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Update 10 15 2007 11 19 53 19 53 AM ET 2007-10-15T15.
Never underestimate a car company car to make a buck Amy Villa did when she rented an Alamo car in Columbus, Ohio, recently, and she ended up paying twice as much as she expected.
Villa flight from San Jose, California was delayed, she phoned Alamo to let the company know about the heist A representative assured Villa, who works for the University of San Jose State, and his reservation the rate would be honored, because I will arrive within 24 hours of original booking, she said.
When she finally touched down in Columbus, an Alamo agent handed him the contract documents and the price was essentially double what I quoted, said Villa Alamo never told me to go from 268 to more 400 and that's for one day less, the rate would rise.
Welcome to the new world of delicate car rental not to raise tariffs or impose significant their clients cancellation penalties, rental companies have always relied on fees and surcharges to earn a profit, but they are now with more creativity and zeal, leaving customers frustrated as Villa swearing they will never be re-let.
It does not have to be that way Here are four of the last rental car scams and how to avoid them.
The rules are intended to apply Most car rental scam is technically no scam at all car rental companies are just stricter enforcement than ever the existing rules in the case of Villa, the Alamo did was perfectly legal and at the same time completely wrong Traveling with her husband and daughter last Christmas, she said she felt broadsided when the car rental company changed its price actually hire companies cars have different rates that are based on the duration of your rental These rates are presented on the agency's website Not so long ago, companies used to look the other way when a customer picked up a car delay or return to the beginning more.
So what, exactly, was that agent promising Villa Alamo charge of 10 no-show fee for customers who do not charge t cancel their bookings within 24 hours of pickup, he began to do in 2005. Maybe the company was assuring her that barely 10 wouldn t apply to it now that art the holiday spirit.
The only way to beat a car rental company at his own game is to know the rules Read the terms and conditions of your company Web site, and be sure to make your next car by the book.
The needle is not quite on F car rental companies have offered a prepaid fuel option for almost as long as there have been car rental companies, but their definition of a full tank n ' has apparently not always been the same player Penny McLain wrote me recently about two recent car experiences both times, the agents had supposedly checked the gas gauge, we have seen them do it, she wrote and although we knew that the tank was full, we were a receipt reflecting a large charge for gas After covering the scam fuel gauge in my blog I decided to do a little research of my own I returned a car I'd recently refueled but hadn t completed, you are not supposed to do anyway needle was just below the mark F wouldn t you know it, they tried to charge me, so I went back to the gas station and topped the tank, as ordered.
But even some car rental companies charge you if the needle is in the number of readers have reported that when they drove less than 75 miles, they were subjected to a 10 supplement Avis or Budget costs were canceled if they could prove that they have filled the tank before returning the vehicle.
To avoid this scam, fill your tank immediately prior to the car and keep all your gas receipts Otherwise, you may find an unwanted extra on your bill.
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Someone dented our car, and you're going to pay for several years, the car rental customers complained bills for damage to a rental car so they weren t liable Some car rental companies even taken customer billing twice for the same damage industry initially seemed to recede, only pursue tenants that they were safe but there is this move was only temporary rather than leave well enough alone, it's the evidence that the car rental companies were just quietly retooling their internal systems, adding technology that makes it easier to successfully pursue a claim.
Some applications, for example, it's technology that automatically photograph a car when leaving the field returns, allowing the company to control the damage are other useful, which have simplified and automated the claims process if the customer is not responsible or aren t.
To ensure that you do not get stuck with a bill for someone else inflicted damage to your car, take pictures of the vehicle before taking the car and when you return it If you see damage when you are handed the keys your car, make sure it's noted on the rental form Otherwise, you will probably be asked to pay later.
Are there fees that we haven t thought of looking for new fees continues, for example, car rental companies used to give their best customers big breaks when they rented them Warren Atwood rented Hertz in Los Angeles and orange County return the vehicle technically it would have incurred costs of landing, but because he was frequent renter, this tax was once given either now I have to pay fees for landing, he said that I assume I don t rent from Hertz perhaps quite But maybe, like many other car rental companies just looking to make the most money of its cars.
Nothing wrong with that, of course, but, as regards these intelligent fresh, I feel that the car industry is just beginning his second wind in the past, they have found ways to passing along the cost of everything from registering their car registration fees the recovery vehicle to get rid of old tires tire disposal costs This kind of creativity puts them in a league with the airline industry.
The only way to avoid these extra costs is to check your rate quote to ensure that the tax is disclosed if it is not, you can and should discuss the removing of your bill.
With a few sensible precautions, you can avoid the last car rental scams, I'm not pleased to announce that nightmare Rental Villa had a happy ending few days after making contact with Alamo to ask about her case she received a check for the difference between his first rental price and the second there was no apology, no letter explaining what had happened.
I was shocked, she said I am a very happy person.
Every Monday, my column looks at what makes the travel business tick Your comments are always welcome, and if you can not get enough of my column, drop by my blog for daily insight into the world of travel.
Beware of these 4 new car rental scams Tips Travel Travel Christopher Elliott NBC News, direct, clear, these, renting.