Tag: CAR RENTAL

Car rental absurdities I’d change if I could

By Christopher Elliott |

Not a day seems to go by that I don’t hear from an angry car rental customer — folks like Craig Solomon, who rented a car in England from Avis for two weeks recently.

“Toward the end of the rental one of the tires blew out,” he says. “It ultimately cost about $500 to replace, and Avis has been unwilling to date to accept the responsibility.”

The way Solomon sees it, Avis should have rented him a car with good tires. He wasn’t taking the vehicle off-roading, and had driven it safely and never gotten so much as a parking ticket.
Read more “Car rental absurdities I’d change if I could”

Hertz allowed me to cancel, but can Economy Bookings keep my money?

By Michelle Couch-Friedman |

Days before Hurricane Irma hits Florida, a representative of Economy Bookings informs Stephen Sherman that he can cancel his Palm Beach-area Thrifty car rental with no penalty. So why is the company still holding on to his money two months later? Read more “Hertz allowed me to cancel, but can Economy Bookings keep my money?”

Your car rental company doesn’t want you to know these secrets

By Christopher Elliott |

What’s it like on the other side of the car rental counter? The answer may surprise you. I’ve been corresponding with a former car rental employee, and he’s shared some remarkable insights into the business that might help you make a more informed decision the next time you rent a car. Read more “Your car rental company doesn’t want you to know these secrets”

Can you successfully fight a bogus car rental agency damage claim?

By Jennifer Finger |

During Allan Solomon’s recent visit to Spain, he rented a car with a manual transmission from Thrifty Car Rental in Granada. But it broke down an hour outside of Ronda, and he had to call Thrifty to send a tow truck. Now Hertz, the parent company of Thrifty, is billing Solomon for the transmission repair. Read more “Can you successfully fight a bogus car rental agency damage claim?”

Dollar hit me with $255 in administrative fees

By Mark Pokedoff |

Garry Woessner rents a car, but turns down the offer of renting an electronic toll pass. You can see how much this misstep cost him. How do you keep toll authorities from making it “E-Z” to overcharge you, and how can we help Woessner appeal the charges? Read more “Dollar hit me with $255 in administrative fees”