Penalty for returning National rental early (weekly Rate)?

[BostonRob]

I need a car for 4 days. I was able to get a much better deal from National by booking in for 5 days. I plan to return it one day early. Nothing in my rental agreement says anything about that, but somebody in another thread suggested that if I return it early, my rate will revert back to the 4 day rate. Does anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks.

 

[CarolA]

You return it early they can and probably will switch you the daily walk up rate. Somewhere in the small print you will get is the statement that changing the dates can change the rate. I would book what you plan to use and work on the best deal. If they move you to the walk up rate you are not going to be in a position to argue. (And think high, my last walk up was in Tampa and I think it was around $70 a day. TA screw up for work LOL!)

 

[DebbieB]

The daily rate is listed on your reservation. Here's an example of a reservation I have for May:

TIME & DISTANCE 1 WEEK @ 116.95 116.95
EXTRA - TIME & DISTANCE 0 DAY @ 25.99 0.00
EXTRA - TIME & DISTANCE 0 HOUR @ 13.00 0.00

$25.99 x 4 days would be $103.96. 5 days goes to the weekly rate.

 

[CarolA]

That is now always how they do it... That is the EXTRA day not he way they calcuate it if you return early.

An example

Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
24-APRIL-2005 09:00 AM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
29-APRIL-2005 09:00 AM

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Week @ 105.94 105.94
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Day @ 23.54 0.00
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 11.77 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
105.94

Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
24-APRIL-2005 09:00 AM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
28-APRIL-2005 09:00 AM

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Day @ 33.95 33.95
Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 16.98 0.00
Extra - Time & Distance 3 Day @ 33.95 101.85
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 16.98 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
135.80


As you note the daily rate is less on the weekly rental then on the daily rentals. And for comparison

This is basically a walk up rate
Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
21-MARCH-2005 09:00 AM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
22-MARCH-2005 09:00 AM

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Day @ 99.99 99.99
Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 50.00 0.00
Time & Distance 0 Week @ 699.93 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
99.99


What will happen is subject to a lot of things including the mood of the agent, but some of it is computer driven. Personally I would not take the risk.

And this is the wording when I try to book a weekly rental

Unlimited Miles
A Minimum of 5 Day(s) will be charged.
The Minimum Rental Duration is 5 Day(s).
As I read that if you don't keep it 5 days you have met the Minimum Rental Duration.

 

[BostonRob]

Well I guess the only way to know for sure is to call and ask. I'll call tomorrow and see what they say. But I would think they would print a warning if they plan to charge you for an early return. It would be an awful business practice if they did, in fact, charge me 4 days at the walk up rate. Say the walk up rate is $70. If they hit me for $280 instead of the $104 weekly rate, they'd get an extra $176, but lose a customer for life. I don't see how they could run a business that way especially a business that is so dependent on repeat business. I'll let you know what they say.

 

[DebbieB]

I would just make the reservation for the correct amount of days. I'm sure many people try the "return early" route to pay less and they are onto that.

 

[BostonRob]

Well this is interesting. I called National customer service and told her I need it for 4 days and asked her if I booked it for 5 days and returned it early, could I still pay for 5 days at the weekly rate, and she said "No, it must be in your posession for 5 days, otherwise you pay the daily rate."

So then I called the Emerald Club # and asked them the same thing and was told that I could do that - that I can pay the weekly rate for 5 days, but only keep it for 4 days.

I guess I'm going to have to make some more calls. No time now. I'll keep you updated.

 

[CarolMN]

Maybe there are diffierent rules if you are an Emerald Club member. Consider asking the EC agent that question. If she says yes, be sure to write down her name. FWIW, my EC reservation always says that "a minumum of XX days will be charged". The XX equals the number of days I made the reservaiton for.

Best wishes -

 

[Lewisc]

Well I guess the only way to know for sure is to call and ask. I'll call tomorrow and see what they say. But I would think they would print a warning if they plan to charge you for an early return. It would be an awful business practice if they did, in fact, charge me 4 days at the walk up rate. Say the walk up rate is $70. If they hit me for $280 instead of the $104 weekly rate, they'd get an extra $176, but lose a customer for life. I don't see how they could run a business that way especially a business that is so dependent on repeat business. I'll let you know what they say.

