Enterprise Rentacar ripoff and bad business Fredericksburg Virginia
My husband picked up a compact car on a Wednesday with a Monday return. Since my husband only carries liability, the salesman gave one option, pay the optional insurance coverage at $16/day. After reading some other Enterprise complaints, it seems to me the prices are made up along with the filling of the contract. Enterprise advertises a $9.99 weekend special. Since the pick up, was on a Wednesday, they would not honor the weekend special at all. We were charged $35.99 + $16 per day + tax. My husband called me while in the office to go over the details, making it very obvious he was there solo. Real customer service would have at least asked if he was leaving a car there? Upon returning the rental, my husband found his car that he left there but forgot to mention he was doing so - gone!!
It had been towed on Wednesday. I have no doubt Enterprise got a kick back from the towing company. The towing company's charges: $85 for the tow, a $10. release fee, and an $80 storage fee = $175. I called Enterprise customer service and was pretty much told to suck up the expenses and suggested I'd be a horrible enough person to have a guest's car towed from my parking space. I emailed Enterprise this same complaint and have not heard from them. Now I'm placing it here.
Christina
Fredericksburg, Virginia
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Christina
Fredericksburg,Virginia,
U.S.A.
replying to rebuttals
#5Author of original report
Sat, February 26, 2005
As i read over the contract, if I opt not to take out optional insurance, I agree to pay for any damages I MAY incur. The contract DOES NOT state this option may not apply to all Enterprise offices or states, it definitely should. My husband has been driving for many years accident free.
I do believe it was painfully obvious to the salesman, my husband would be leaving a car there. I did mention to my husband to tell them he was leaving his car, he did forget, but I place more blame on Enterprises failure to customer service.
Enterprises best known customer service is to drop a car to you if necessary. We spared them this service. I'm so pissed at least at this particular office that I feel they probably called the towing company as soon as my husband left the office. Fact, his car was picked up on Wednesday.
Tom, like the customer service agent at Enterprise gave the same anology about having someone's car towed from my parking space. As a customer, you are rendered a guest of the company. So to keep this along the same line, if a guest of mine needed to keep there car in my spot while they were gone, there is no way on earth I'd have my guest's car towed.
The apartment complex I live at uses the same towing company, if I get the chance, I'll stop in at the office and ask if they get a kickback from the tow company.
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
Send A Women To Do A Man's Job
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, February 26, 2005
Couple of questions. If the car was rented from Wed. to Mon. which is either 5 or 6 days, wouldn't it have been cheaper to rent it for a whole week. If you had a car already, did you need an extra one for a trip, was the car he left mechanically unsound for a trip, did you not wish to put the extra miles on his present car. Since he only carries liability on his car, he is gambling with his car, but he can't with someone else's property. It's interesting that he called you "while in the office to go over the details". Maybe he should have sent you to rent the car. You're making the post, you're calling Enterprise, you're e-maing Enterprise. Bet you wouldn't have let any of this happen.
Jonathan
Long Beach,California,
U.S.A.
Enterprise is not at fault here.
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, February 25, 2005
Tom is dead right in what he is saying.
Enterprise is not at fault here.
A fromer employee myself, I understand that Enterprise has different rates and insurance coverage prices for varying states. It is not made up as we go along. $35.99 sounds about right for a rental for a day.
The 9.99 special as tom stated, is clearly spelled out that it is Fri-Mon only.
As for towing. No Enterprise does not get a kick back from any of the tow truck companies, it opems them up for liability. Enterprise is very limited on space as far as prking their cars, and so when a space is filled and shouldn't be there, it will be towed.
Enterprise should hae asked you whether or not you would be leaving a car at the premises, or even you husband could have brought it up.
It is a $10,000 dollar car, and $35.99 a day is not much to ask. $16 for insurance is your states fault. California it is only $11.99 for collision.
It is by no fault that Enterprise charged you the right amount. I agree sometimes there conduct is a little unorthodox, but it is hard to control every aspect of a $6 billion dollar company.
Don't report a comapany just because the fine print wasn't read.
Tom
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
a few questions
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, February 25, 2005
1. Why shouldn't the rental company charge for insurance if your husband doesn't have it? The amount is exorbitant at all rental companies but that is the price you pay if you don't have insurance.
2. Why should they give you a weekend rental when you take the car out in the middle of the week? I am sure the ad said somthing like "Pick up on Friday" or something similar. Just because your rental period covers a weekend you cannot expect to get a weekend rate even for the weekend days.
3. Why should the rental company NOT call a towing company if they find an unattended car in their parking lot? If you went out one morning and found a strange car in your driveway wouldn't you call a towing company? I would and I have when somebody parked in my alloted spot in an apartment complex.