National EA Gas Rip-Off Warning

[keishashadow]

Usually rent w/either Alamo or National, who ever is cheaper.

Picked up rental @ Dolphin tied into emerald # & returned to MCO.

Topped off tank (less than $5) @ Hess's by BW (as we always do) and drove to MCO.

Garage person handed me a slip which didn't reference my free day coupon & charged me $18+ for 3 gallons of gas????

Called National EA # & was told that if you need to dispute any charges it must be done @ the garage or no adjustments can be made. There policy is that the gas gage must be on the F indicator or you're automatically charged a min. of 3 gallons.

I insisted on talking to a supervisor & was able to get coupon applied & cost of 1 gallon of gas refunded.

BS IMO.

 

[disneyldwjr]

Usually rent w/either Alamo or National, who ever is cheaper.

Picked up rental @ Dolphin tied into emerald # & returned to MCO.

Topped off tank (less than $5) @ Hess's by BW (as we always do) and drove to MCO.

Garage person handed me a slip which didn't reference my free day coupon & charged me $18+ for 3 gallons of gas????

Called National EA # & was told that if you need to dispute any charges it must be done @ the garage or no adjustments can be made. There policy is that the gas gage must be on the F indicator or you're automatically charged a min. of 3 gallons.

I insisted on talking to a supervisor & was able to get coupon applied & cost of 1 gallon of gas refunded.

BS IMO.

WOW!!!! That must have been a gas hog to have knocked the guage from full to below in that short distance between BW and MCO. That is assuming it was below the F indicator. Unfortunately, that is their policy and it is printed somewhere, so, they get away with it. I am glad you did get it resolved and that you posted it here, hopefully, it will save another poster the aggrevation.

 

[manning]

Is National getting a reputation??

 

[dudspizza]

Is National getting a reputation??

Every once in a while you get a report like this. In my trips, I have filled up at the Hess at DTD and drove to MCO. Once was with a minivan and I was not charged at all. I honestly think the workers are going so fast that they don't look that close or they hit the wrong keys.

The best thing to do is dispute it immediately before they drive the car off. Once the car is gone, you don't have much of a chance to do anything.

Duds

 

[keishashadow]

We were upgraded to a Kia "something" mid-size SUV.

We usually rent a small SUV & this is the 1st time this happened...not a deal breaker but, was surprising to me. Of course, we've never checked the gage @ airport either...since we refuel before the trek.

We returned vehicle @ a slow time of day, garage was deserted. Perhaps the staff was bored & paid more attention??

As for the coupon, we had already handed it to clerk when we picked up the car, not sure why it didn't appear on final printout @ garage.

Bottom line, check the receipt before you leave the garage area to avoid the same pitfall.

 

[AllyBri]

We always fill up at the Hess on Orange Blossom (OBT) right off 417, it's just that little bit closer.

 

[Poorman]

We own a home in Clermont. We fill up in Clermont before going to MCO. We never pay for extra gas. It is a full 33 miles to the airport. The most any car would use is 1.5 gallons. I believe BW is closer than Clermont.

We always check the reciept before we head to the checkin.

Mistakes are made all the time and when you are returning the car you are always in a hurry. Try to get to the return area a little early so you can dispute any problems they may have.

 

[KarenP99]

Another tip would be to take a picture of the gas gauge (be sure to get the mileage in there as well for proof). That way you can always dispute later if you're running behind.

 

[disfamily2]

The same thing happened to me this summer with Alamo (owned by National)They charged me for 3 gallons of gas when I couldn't of used more than one gallon. I called when I got home and got refunded half the price of gas. I will stick with Dollar from now on.

Jo Ann

 

[LoraJ]

We once had to evacuate FLL because of a hurricane. We tried getting gas the night before but the lines were sooooo long. So we thought we'd go in the morning. Bad idea, all of the stations were closed! We had to pay $65 for a half tank of gas. Grrrrrrr!!!

