Rental car warning

[LuvOrlando]

Even as a seasoned WDW guest I was taken aback by a recent experience so I wanted to take a moment and underscore the importance of printing out receipts for car rental because I can see this being a huge issue for newbies with small children who are a distraction.

First off, do not go to the counter with a screaming family around you somebody should stay behind and take care of the kids while another adult/the more patient adult deal with rental car agent. If you're in adult traveling alone do yourself a favor and get your kids cookies and something to do to keep them quiet for 20 min.

2/9-17-
While I love magical express we didn't use them because we were going on a cruise and staying at 2 sprawling resorts (sarasota and AKL) so I was thrilled to get a great rate at Dollar for a caravan for 1 week $171 plus an extra day $23.99 with fees and all for a 266 total. It was very late when we arrived so I left our older teen kids to collect with luggage while I stopped in the rental car spot with my husband, all seemed ok so I left him to finish up got the kids and luggage then returned (15 min later) to discover my husband looking red while the guy at the counter was exploiting my husbands travel exhaustion & irritability to try and say he couldn't find the reservation and up charge us $100 - all with the paper printout receipt Dollar told me to print out sitting a foot from his face. It nearly worked because my husband was at a breaking point of signing everything to just leave when I showed up (I don't get that way and will wait out anybody to set things right). Since I made the ressie I knew exactly where to look (as I am 100% sure the -$;! as the counter did) pointed to the number and loudly announced "are you new because it's right here on the paper your company directed me to print out!" Been told my DH to go find a restaurant somewhere in the airport that I have all the time in the world to deal with them And so like magic Dollar agent magically figured it out-so disgusted.

Since this could've gone either way I would strongly recommend you not only print everything out but add to that strategy to be safe, make another reservation at another rental car place about a half hour later in case things go wrong. I see via reviews on Yelp and such that nowadays car companies have gotten very cutthroat and often change prices last minute and also upon drop off when people are most vulnerable. Since rental car companies don't charge to cancel (unless you pick one of those options) the worst that would happen is they would have too many and another lucky family would be able to take advantage of the surplus and maybe get a better price.

In closing, print everything, take screen shots of everything, take photos of the car, screen shot all transactions and save photos until you get your credit card bill.

Anyways I consider this a public service for families so that car rental place does not take money thry wanted to use for dole whips & pins

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

Sadly, this has also happened to us. Last time, it was at the Budget counter. I had a reservation (and printout) with a rate of $135. They tell us it's going to be $269. When I said "no - it's $135 - here's the proof" all was ok for about 2 seconds. Then the rental agent proceeded to tell me that FL law is such that I must have insurance. I advised that I was covered both under our own private auto insurance policy (and NY has more stringent insurance laws) and the extra coverage on our credit card. He then told me that FL law does not recognize NY insurance. I asked him for the section of the law where that is stated and I would gladly look it up. He then said that my insurance company is not a national company. Really?? It's Allstate - last I heard they were pretty national. After I requested a supervisor, all the problems magically disappeared and we were sent on our merry way.

I think it's an Orlando car thing. We travel quite a bit and rent cars on every trip and never have this problem anywhere else. I will now only rent at "skip the counter" companies while flying into Orlando.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sad to hear that, you'd think Orlando would work to prevent that because it's not good to have this going on out of the airport.


Oops and before I forget, make sure you have singles and change for tolls. We went through a change only toll with no attendant to be found going back to the airport- not everyone has change these days and I can imagine the fines would be big. Who needs the headache or expense

 

[tjmw2727]

Great advice ! glad you worked it out.

I will add to this my advice to print out your gas receipt when refilling prior to returning and make sure your fairly close when you top off.

Not at Disney (Michigan) but Hertz tried to charge me last week - after the fact saying that I had not filled the tank. I responded with a screen shot of the tank (yes I have had this problem prior but with Enterprise!) and when they still questioned they wanted a gas receipt within 5 miles of the location on the day of the return. I provided the receipt and advised them that I did plan to send all this info to my cc'd company and dispute the charge.
Yes - all was then well.. frustrating though

I also take photos of any scratches and dents with a date stamp even when the rep says "oh that's normal" but I rent often so perhaps its overkill but I take no chances anymore.

My best experiences lately have been with National so if the price is close I have been choosing them, xx fingers they come through next week.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We did the dashboard photo thing too, such a shame they make so much effort to get one over.

As an aside, a backup choice can be to call uber then pick up a car from a spot near property. Not so sure how MCO handles it but I know in some areas they don't let private citizens call Uber from an airport (not illegal so it's just nervy, it's a free country isn't it?) so some people drop a pin just outside of the airport and then call or text the driver to say where they are terminal wise.

 

[rwdavis2]

The moral of the story is to never trust a car rental company. Always take the paper documents and photograph th car in detail at pick up and drop off.

 

[mrsstats]

That is why if I can I go to a kiosk.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The moral of the story is to never trust a car rental company. Always take the paper documents and photograph th car in detail at pick up and drop off.

I print out all paper documents.

Car rental paperwork, hotel reservation confirmation, Disney dining ADR. Everything.

It just makes sense to me.

