Unhappy with Thrifty

Bea

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 16, 2000
Messages
524
We just returned from two fabulous weeks in Orlando. Saved $$ forever to go and our first encounter when we arrived was a very pushy and rude Thrifty agent. It did ruin my day.

First off, I had rented an economy car (Kia rio). I knew it was a four door but the agent had me totally convinced that I rented a car that wouldn't fit 4 people and luggage. He said there was No luggage room. He was so convincing I really believed him at first. I thought maybe the Kia's are different in the US? So I asked how much for a step up...and it was, "for anyone else....$14.99 but for me, $9.99...a day". I said forget it, we will tie the luggage to the roof if we have to.

Then onto the hard sell of insurance. It was very hard and we repeated over and over that we were A) using a gold visa card which covered us, and B) I had already checked with our insurance at home and we had a rental car waiver on our insurance policy. So, then he asked to see our actually policy, or else he needed our policy number and company. He said this was FLORIDA STATE law, or we had to pay for their insurance. At this point, I pointed to a sign they had on the counter that said "insurance isn't mandatory" and he told me to calm down and stop getting mad (which, I wasn't mad, nor was I raising my voice, but after that comment...). We didn't have our policy with us but we did know the name of the insurance company, and he said that that would have to do, and then he let it go.

Then, he got my husband to sign that he refused the insurance and after that said, "do you know what you just signed?", and then he went into the entire insurance thing...AGAIN!!!!

I had booked another car at Enterprise just incase and I was just explaining that to my husband when he presented us the papers and the keys to the car. We reluctantly took them.

And by the way...a Kia Rio is a four door car with PLENTY of luggage room. I even looked it up on Thrifty's website and they advertise it as a car which holds 4 adults and 4 pieces of luggage.

I will be writing to Thrifty with my compaint and will never rent from them again.

By the way, does anyone know if it is actually Florida State law that requires everyone to show their proof of insurance or their insurance policy? We have rented for years all over the US and NEVER once been asked.
 
Originally posted by Bea
We just returned from two fabulous weeks in Orlando. Saved $$ forever to go and our first encounter when we arrived was a very pushy and rude Thrifty agent. It did ruin my day.

First off, I had rented an economy car (Kia rio). I knew it was a four door but the agent had me totally convinced that I rented a car that wouldn't fit 4 people and luggage. He said there was No luggage room. He was so convincing I really believed him at first. I thought maybe the Kia's are different in the US? So I asked how much for a step up...and it was, "for anyone else....$14.99 but for me, $9.99...a day". I said forget it, we will tie the luggage to the roof if we have to.

Then onto the hard sell of insurance. It was very hard and we repeated over and over that we were A) using a gold visa card which covered us, and B) I had already checked with our insurance at home and we had a rental car waiver on our insurance policy. So, then he asked to see our actually policy, or else he needed our policy number and company. He said this was FLORIDA STATE law, or we had to pay for their insurance. At this point, I pointed to a sign they had on the counter that said "insurance isn't mandatory" and he told me to calm down and stop getting mad (which, I wasn't mad, nor was I raising my voice, but after that comment...). We didn't have our policy with us but we did know the name of the insurance company, and he said that that would have to do, and then he let it go.

Then, he got my husband to sign that he refused the insurance and after that said, "do you know what you just signed?", and then he went into the entire insurance thing...AGAIN!!!!

I had booked another car at Enterprise just incase and I was just explaining that to my husband when he presented us the papers and the keys to the car. We reluctantly took them.

And by the way...a Kia Rio is a four door car with PLENTY of luggage room. I even looked it up on Thrifty's website and they advertise it as a car which holds 4 adults and 4 pieces of luggage.

I will be writing to Thrifty with my compaint and will never rent from them again.

By the way, does anyone know if it is actually Florida State law that requires everyone to show their proof of insurance or their insurance policy? We have rented for years all over the US and NEVER once been asked.

No, it is not FL state law. some agencies require it, but, that is their policy, not the law.
Where are you from in Nova Scotia?
 
Thanks for the info.

The one good thing I can say about Thrifty was that their weekly rate was so good and we needed the car for 10 days (1 week plus 4 days). I was toying with the idea of booking for 2 weeks and returning it early, but decided against it (because of the advice received on this board). When I got the bill, the agent had actually given me the weekly rate, instead of the daily for the last 4 days. It reduced our bill by $40.00. So, something good came out of it.

We are in Halifax. I'm not originally from Nova Scotia though. British Columbia is my home!
 
Well, that was just disgusting. That person went beyond the hard sell; he was LYING.
I'm glad you are going to write a complaint, and I'm glad you didn't let this incident keep you from having a fabulous trip!
 

Originally posted by HappyMommy2
Well, that was just disgusting. That person went beyond the hard sell; he was LYING.
I'm glad you are going to write a complaint, and I'm glad you didn't let this incident keep you from having a fabulous trip!

That is NOT unique to Thrifty. The agents are pressured into pressuring customers to purchase the insurance, which gives generous spiffs to the agency. Not nice, but, it is business. And, btw, and FYI, something I hate.
 


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