Conversely they really couldn't run a business with a 5 day minimum, basically done to reduce utilization by business renters, if providing false information on your reservation is all you have to do to get around the rules.
I'm not so sure a phone call will change the terms of your reservation that clearly has a minimum rental period specified.

The 4 day rental rate is more expensive than than the 5 day rate. If you return your car early the agency isn't charging you a penalty, they're just charging your the correct rate based on your rental period.

Just play with different coupons and agencies until you get a reasonable rate. Some agencies will give you the weekly rate after 5 days which can be met with 4 full days and 2 hours. Sometimes a free day coupon will give you a good rate. You may wind up paying a little more than with a weekly rate but you'll probably do much better than being at the mercy of the agency when you return your car.

 

[mainelyj]

I can understand the "business" part of this discussion. But, I just do not understand why if you need a car for a day or two, you pay double the amount, than if it was a weekly rate. My son and I are planning a spur of the moment trip in May. A 4 day rental from national EA with all the coupons I could find - the lowest quote was $133. My 8 day car rental in August for same same level and car is $131.

If I do a 5 day rental with same car and level of service - the cost is $93 for our may trip.

I hate to take the risk of being charged for the daily rental, if I brought it back 1 day early when I booked for a 5 day rental.

I still could argue that my contract does not state any penalties for bringing my rental back early.

What to do......................... Everything was going well for this trip, until this problem.......

 

[disneyldwjr]

I can understand the "business" part of this discussion. But, I just do not understand why if you need a car for a day or two, you pay double the amount, than if it was a weekly rate. My son and I are planning a spur of the moment trip in May. A 4 day rental from national EA with all the coupons I could find - the lowest quote was $133. My 8 day car rental in August for same same level and car is $131.

If I do a 5 day rental with same car and level of service - the cost is $93 for our may trip.

I hate to take the risk of being charged for the daily rental, if I brought it back 1 day early when I booked for a 5 day rental.

I still could argue that my contract does not state any penalties for bringing my rental back early.

What to do......................... Everything was going well for this trip, until this problem.......

It is not a penalty, it is the cost of renting a car for 4 days.

 

[BostonRob]

Conversely they really couldn't run a business with a 5 day minimum, basically done to reduce utilization by business renters, if providing false information on your reservation is all you have to do to get around the rules.
I'm not so sure a phone call will change the terms of your reservation that clearly has a minimum rental period specified.

The 4 day rental rate is more expensive than than the 5 day rate. If you return your car early the agency isn't charging you a penalty, they're just charging your the correct rate based on your rental period.

I fail to see the logic here. If National has decided that it is profitable for them to charge $x for a 5 day rental, then how does it become problematic for them to charge $x and get their care back a day early? They're still making their profit and could concievably rent that car to somebody else on that final day.

I think you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. A successful business delivers a service for a charge that is both affordable to their customers and profitable for them. It isn't about extracting ever last penny out of a customer - that just doesn't make sense.

I'm not trying to get around any rules, I'm just looking for the best deal. I'll get an answer from National on this issue and rent accordingly. But as I said before, if they've decided that it is profitable for them to rent a car for 5 days for $x, would they be better off giving it to me for 4 days for $x, or having me go rent from Budget for $x-$y?

 

[mainelyj]

I agree with BostonRob. I do not want to break the rules - but I want to pay my "fair" share. I am looking at alternatives, which I would have not done before. I may use a car service or taxi service. I just like the flexibility of having a car, too. We are staying our first night somewhere - still to be determined, because we fly in around midnight on Wednesday. But the rest of our trip - only 3 more nights - we are spending at Universal Royal Pacific. Thanks.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I posted the warning because I would hate to see anyone have to pay more than they would normally have to if they booked for the time needed rather than to a lower rate and return early. I certainly did not intend for this to become a debate or an arguement about company policy. No one here writes the policy nor enforces it, the folks you should be arguing with are the policy makers, that is the only way anything will change. I am sure no one intended to break any rules or "get around" anything. In the future, I will not warn anyone about the pitfalls of anything and let the cards fall where they may.
I am truly sorry if this caused anyone any tense moments and wish you the best of luck in your vacation plans.