 

[DebbieB]

I've always used National Emerald Aisle, never speak to an agent.

 

[kj2mom]

I always print everything but also why Dollar Express is fantastic. No counter, no upsell just get your car and head on out. Ones and quarters are also a great tip. I took pics of the car before we got in. I did notice after the fact that they logged me for wayyyy more miles than we drove (based on the gas I used it would have been something like 65 miles per gal) but since mileage was unlimited it didn't matter.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I use Alamo, go right to the car and never have had issues. I book thru Costco, which is another layer of protection if things go crazy wrong.

I completely believe OPs story, of course. (We only have had one fight with Alamo, over them refusing to give us the SUV we booked (at a great rate). Fought for an hour, took a large minivan in the end. I still use them because they are usually the cheapest, but I am still annoyed about it 13 years later, lol)

 

[migel]

This is a common tactic especially once they see someone has secured a great rate, often half of what they would have preferred to charge. I had a similar disagreement a couple of years back, can't recall the company, but they cited Florida law, saying I would be fined without their insurance. I rent a few times per year from MCO, so this didn't fly with me. Last week we used Alamo via Costco, decent rate, but not spectacular. I replied no thanks to the extra insurance, that was the end of it. I was pleasantly surprised, I'm always prepared for a bit of back and forth.

I think Orlando is the car rental capitol of the world. If they are able to convince even 1 in 4 weary travellers to get their insurance, huge profits.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but add to that strategy to be safe, make another reservation at another rental car place about a half hour later in case things go wrong.

Just keep in mind, this increases the overall cost of car rentals.

As an aside, a backup choice can be to call uber then pick up a car from a spot near property. Not so sure how MCO handles it but I know in some areas they don't let private citizens call Uber from an airport (not illegal so it's just nervy, it's a free country isn't it?) so some people drop a pin just outside of the airport and then call or text the driver to say where they are terminal wise.

Or, they could, you know, use the taxi stand at the airport, or research in advance if any version of Über/Lyft is authorized at work specific airport - as ÜberBlack is at MCO. Also, one would need a reservation at the off-site location.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Maybe it's time to do the kiosk thing, I've never done it before but it does seem to leave out the underhanded human element that seems to drive the problems. Next trip I will give a kiosk a try

 

[ParrotBill]

If anyone runs into this situation again, take names of the people making the claims, note the date, time and location, and file a complaint here:
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Div...esources/Consumer-Protection/File-a-Complaint

This is a serious issue that was under investigation by the FL Attorney General.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/l...-complain-of-high-pressure-tactics-and-tricks

 

[LuvOrlando]

Thanks, I still have the receipt and am sure they can track the clerk with that... I'll see if his name is on it

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We avoid the counter at all cost and those horribly long lines. Use the kiosk with Alamo. Joined Dollar Express as well as Budgets Fastbreak.

And the insurance tactics are because they earn commission on getting folks to sign up for the insurance. So that is why they try to trick you into getting the insurance.

 

[Three cats]

I remember the first (and last) time we went to the counter at Alamo. The agent didn't dispute the price I had for an economy car but tried to up sell me to a standard saying we were NOT going to fit in an economy car! (We are 2 average sized people with 2 suitcases!). This guy was so pushy I couldn't get over it. Once I got it through his head that I was NOT upgrading he started on the insurance - You NEED it. You HAVE TO have it. That was another 10 minutes of basically begging him to complete the car rental as I had originally booked online. By the time I left the counter I was literally shaking I was so mad. Never again.

Edited to add: I agree with the OP - print everything out at home!! If I didn't have my confirmation paperwork I wouldn't have stood a CHANCE with this guy!!!

 

[JLitfin]

Ok, here's my story and it makes sense. My son and his friend visited Tampa and arrived pretty late. I had found a good rate through Thrifty. The agent pushed the gas fill up so they didn't have to deal with it the day of departure, his friend agreed. The agent was excited that they agreed to the gas fill up because that caused them to meet their quota for the day. That's why the agents are so pushy they have a daily quota to meet.

I also turn everything down at the counter and also print all paperwork out before our trip.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Sadly, this has also happened to us. Last time, it was at the Budget counter. I had a reservation (and printout) with a rate of $135. They tell us it's going to be $269. When I said "no - it's $135 - here's the proof" all was ok for about 2 seconds. Then the rental agent proceeded to tell me that FL law is such that I must have insurance. I advised that I was covered both under our own private auto insurance policy (and NY has more stringent insurance laws) and the extra coverage on our credit card. He then told me that FL law does not recognize NY insurance. I asked him for the section of the law where that is stated and I would gladly look it up. He then said that my insurance company is not a national company. Really?? It's Allstate - last I heard they were pretty national. After I requested a supervisor, all the problems magically disappeared and we were sent on our merry way.

I think it's an Orlando car thing. We travel quite a bit and rent cars on every trip and never have this problem anywhere else. I will now only rent at "skip the counter" companies while flying into Orlando.

I had this happen to me last year and politlely advised that as a litigation manager for an insurance company, I was unfamiliar with that law and asked for the statute citation and in return I would share the Florida fraud and consumer statutes with him. He quietly took care of my rental.