Hotwire car rental - NEVER AGAIN!

[bbwhos]

Sorry for my rant; I am still upset with Hotwire!! We had a Hotwire Hot Rate (non-refundable) car rental for this morning. No one at rental counter - great! We'll be done and on our way. Nope! Our 7 day + 1 hr rental for May 5 (9 am)-12 (10 am) was listed as 8 days on my receipt. In Hertz's system it only showed as 7 days and Hertz required us to pay additional for the 8th day. No way!! I've already paid! Hertz supv said that Hotwire would only pay them for the 7 days and that was it; not the add'l hr. I got on the phone with Hotwire who instructed me that this was their standard operating procedures for an additional hr and they would reimburse me. I could not get to talk with a supv at Hotwire; had to leave a message for them to call me within 24 hrs. The Hertz rep told me they had a very similar problem to this the other day from Hotwire. I spent over 30 min trying to straighten this out and finally paid the extra hour rate to Hertz so we could continue on. This is not right and was not listed on our receipt anywhere.

Anyone else have to get a reimbursement from Hotwire like this?

I need to get over this. The weather is awesome!!!

 

[brenda1966]

It seems really petty of Hertz. Most rental car places have a 1 hour grace period, so if you rent for 3 days + 1 hour, you're just charged for 3 days. I probably would have told HErtz I'll just take the car in 1 hour and never rent from you again!

 

[bbwhos]

It seems really petty of Hertz. Most rental car places have a 1 hour grace period, so if you rent for 3 days + 1 hour, you're just charged for 3 days. I probably would have told HErtz I'll just take the car in 1 hour and never rent from you again!

True, but Hertz should be paid fair since it wasn't their error. Their computer system showed the 7 days and Hotwire even confirmed that over the phone. I don't understand Hotwire's stance! Most rentals are not exactly on the 24 hr mark.

 

[brenda1966]

It sounds like Hotwire was counting on the 1 hour grace. I actually fault Hertz as they agree to accept these hotwire rentals to get cars rented, but when you get to the counter, they are asking you to pay more? Nope. I fault Hertz here. If you agree to the low hotwire price, then you agree and go with it. Petty, petty, petty of Hertz to haggle over that extra hour.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just arrive back at 9 AM and ask Hertz to credit the refund.

And the "Grace period" is no longer an hour for almost ALL rental car companies... it's down to less then half an hour.

 

[Lewisc]

A one hour grace period is history. Hertz normally offers a 29 minute grace period on pre-paid rentals.

Hotwire said this is normal procedure for an extra hour and they'll reimburse you.

Sounds like Hotwire thinks many customers will pick up the car a few minutes late (delayed flight) and/or return it a few minutes early. This way Hotwire, not Hertz, keeps the money for the extra day if it's not needed.

Kind of slimy..

 

[brenda1966]

I guess the lesson to learn is not book that extra hour. I've had bad hotwire experiences as well with Budget, but for different reasons. Which is why I love going to WDW and using magic express -- I can avoid all rental car hassles.

 

[bbwhos]

Updated:

Hotwire supv finally called back. HW was hoping that Hertz would not charge the extra hour. HW blamed Hertz for charging for the extra hour. Grace period is just that; 'grace'. Does not have to be offered. He confirmed this is standard procedure to reimburse after I send in my receipt. Basically sounds like one of HW's games to keep the money if you return early or pu late. I book more precise times. Never again will I use HW! I always book direct and will go back to that method.

 

[seashoreCM]

Did you really need the extra hour? Couldn't you change the reservation on the spot to be 7 days even?

Also, the time spent at the office arguing detracts from the time you have the car so you may well not even be into the eighth day when you finally take the car.

 

[bbwhos]

Did you really need the extra hour? Couldn't you change the reservation on the spot to be 7 days even?

Also, the time spent at the office arguing detracts from the time you have the car so you may well not even be into the eighth day when you finally take the car.

Yes, we could have adjusted but then we were not getting what we paid for since our ressie with HW said "8" days and they were not obiding to our agreement to pay Hertz for the "8" days.

You are correct about the time wasted. That's why we finally paid Hertz and agreed to get reimbursed by HW. Our hour was an amt we could handle on the spot; the one the agent told us about the other day was MUCH larger amt since it is the going rate that is charged.

Any way, Dh and I have had a nap, filled our bellies and are ready for MICKEY and sunshine!!!

 

[joelkfla]

I agree that this is slimy.

Not only is HW lying to Hertz about the customer's expected rental period, but then they are expecting the customer to lie too, and hoping that it just slides thru.

And then when it doesn't slide thru, the customer has to go thru the hassle of advancing the money and preparing and mailing a request for a refund. And they have the hubris to admit it's their standard way of doing business.

IMO, this would merit a complaint to the BBB or the state attorney general.

 

[snesguy]

Our 7 day + 1 hr rental for May 5 (9 am)-12 (10 am) was listed as 8 days on my receipt.

I've done additional hours on Hotwire quite a few times. It has always worked out great for me. I think Hotwire might round up to the next day but I still save over the rack rates. Whatever price hotwire charges is the price I pay. I've never been charged extra for time paid for through Hotwire.

Some rental companies, and I think Hertz is one, have a grace period, so that if you rent for a day you will have an extra period of grace time, maybe 30 minutes or an hour or two, to return the rental without paying penalties. At least that's the way it used to work. I just googled Hertz and it looks like they have a 29 minute grace peroid in the US now. So, you could haved returned the car 31 minutes early (in your case of 1 hour extra) and not paid the extra day.

 

[5boyz]

Thanks for posting! I have a rental thru Hotwire for dollar from July 19 8am til July 30th 5pm and they have 12 days on the bill, which would be 8am on July 30th , so the extra 10 hrs is not in the price I am assuming?! I am going to call Dollar (rental company for me) and find out about this before I get there and am suprised with another full day payment. I dont need it til 5pm, only 11am. When I booked I didnt have a flight home. Again thanks for post.

 

[5boyz]

Ok so I called Dollar, I explained what happen to OP and asked if I was to expect any extra day charges at the end of my visit if my car was dropped off on time, he said as long as your are dropped off by 11am (oh yeah changed it) you will be charged $280.79. He changed the time for me but the price is the same the conf #. I will watch the rental prices and make other ressie just incase. I will call back just before I leave to make sure.

 

[bbwhos]

Ok so I called Dollar, I explained what happen to OP and asked if I was to expect any extra day charges at the end of my visit if my car was dropped off on time, he said as long as your are dropped off by 11am (oh yeah changed it) you will be charged $280.79. He changed the time for me but the price is the same the conf #. I will watch the rental prices and make other ressie just incase. I will call back just before I leave to make sure.

Hmmm ... Hertz told us they could not make any changes that the co locked them out of the system from doing that. I don't think I will use hotwire or hertz again.

I do have to admit. Car drop off was really fast as there was one other car in front of us but I think we traveled at a time they just weren't that busy.

Great trip but sad to be home

Good luck with your rental and enjoy! Dollar will probably be better.

 

[bbwhos]

Update: Faxed Hertz receipt to Hotwire on 5/16 and just over a week later we received our refund of the extra fee charged by Hertz and also a $20 Hotwire credit on account.

Not sure how comfortable I feel using them again but they at least did stand up to their word to refund Hertz's charges.

Okay, now I just need to convince DH it's time to book airfare for our next trip! I wanna go back!