Double check your online car rentals - a warning

[katerkat]

We rented a car from the National website in December, under a last minute deal of $21.99 a day for a compact, for two days. I *know* I entered my dates correctly. Somehow in the process, it became a 1-day rental for $45.98. (Notice: that's $21.99 doubled!) I only had the confirmation email with the wrong date on it (which, my fault, I didn't double check and didn't notice until we got to the counter) when we showed up, so they refused to give us the $21.99 and gave us a "consolation" rate of $34.99 a day, the maximum they could charge. (If it's the maximum, why would I even have a $45.98 rate?) I called and they refused to correct it since I no longer had the website with the original price on it.

So make doubly and triply sure everything is correct in your confirmation email before you go!!

After two bad out of three rental car experiences, I'm really starting to hate this process.

 

[Corryn]

Oooooohhh, you are SOOOOO Right!!!!
While planning our trip for last October, I was constantly checking different rates with most of the rental companies trying to get a great rate. I finally hooked an awesome rate with Alamo for a Cadillac STS or CTS, I can't remember. Anyway, something happened with the reservation. Now Thank God I print out the confirmation pages when I do these rentals. I went back to check it and it had something wrong, I forget. But I went back and forth with Alamo, I think it was like, 4 hours??? It was ridiculous. What saved my Super Cheap Rate was my printing out the confirmation page with ALL the info, not just the confirmation number, but the discount codes that I used to get the great rate.

Also, while I was trying to reserve certain dates, you know, click here, click there, I would be redirected back to the page to correct "errors" and when I was directed back, the date would always revert to the First of the month. Thank God I caught that error, too.

These car rental places have become very tricky, trying to fool the consumer, I will agree with you.
I suggest everyone double check Every Box before submitting the ressie, and then printing out the actual confirmation page, then calling the company and giving the rep all the info and asking her to repeat it back to you. It seems so stupid to go through all these phases, but if you want that cheap rate, you really have to work for it!

 

[seashoreCM]

PRINT the confirmation.

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

 

[KristinU]

PRINT the confirmation.

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

And take it with you Another reason to have the printout with you ...a few years ago before I started using National EA, I had a confirmation in hand for Dollar (I think...could have been Budget...but that doesn't matter) The line was wicked long at the rental counter (like easily 30-45 minutes) and the folks at L&M had just a couple of people at their counter and open agents...so I took my confirmation over and asked if they'd match it and they did.

 

[kennancat]

I'd also add to check back on your reservation. I booked using a special coupon for a free one-week rental only to check the reservation a few weeks later and then find out that the coupon code wasn't valid for a one-way rental! I'd printed out the confirmation showing that everything was fine, but I'm sure that they would have just told me sorry, can't help you. Thank goodness I checked and was able to make airline reservations instead.