Just returned from Disney-the trip was a blast, but the ride home was a nightmare. My daughter and I were driving from in a thrifty rental car from Orlando and was about 15 minutes north of Jacksonville. The air bag light came on and was blinking off and on while consistently making a ping sound. I called Thrifty and they insisted that I turn around and return to Jacksonville to exchange the car. Okay, inconvenient, but I didn't complain too much. I was a little put off because they told me to make sure the gas tank was full. Once at the airport we were not allowed to park the old rental next to the new rental and my daughter and I had to make three trips back and forth across the parking garage to load up the new rental. Took about an hour, but we were on our way.
We spent the night in N. Carolina and was on our way the next morning. Four hours into our drive our dashboard of our new rental started flashing warnings. I couldn't believe it. Called again, hoping that they would say not to worry about it and continue driving. No such luck. We were told to pull over immediately. We were in Charleston, WVA and told a new car would have to be delivered to us from Columbus Ohio (we were headed to Canton, Ohio) which would take about 2 1/2 hours. This was 11:20. At 12:50 Thrifty called us back and told us that a car was finally on the way but was reminded that it would be about 2 hours from now. Think it can't get worse? It can!
We ate at Bob Evans and waited in the car. After 3 hours we called back and was told the tow truck was on its way and they would call us back and give us an estimated time. 15 minutes pass, phone call came, the tow truck with the new car should arrive in 30 minutes, and the driver would call us when he was close to get an exact location. He calls in an hour and wants the address. We were giddy with excitement at this point, and I told him the address. He asks me to repeat it and hesitated. HE WAS IN CANTON OHIO! My town and four hours away! We couldn't believe it, I was furious at this time. The driver said he would turn around and head down 77south. I hung up and called Thrifty, absolutely furious. Said they would have to talk to their supervisor and would call me back. 45 minutes later I got the phone call with two choices. I could be put up in a hotel until the car got there, their expense OR I could just drive the car home and take my chances! WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL ME THIS SIX HOURS AGO!!!!!! We drove the 4 hour drive home only to get attitude from the thrifty counter. I said I would not pay for the rental, they wanted to comp me half. I protested and another supervisor was called, so they finally said I didn't have to pay for the car. What was funny was the woman at the counter asked the supervisor "Should we comp her the cost of the tow?" Seriously!!! I will never rent from Thrifty again. I always rent a car because I drive a smaller car and want something roomier. I also assume that it is reliable and safe. What a disaster!!!!
We spent the night in N. Carolina and was on our way the next morning. Four hours into our drive our dashboard of our new rental started flashing warnings. I couldn't believe it. Called again, hoping that they would say not to worry about it and continue driving. No such luck. We were told to pull over immediately. We were in Charleston, WVA and told a new car would have to be delivered to us from Columbus Ohio (we were headed to Canton, Ohio) which would take about 2 1/2 hours. This was 11:20. At 12:50 Thrifty called us back and told us that a car was finally on the way but was reminded that it would be about 2 hours from now. Think it can't get worse? It can!
We ate at Bob Evans and waited in the car. After 3 hours we called back and was told the tow truck was on its way and they would call us back and give us an estimated time. 15 minutes pass, phone call came, the tow truck with the new car should arrive in 30 minutes, and the driver would call us when he was close to get an exact location. He calls in an hour and wants the address. We were giddy with excitement at this point, and I told him the address. He asks me to repeat it and hesitated. HE WAS IN CANTON OHIO! My town and four hours away! We couldn't believe it, I was furious at this time. The driver said he would turn around and head down 77south. I hung up and called Thrifty, absolutely furious. Said they would have to talk to their supervisor and would call me back. 45 minutes later I got the phone call with two choices. I could be put up in a hotel until the car got there, their expense OR I could just drive the car home and take my chances! WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL ME THIS SIX HOURS AGO!!!!!! We drove the 4 hour drive home only to get attitude from the thrifty counter. I said I would not pay for the rental, they wanted to comp me half. I protested and another supervisor was called, so they finally said I didn't have to pay for the car. What was funny was the woman at the counter asked the supervisor "Should we comp her the cost of the tow?" Seriously!!! I will never rent from Thrifty again. I always rent a car because I drive a smaller car and want something roomier. I also assume that it is reliable and safe. What a disaster!!!!
