Returning a rental early?

[TinkOhio]

I'm hoping someone can help me help my neighbor. I helped her obtain a really great price on a Christmas break rental at about one year out. Current "deals" are about triple that price now. Because of her DH's work, they had to cut out the last 4 days of their 2 week trip. She has booked the flights, but we're not sure how to handle the rental. I realize that changing the rental online will result in the loss of the gret rate. Will she be penalized for just returning the rental 4 days early? Should she call the rental company and see what they can do?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, most likely penalized rather severely. When you do that they normally recalculate at the daily rate, which is usually somewhere upward of $60/day.

Turning in a few hours early usually doesn't matter much, but when you're talking days you are talking trouble. She needs to make a new reservation for the correct dates.

 

[lawgs]

I'm hoping someone can help me help my neighbor. I helped her obtain a really great price on a Christmas break rental at about one year out. Current "deals" are about triple that price now. Because of her DH's work, they had to cut out the last 4 days of their 2 week trip. She has booked the flights, but we're not sure how to handle the rental. I realize that changing the rental online will result in the loss of the gret rate. Will she be penalized for just returning the rental 4 days early? Should she call the rental company and see what they can do?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

you did not mention the car rental company, but most allow you to modify an original reservation ( I know National does )

why not do a "dry" run of changing the parameters ( dates ) and see what the new rental will be....

as a last resort you could always book a new ressie

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for the advice. I had a feeling that dropping the dates would be costly. I tried changing her dates, and the new cost -with the same discount codes- are about $800 more!! I tried several places for the new dates, and the result is a huge increase. I think that I'll tell her to try phoning the customer service number for her reservation and seeing in the rep is willing to override the system for her.

 

[skelooch]

By all means call the rental company, they may be able to adjust the cost by subtracting the 4 days at the original daily rate. It is certainly worth the call.
I once had to extend my stay by 2 days and they just added 2 days at the original daily rate, in lieu of creating a whole new reservation.
They are generally pretty good about things like this. If you don't get the results you want the first call,don't give up, call back and talk to another rep or supervisor.

Good Luck