 

[BostonRob]

I posted the warning because I would hate to see anyone have to pay more than they would normally have to if they booked for the time needed rather than to a lower rate and return early. I certainly did not intend for this to become a debate or an arguement about company policy. No one here writes the policy nor enforces it, the folks you should be arguing with are the policy makers, that is the only way anything will change. I am sure no one intended to break any rules or "get around" anything. In the future, I will not warn anyone about the pitfalls of anything and let the cards fall where they may.
I am truly sorry if this caused anyone any tense moments and wish you the best of luck in your vacation plans.

I'm not having any tense moments. I appreciate being tipped off to this. The debate here is merely speculation. Since nobody seems to know the policy for sure (although National has now told me twice that I'll be charged the higher daily rate, and once that I could still use the weekly rate - I plan to call again before I believe it for sure) opinions are certain to be debated. I don't think that's a bad thing - maybe it isn't productive, but at least it gets people thinking.

Anyway, I appreciate your input. I'd hate to think I can't get the information I'm looking for because somebody didn't want to answer my questions, for fear that they'd upset somebody.

 

[mainelyj]

I guess I am putting my personal issues to rest. I ended up booking via southwest.com my car rental with Alamo. I am able to rent a mid-size car for my dates, and with my entertainment coupons I am getting a rate of $94 for my 4 days (which is where my budget is). Plus I will get southwest credits to my frequent flyer club. Plus, I am still using a rental at the airport - with a 12 year old and just myself, I did not want to venture to far at night, just to get my car rental.. Too bad - I wanted to give my National my business, but not this trip.......

Thanks again to BostonRob for your help and debate.

Bottom line, when one company fails you, take the time to look around.

 

[mainelyj]

One more thing - I am grateful for the different opinions on this board. Many things are debatable - even though it may not be what you want to hear. I just learn and appreciate everyones opinion. On this particular issue, it did give some second thoughts - that I would not have had otherwise. Now I am in a better and hopefully, less costly and less riskier situation, because of this board.

 

[disneyldwjr]

One more thing - I am grateful for the different opinions on this board. Many things are debatable - even though it may not be what you want to hear. I just learn and appreciate everyones opinion. On this particular issue, it did give some second thoughts - that I would not have had otherwise. Now I am in a better and hopefully, less costly and less riskier situation, because of this board.

I am also very grateful for differing opinions and I love a debate, but, policy of companies is not a debatable issue in reality. The best we can do is learn of the policies and if we don't like them, do exactly what you did, use someone else.

 

[safetymom]

I know of business men that have been charged the daily rate instead of the weekly rate.

I would expect to see your rate changed because you didn't keep it for the amt. of time you contracted with National or any other agency. They all do it.

I don't think it is going to make much difference how many people that you talk with. You need to talk with the person checking you back in.

 

[Brian Noble]

This pricing philosophy of five days being cheaper than four is precisely the same as that used by some legacy air carriers which says round trips that *do* include a Saturday stay are cheaper than those that do not. Business travelers do not generally rent cars for full weeks, nor do they stay saturday nights if they can avoid it. Likewise, business travelers are much less price sensitive (because it isn't their money) than leisure travelers.

Almost every time I've rented long-term from Natl, the weekly rate comes with a notice in the fine print that says something about the minimum keep being X days. If you don't keep it that long, you lose, no matter what some fellow in a call center in Topeka, KS tells you over the phone. The chances that a return agent at National can "cut you a deal" are just about zero, since the vehicle is checked in and a receipt is printed electronically---the agent doesn't do anything but swipe the vehicle barcode and hand you the receipt. I suppose it is possible, but I'd bet dollars to doughtnuts against it.