National Car Rental......I don't think so

[Donald Duck 57]

Hi All,
Just wanted to take a few moments to share the HORRIBLE time we are having with National Car customer service. we have faxed and faxed and faxed them a request to update our credit card information for at least a month to no avail. Have any of you had any problems with them or has it been just as. We are SO MAD, anything anyone wants to share would sure help. THANKS

 

[Chuck S]

Why not just log on to the National website and update your EC member profile there?

 

[Donald Duck 57]

Tried that. They won't accept credit card updates online. Unbelievable!!!

 

[DVCDAVE]

I changed mine back in February by just calling the Emerald Club reservations number and asking for customer service. 1-800-328-1234. The rep. said the change would take affect in 24 hours, as the card had to be verified. Indeed I verified the change on the EC website the next day. Honestly, I never had a problem with them. I do wish though that they would add Luxury Class Cars to the Emerald Isle at the Orlando Airport, the website does not allow us to make ressies for Emerald Isle pickup at that location, for those cars.

 

[SalandJeff]

We had a problem with National last year. They charged us for insurance even though we told them we didn't want. The customer service people were of no help at all. I wrote to president of National directly and it was all straightened out. Call their 800 # and ask for his name and address/fax.

 

[prplcrzy]

I have never had a problem with National, unlike the other car companies I have used both in Orlando and elsewhere. I actually had a great expeience with them at Dulles about 15 years ago and have been foolish to try other car companies since then. I find they cost a little more but they are worth it.

 

[ParkFreak]

I had to change my credit card info also a few months ago (same visa account, different number). I don't have easy access to a fax machine and they said they couldn't do it over the phone. They mailed me a form, I filled it out and mailed it back, within a week or so, the change was taken care of in my online profile.

Now, getting a straight answer about having an extra driver who is an EA member but not related is another story! I've gotten several different responses over the phone (none of them what I wanted to hear) so I emailed them. The first response was that unless they were business partners, there would be a charge. I read through their policies, found a rule about it and mailed them back. I finally got a note back saying that after much research, he found that EA members don't have to be added to the contract. I printed this out and we'll see if there's any hassle next month! Sure seems that no one is quite sure what the policies are, but I'll stick with National just for EA and decent prices.

I've also had spotty service from them at the counter at MCO, anything from 5 star Disney-like service to downright rude "let me speak to the Manager please" behavior!

 

[CarolA]

Everyone always complains about airlines, but in my experience the worst part of the travel industry is the rental car companies! My company has had contracts with almost all of the majors over the past 14 years and I have had numerous bad experiences with ALL of them. For all of that my two favs are National and Hertz. However, I think I like them because they both have programs that allow me to skip the personnel and go right to a car!