Complaint Review: Enterprise Rent-A-Car

This is a general complaint against some of Enterprise's current business practices.

First...generally, let me say that I depend on Enterprise for my transportation needs as I do not currently own a car.  I have been a long-term customer for over 10+ years renting generally on weekends in order to run errands and visit family. And thanks to some affiliations, I am able to obtain discounts.

I also understand that now that Enterprise owns Alamo and National, that nothing will change, so I voice my displeasure anyway.

First major complaint is that the prices for August have gone up substantially; normally I pay in the neighborhood of  $29-$37 (including my discount due to shopping club affiliation) per day. As I now look to rent a vehicle the weekend of August 2 and also August 9th, the prices have gone up by $20+.  $56.99/day for an Economy class car...and these cars in this class are generally crappy cars????? I'm real curious as to this outrageous increase in price. (And of course I'm sure the justification is that...last days of summer....before schools start....time to increase profits...."charge what the market will bear" argument).   Honestly....it would cost me less to take Greyhound round-trip to the city where I visit my family...and then go to the airport there to rent taking advantage of the $9.99  weekend special.  Honestly....this is absolutely price gouging! 

Second complaint: Unfortunately where I live, Enterprise is the only solution provider in the area. Why is not the $9.99 special offered in such areas (and of course the real answer is: Well, we're your only choice so hey...pay or walk!

Third complaint: DEBIT card customers (those wishing to rent using DEBIT cards) are treated as second class citizens. You require a $200 deposit plus rental initially (whereas credid card customers are only charged $100 deposit + rental); a copy of a utility bill and a pay stub.  Now...I don't object to the utility bill...but...the pay stub? In fact, most paystubs contain information that is of no business to Enterprise. Enterprise does not need to know my deductions, my company employee information, insurance information.  In fact...even my pay rate and net-pay is none of your business. It is an invasion of privacy.  So...what happens if a customer presents a "redacted" pay stub...only showing, employer and a recent date? Will the customer be denied a rental because of failure to provide information that in 99.9% of all cases requires an employee to authorize his employer to release much of the information on the paystub.  (Of course, though..again...."Hey...if you don't want to provide it, feel free to take your business elsewhere.") Honestly, I'm surprised that no lawsuits have been filed against you for this practice. So other than showing employer and a 'recent' payroll date, please explain why Enterprise is entitled to any other information contained on a pay stub?

Just because something "can be done" does not mean it "shouldn't be done"...but again, especially in my area, there are no additional providers so we're stuck with whatever unfair policy Enterprises chooses to practice