 

[keishashadow]

We once had to evacuate FLL because of a hurricane. We tried getting gas the night before but the lines were sooooo long. So we thought we'd go in the morning. Bad idea, all of the stations were closed! We had to pay $65 for a half tank of gas. Grrrrrrr!!!

OMG, that's a shame, where's the love? You'd think they'd make exceptions for pending natural disasters.

Thanx for the post as to pic of gas gage!

 

[seashoreCM]

We once had to evacuate FLL because of a hurricane. We tried getting gas the night before but the lines were sooooo long. So we thought we'd go in the morning. Bad idea, all of the stations were closed! We had to pay $65 for a half tank of gas. Grrrrrrr!!!

Are you patriotic? OR, are you prudent?

Welcome back to the crowd who tops off their cars at the slightest news of an emergency despite the media begging us not to. We'll try to be friendly.

Sorry, can't help you regarding the long gas line stretching out into the street.

I usually top off the WDW rental at the station in the northwest quadrant of the Tradeport/Beeline (Beach Line; 528) exit 9. Quite low priced, easy off, no need for easy back on (528) since I continue the last mile to the airport (MCO) on a parallelling side road on the north side, skipping the second 75 cent toll.

Now if my favorite station (the aforementioned) was not available, the next place to look is Semoran Blvd. (436) going north from the airport north entrance (and ultimately west). Caution, the first station you see there is reputedly very expensive, almost gougingly so.

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

 

[AllyBri]

We returned a rental to National after one of the hurricanes, the tank was 3/4 empty, they told us not to worry about it. No charge.

 

[NotUrsula]

National/Alamo isn't the only one; a lot of rental agencies are trying to charge a top-up fee if the gauge isn't reading ABOVE full when you return the car. It usually kicks in if you haven't driven more than 75 miles. Here is an article about the practice from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021302276.html

Naturally, they are not actually adding any gas to the tank if the gauge reads Full, they are just putting it on the lot. I always make sure that my tank is above full before I leave with a car, or insist that they make a note of the exact reading on my contract.

Even so, I can still get stung: at one point a few weeks back, I picked up a compact car at S&D and drove it straight to DD, parked it for a couple of hours, then went straight to MCO. Even though the gauge read Full when I picked it up, when I refueled at the intersection of 417 and Landstar, the tank took 3.6 gallons. I wrote and enclosed copies of all my receipts (showing mileage), and I got back all but $3 of the price of the gas I purchased, because I sure as *&#^ didn't use 3.6 gallons to go 15 miles.

 

[LisaS]

Naturally, they are not actually adding any gas to the tank if the gauge reads Full, they are just putting it on the lot. I always make sure that my tank is above full before I leave with a car, or insist that they make a note of the exact reading on my contract.

If they are going to insist on the gauge reading above "F" when it's returned, it had better be that way when the customer picks up the car. Checking the gauge before leaving the rental lot and having it noted on your contract is a great idea.

 

[manning]

That's one tactic that back fired on one of the rental companies we do business with. A few rentals got clipped with the fuel charge. It was pointed out to the person in charge of negotiating rental contracts. He told the rental company if it happened again there will be a big drop in business. It did, and the word got out that under no circumstances cars be rented from them. Didn't take long for the drop to be noticed. After assurance if it happened again the charge will be dropped we started renting again. Helps working for a big company.

Check with your employers to see if they have contracts. They get the best rates and usually it includes pleasure rentals for employees. The rental companies are banking on the volume business.

 

[jekjones1558]

If they are going to insist on the gauge reading above "F" when it's returned, it had better be that way when the customer picks up the car. Checking the gauge before leaving the rental lot and having it noted on your contract is a great idea.

Well said, Lisa! We got stung last time (only $5.00) and we had filled up at the station by I Drive just as you get on 417. I wasn't in the mood to argue. We noticed when we picked up the car that the gauge was not all the way on full. From now on I will be noting this.
I have heard that there is a gas station closer to MCO. I think you turn right at the bottom of the exit off of 417? Anyone ever used that station? If so, how far is it from the bottom of the exit?