Renting from Alamo? not!

StarTribune.com
Travel Troubleshooter: Returning rental car early will cost more

Christopher Elliot

6/24/07

Q We recently booked a rental car through Alamo.com for 10 days. Unfortunately, my husband's grandmother died while we were on vacation and we had to come home three days early. A few days after I returned, I discovered my credit card had been charged more than triple the price Alamo had originally quoted us. The early-return policy on Alamo's website says something about a $15-per-day fee for early returns, but our weekly rate was raised from $152 to $513.

We were not told of the higher charges when we returned the car. We did not authorize or sign a receipt agreeing to pay that amount. Alamo claims that we broke our original contract when we returned the car early, but I feel this is a classic case of bait and switch. Do I have any recourse?

XXX

A Two years ago, Alamo made a significant change to its return policy. Not only would it apply a $15-per-day early return fee, but it would also recalculate your rate, charging you the same price walk-up customers pay for renting cars without reservations. In other words, you would owe Alamo the penalty plus the rate difference, which in your case is an extra $361. You could have prevented this excessive surcharge by carefully reading the terms of your rental contract and asking about the early-return fee when you came home before you were supposed to. If you had asked, you might have been able to explain your situation to a manager, who would have almost certainly adjusted your rate in a more compassionate way.

I contacted Alamo on your behalf. Regina Barr, a senior customer service manager, said that under the circumstances, the company would honor the original weekly rate. It has issued a refund.



http://www.startribune.com/1513/story/1260917.html

They have the best rates and are very open to haggling for a better price or a particular car. They do pick ups and they seem to be everywhere, not just airports. I almost always get a mid-sized car or better for around 20 bucks a day from them.

roaches! My husband sprayed it, shut the door, and there it still sits in the driveway.

When it has happened that a car is a bit dusty etc, they warn me in advance and often I take it anyway at a rate discount rather than wait for it to be reprocessed and cleaned.

In your case however I would done the same, and parked in on the street!

I've dealt with a couple of local branches over the years and a few have been really extraordinary in offering pick-up and drop-off services, discounted rates, and upgrades. When I was living in Los Gatos (CA), my local Enterprise branch manager and I got to the point we dealt with each other on a first-name basis ... and apparently this wasn't unusual. Even the employees in that branch sang his praises and demonstrated an enthusiasm for their jobs I've rarely seen in the industry. When I lived in the Dry Shitties (WA), I encountered a similar attitude with the Pasco branch of Enterprise. I've never been treated badly with Enterprise and have always gotten excellent price/performance from them.

I was renting regularly for years from them and grew to know all the local managers on a first name basis. I'd bring in a few doughnuts and wind up with a loaded Maxima SE instead of a Cavalier. Very nice.

Dry Shitties WA tee hee hee....Mr. Tikki and I grew up in Glow in the Dark Dry Shitties WA... just across the river.


The Tikkis