EXPEDIA.COM CAR RENTAL RIP-OFF Internet
In November 2003, we booked a rental car in Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico through Expedia.com. The agency was National and the price was $99 per week. When we got to Los Cabos and went to National they said that they had no cars and could not help us. We went to Budget and after a long negotation we got a rate of $600 a week! Upon our return in January we registered a complaint with Expedia and asked for a refund of the difference. It is now January 2004 and we have heard nothing. I will NEVER use expedia.com again.
Rebecca
San Pedro, California
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Jason
Exeter,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
question, did they prepay ..Expedia's role is to advise the car company that the customer is coming at time/date xyz.
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, March 23, 2005
It is not expedia's job to go to the lot and count the cars. Expedia told National that the guest wast coming, and National did not have the car for them. Expedia did it's job, National did not.
Expedia does need to contact National and find out why the car was not available. Each rental location has it's own rules, which can make things very interesting (did you know renting from Dollar rental in New York, Laguardia..if you are from bronz/brooklyn/queens you are charged an additional $65/$77/$7 a day? shocked the heck out of me).
It amazes me how much influence, power and control, people assign to their travel agents. The plane was delayed...blame the agent. The hotel staff was rude...blame the agent. The price changed on an air ticket..blame the agent. I missed the plane because of "xyz"...blame the agent.
Travel agents report information to the hotel/car/airplane. They do have the responsibility to make sure that the vendor in question has gotten the reservation and that they client is confirmed. However, if the company confirms the reservation to the agency...who's fault was it that the company didn't have the car.
Not the Agents...
Tom
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Of course EXPEDIA is at fault
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, February 23, 2005
Questions: Did the customer pay National or Expedia?
Answer: Expedia.
Question: Did the customer make the reservations with National or Expedia?
Answer: Expedia.
Question: Did the customer use Exepdia's or National's website?
Answer: Expedia.
Expedia was the agent for National and as such is fully responsible for the actions of National. I am not lawsuit happy but I think I would take Expedia to small claims court in my town to try and recover the difference in the rental price.
Good luck.
Michael
Bloomington,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Expdia is at fault
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 22, 2005
Expedia has a legal duty to verify the service is what they report it as and provide the service they sell to the consumer. If a customer books a car through expedia and it is not available then expedia is responsible. They always hide and say they are not because the rental company didn't have the car. However the contract exists between expedia and the consumer and expedia has no legal standing if they service is not provided. Expedia is required to make good to the costumer and expedia has the option of going after the car rental location, but the customer can not go after the car rental place, only expedia. You are also entitled to compulsitory damages which means Expedia has to pay you the difference between your contracted rate and the rate you actually paid due to expedia breach of contract. My best advice is file it in small claims court, the fees are minimal and you will get your money.
Michael
Bloomington,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Expdia is at fault
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 22, 2005
Expedia has a legal duty to verify the service is what they report it as and provide the service they sell to the consumer. If a customer books a car through expedia and it is not available then expedia is responsible. They always hide and say they are not because the rental company didn't have the car. However the contract exists between expedia and the consumer and expedia has no legal standing if they service is not provided. Expedia is required to make good to the costumer and expedia has the option of going after the car rental location, but the customer can not go after the car rental place, only expedia. You are also entitled to compulsitory damages which means Expedia has to pay you the difference between your contracted rate and the rate you actually paid due to expedia breach of contract. My best advice is file it in small claims court, the fees are minimal and you will get your money.
Michael
Bloomington,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Expdia is at fault
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 22, 2005
Expedia has a legal duty to verify the service is what they report it as and provide the service they sell to the consumer. If a customer books a car through expedia and it is not available then expedia is responsible. They always hide and say they are not because the rental company didn't have the car. However the contract exists between expedia and the consumer and expedia has no legal standing if they service is not provided. Expedia is required to make good to the costumer and expedia has the option of going after the car rental location, but the customer can not go after the car rental place, only expedia. You are also entitled to compulsitory damages which means Expedia has to pay you the difference between your contracted rate and the rate you actually paid due to expedia breach of contract. My best advice is file it in small claims court, the fees are minimal and you will get your money.
Michael
Bloomington,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Expdia is at fault
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 22, 2005
Expedia has a legal duty to verify the service is what they report it as and provide the service they sell to the consumer. If a customer books a car through expedia and it is not available then expedia is responsible. They always hide and say they are not because the rental company didn't have the car. However the contract exists between expedia and the consumer and expedia has no legal standing if they service is not provided. Expedia is required to make good to the costumer and expedia has the option of going after the car rental location, but the customer can not go after the car rental place, only expedia. You are also entitled to compulsitory damages which means Expedia has to pay you the difference between your contracted rate and the rate you actually paid due to expedia breach of contract. My best advice is file it in small claims court, the fees are minimal and you will get your money.
Tom
ARLINGTON,Texas,
U.S.A.
Expedia is not at Fault
#8Consumer Comment
Mon, January 19, 2004
Expedia is not at fault here. The problem is with the car rental company NATIONAL. For whatever reason they didnt have a car for you. All Expedia does is act as a Booking site allowing you to book a car from them. They have no agreement with you other than to facilitate the exchange of information. If you had a CONFIRMATION number and such, I would go after National and get them to pay you the difference. Or was there another problem they wouldnt rent to you like BAD CREDIT or such ?????