National Rental -- Recent Experience

[Sandi]

Well, I've been back for almost a week now and can face the boards (with no planned trip) once again.

I rented through National for our 10/24 - 11/1 trip. I have Emerald Aisle and all that was available when we arrived at 9:00 p.m. were Intermediates (one full size was coming on just as we were approaching the drive through). We took an Alero and everything was fine.

The next day, we drove to Goodings for a grocery fix, and I got a flat tire. No fault of anyone -- it just happened. My DH put on the spare, we went to the store and returned to WL. I called National's 800 number, explained what happened and they said they'd exchange the car. I asked whether I could do that at the Car Care Center near the MK instead of at the airport and they said sure and transferred me to the CCC.

That's where things turned south. CCC had no Intermediates and asked that I call back in the morning, around 8:00. That seemed reasonable, so I did. I called at 8:00, no car for me; I called at noon, still no car; I called at 3:00, nothing. The woman at National's CCC was totally unhelpful and told me to go to the airport. I explained that the temporary tire isn't made for highway travel and I didn't really feel safe. No budging.

Finally, I drove the car to National's CCC and went in so they could tell me no to my face. I ended up with a Chevy Van that they just happened to have. We used that for the rest of our trip.

In the end, I was happy. It was just getting there that was very frustrating. Someone who isn't as pushy or forceful as me (and I'm a lawyer so I'm trained that way) would have been in for a lot of inconvenience and potentially no satisfaction.

If this story helps anyone, great. I'll still rent from National because I'm happy with their cars and the past many years of service. This was really my only poor experience and I made some lemonade of it. My 9year old DD was thrilled to have a van. (Yup, a big old van -- not a minivan -- for 3 people and my husband left a few days early, so it was just me a DD tooling around in the van for 3 days.)

 

[CarolA]

My solution is always just to call National, tell them the car is not driveable and ask them to bring me a new car. (I never volunteer to go to them.!) I travel a lot and have had several issues with cars over the years and I am pretty good at that. It normally works. (Of course I refuse to even consider changing the tire nor do the men I work with, we figure for the money, they can change the tire! LOL!)

 

[Sandi]

That's even better Carol. While I'm hopeful there won't be a next time, it's good to have another solution.

 

[dvc guy]

We had the same problem a few years ago at FLL airport. Arrive late at night, the Thursday before Presidents week , with a resveration for a full size car. Not a single car to be had. One minivan left with a problem with the check engine light going on and off.

Looks like this is an on going problem with National, how can they run out of cars?

I now rent with Hertz, pay a few dollars more, but they aways have plenty of cars, even during peak holiday periods

 

[CarolA]

I think that the rental car companies are like the airlines. They overbook sometimes and why...because people make more than one reservation and there is not a penatly if you don't pick up the car. (I have been guilty of this myself, for one trip to Disney I had three reservations and never cancelled the ones I did not use!)

I actually had the same problem with Hertz, but since I am a President's Club member I got upgraded to a fancy Cadilliac!

 

[inkkognito]

We have noticed this with Alamo/National too (our ressies are with Alamo via Priceline, but it's the same cars). It's never been so bad that there wasn't some type of car they could give us, but on one trip all of the economys and compacts were gone and the intermediates had just about dissapeared too. The lot was so barren! We tend to arrive on a late flight, so that probably has something to do with it. They have never given us any problem about upgrading us to whatever is available.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[seashoreCM]

In my opinion, even though it is not your car and you paid good money, you are expected to take care of the car as if it were your own. This includes making sure tire pressure, oil and fluid levels, etc. are correct, changing tires, and taking it in for service if and whenever needed.

You may be subject to even more strict standards, such as not driving on unpaved roads.

The car rental agency, meanwhile, is expected to provide a car that does not need constant attention like adding oil every day, and also give a free loaner if the car has to go to the shop.

If you have ever rented an apartment, you should know what it means to be responsible for taking care of things.

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

Next trip starts Nov. 22 '03 barring an unexpected emergency.