Nervous About Simply Wheelz

[Amy5000]

Someone on this Board recommended Simply Wheelz for our car rental. They seemed to have a good deal on mini-van (we'll be 6 people), so I went to make a reservation online. They asked for my name and email and spit out a confirmation message. I'm used to confirming with a credit card? What happens when I get to Simply Wheelz in the middle of spring break and there is no mini-van available? It strikes me as very odd that they don't confirm with a credit card.

Advice anyone...

Amy

 

[Chickkypoo]

I booked my car rental thru dollar, and they didn't require a credit card either. You should be fine.

 

[Amy5000]

I booked my car rental thru dollar, and they didn't require a credit card either. You should be fine.

Did they ask for your telephone number and address? Simply Wheelz didn't. They just asked for your name and email address. It just made me nervous that they must overbook a lot (I know other cos do it as well...but I imagine it's somewhat worse when they have so little info on you).

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's all Alamo (and so I think National) requires, too.

Print out your confirmation and bring it with you.

 

[jlovesee]

I will be trying Simply Wheelz in December myself... to answer your question though I have been booking rental cars for the last two years (about 8-10 times a year atleast) and never been required to give a CC#, pretty much just like you described name/address/e-mail that's it.

BTW Hertz has always provided good service I consider Avis/Hertz the 2 best out there right now. (National used to be good before they merged with Alamo) So I think we will be ok!

Jennifer

 

[Detailor]

Car rental reservations work like hotel reservations - you do not pay for your rental until you pick it up, so no credit card information is necessary when you make the ressie.
As you have a confirmation number for your reservation you'll be all set when you arrive.

FWIW, whenever I travel for business or pleasure I take copies of all confirmations with me in case of any snafus. While I hardly ever have to use my hotel, airfare or car rental paperwork, it's comforting to be able to show a document in case a company 'loses' a reservation.

Dick Taylor

 

[Amy5000]

Car rental reservations work like hotel reservations - you do not pay for your rental until you pick it up, so no credit card information is necessary when you make the ressie.
As you have a confirmation number for your reservation you'll be all set when you arrive.

FWIW, whenever I travel for business or pleasure I take copies of all confirmations with me in case of any snafus. While I hardly ever have to use my hotel, airfare or car rental paperwork, it's comforting to be able to show a document in case a company 'loses' a reservation.

Dick Taylor

I understand that I won't be charged if they don't have a car for me. But that doesn't really help I when show up in the middle of spring break and there's no min-van to be had at the decent rate I booked. Am I crazy to assume that this happens from time to time? Maybe I should post looking for rental car horror stories.

 

[safetymom]

All agencies overbook. There isn't much you can do about it.

 

[Detailor]

I understand that I won't be charged if they don't have a car for me. But that doesn't really help I when show up in the middle of spring break and there's no min-van to be had at the decent rate I booked. Am I crazy to assume that this happens from time to time? Maybe I should post looking for rental car horror stories.

Yes, from time to time a rental company will not have available the size vehicle that you've booked. But that doesn't absolve them from providing you with an adequately sized vehicle. They'd likely upgrade you. In the case of Simply Wheelz I wonder if they have some reciprocal arrangement with Hertz in such a situation to get the right size.

Dick Taylor