rented from them again and National is starting to worry me!)

Yes, I sometimes pay a little more, but.....

The Hertz difference. No one can figure it out

 

[seashoreCM]

Poll question: Rate the amount of pressure (on a 1 low to 5 persistent scale) you felt to take the rental company insurance and state the day of the month (1 to 31).

(That is, do rental agents have cutoff dates each month to make quotas for selling coverages.)

Read the contract especially the places where you need to sign or initial. Do not sign the contract if there are dollar amounts already printed that are higher than you expect because coverages you don[t want are included.

Sorry but no rental companies have more than a hit or miss lost and found policy in place if you left something in the car.

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

 

[LIFERBABE]

I do understand that Alamo and Nat'l are owned by the same company, and your experience does sound pretty bad.

But I do think there is a big difference between Alamo and Nat'l in Orlando. We almost exclusively rent from Nat'l and have had great experiences. OTOH, you couldnt pay me to rent from Alamo. Have you seen the lines at Alamo at MCO!! I think every leisure traveller on the east coast is renting there!

National is more expensive, but with codes we get decent rates, and with Emerald service, we go straight to our car, which is usually in very good condition. And no hard sell insurance. They also have separate fleets and locations.

You couldnt drag me into a Wal-Mart, but I do shop at Sam's Club. So sometimes having the same parent is not an indication of how the kids will turn out

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Poll question: Rate the amount of pressure (on a 1 low to 5 persistent scale) you felt to take the rental company insurance and state the day of the month (1 to 31).

(That is, do rental agents have cutoff dates each month to make quotas for selling coverages.)

Read the contract especially the places where you need to sign or initial. Do not sign the contract if there are dollar amounts already printed that are higher than you expect because coverages you don[t want are included.

Sorry but no rental companies have more than a hit or miss lost and found policy in place if you left something in the car.

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

Good point - Thrifty, pressure: 5, date: 17th, my son - date: 28th, pressure sounds like a 4.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm sorry that you had a problem. We've always had good luck with them.

As far as Enterprise in Orlando, sorry, never again. The cars were nowhere near the condition of what we're used to. The best of them still had an odor, cigarette burn in the upholstery and exterior damage (which I made certain was noted on our contract.) The car had about as much pep as a tricycle.

They were extremely pushy about taking insurance coverage, memorably so.

OOH, maybe you just can't be sure anywhere - good reason to take ME!

 

[yensidretlaw]

We have rented cars from many different Car Rental Companies, but we have not really had any problems except with Alamo. We have had several irrating experiences with Alamo. I understand that things happen and mistakes occur, but the 2 things that really bothered me were:

1. How rude the employees at Alamo were to us
2. How when we requested to speak to a Supervisor or Manager, we were told that there none to speak with, but they would have someone return our call. We never received a return call. This was the case each time we called Alamo's Customer Service.

I do anything possible now to avoid renting from Alamo. I really do not need to increase the chances of having a bad experience when on vacation.

 

[rie'smom]

Just a heads up for Alamo-there's another rental office located in the parking garage. It's a little glassed in office. The wait might be 10 minutes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting that there are many different experiences, as well as suggestions who not to use...
I made two Alamo reservations (at different times) for the same non-Disney rental period. I then brought them up online and cancelled the larger/more expensive car. I thought. Nope - I cancelled the cheap deal
I immediately called Alamo and, while it took about twenty minutes, three transfers, and authorization from the station manager - they were able to reinstate my "deal" rental.

While I'm not making excuses for Alamo - since we're able to make reservations without any type of deposit/hold information (read: credit card on file), I would not be surprised if car rental agencies, like most airlines, overbook on a calculation of potential no-shows. When the OP arrived at the airport, all cars in her/his reserved class were out. One was finally returned an hour or so later and to appease the customer the car was rented out again immediately - without being checked/cleaned first. But um, how filthy was it? I wouldn't think renters would have time to make a mess in the car.

Too late now, but the OP likely would have had time to go directly back to the garage to look for the MP3 player. If it was missed quickly enough, employees may not have even gotten to the car to clean it yet.

 

[bg4]

Its also possible that OP is lying but whether that is true or not there is no way to prove it so you throw it and see if it sticks. The OP posted this libel (or is it slander) on multiple boards and makes their credibility questionable.

I stated that this happens to everyone - I was trying to be nice. This was before I realized OP is a troll. (see def of internet troll below)

I have rented from National and Alamo since 1977 and a Emerald Club member. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. Got a hassle twice at gate at MCO. First time about a coupon and I had to pay higher rate but they credited it and apologized after an e-mail. Second time (last June) the clerk did not know how to process a credit card- I didnt complain or post here about it. These are the things that happen. If you get a dirty car YOU RETURN IT!. No A/C - YOU RETURN IT. If you leave something in the car you say OOPS- MY BAD and hope you get it back.

There is no way for National/Alamo to give away your car and I am still waiting to hear how that was done.

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