Hotwire.com dishonest ripoffs Internet
Fair Warning: The next time that you travel, you may be tempted to use Hotwire for a car rental, since their rental rates frequently are 20% less (or more) than comparable rates. My advice, after trying it once is DON'T DO IT!
We escaped with our wallet intact this time, but barely. The Hotwire contract with rental aagencies is an entirely different contract than normal.
First, you pre-pay for a specific time period. ANY alteration of that time period results in significant increase in charges. In our case, one day in Phoenix was less than $40.00 total cost including taxes. But keeping the car even one hour more would result in an added day's charge at the "special" hotwire contract rate of $63/day plus taxes.
Other unhappy facts: If they have to put gas in the car after you've used it, cost is $4.40/gallon. If the car is put out of service by an accident of any type (your fault or not) the "loss of use" charge is $400/week -- even though the normal weekly rental rate is about $200.
And of course since you've prepaid, if your airline schedule gets messed up, (which they generally do, nowadays) you may not get your car at all, and the money is down the drain.
Ray
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Tim
Grand Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Coming to the defense of Hotwire, and a little advice on rental car insurance
#5Consumer Comment
Sun, March 23, 2003
I know this report is rather old, but as an extremely satisfied customer I feel it necessary to chime in. I have used Hotwire's services many times and not only has every experience been good, but some have ben exceptional. For example, last year I was able to book a room at the Venetian, a five star hotel in Las vegas, for 119$ a night on a high occupancy weekend. The room ended up being 1300 square feet andy luxurious (2 bathrooms, one with a hot tub!). I defy you to find a better deal anywhere!
Now, just like any other frequent traveller, I have had my share of bad experiences. But, like in the situation of the original post, none were the fault of Hotwire. When you rent a car through Hotwire you are making a reservation, guarunteed by the fact that you prepay. Its just like any other reservation you would make with any other third agent company. The company providing the actual service is not the one that made the reservation. If you are unhappy with the service you recieve, your blame is misfocused if you point it at the reservation company.
All rental cars come with a contract, which are usually similar from one agency to the next. They ALL require a full tank of gas upon return, whether you do it for market rate, or they do it for about double that. This is true of every major car rental agency.
As for damages and insurance, here's how it works.There are two areas of liabilty for the consumer: the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle, and the cost of compensating the agency for revenue they lose while the vehicle is being repaired. Most full coverage policies (the one for the car you own) include rental car coverage as far as collision goes, but they will not cover you for the lost revenue part. Most gold and platinum credit cards also include rental car insurance. All you need to do to activate this insurance is to use that card to reserve and pay for the vehicle. Many cards do include the lost revenue coverage, but not all of them. If you have the collision insurance, most people reccomend NOT paying the extra money for the lost revenue insurance. Unless you're a bad driver, the likelihood that you will need it is so small that it doesn't justify the cost.
Any questions?
Tim
Grand Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Coming to the defense of Hotwire, and a little advice on rental car insurance
#5Consumer Comment
Sun, March 23, 2003
I know this report is rather old, but as an extremely satisfied customer I feel it necessary to chime in. I have used Hotwire's services many times and not only has every experience been good, but some have ben exceptional. For example, last year I was able to book a room at the Venetian, a five star hotel in Las vegas, for 119$ a night on a high occupancy weekend. The room ended up being 1300 square feet andy luxurious (2 bathrooms, one with a hot tub!). I defy you to find a better deal anywhere!
Now, just like any other frequent traveller, I have had my share of bad experiences. But, like in the situation of the original post, none were the fault of Hotwire. When you rent a car through Hotwire you are making a reservation, guarunteed by the fact that you prepay. Its just like any other reservation you would make with any other third agent company. The company providing the actual service is not the one that made the reservation. If you are unhappy with the service you recieve, your blame is misfocused if you point it at the reservation company.
All rental cars come with a contract, which are usually similar from one agency to the next. They ALL require a full tank of gas upon return, whether you do it for market rate, or they do it for about double that. This is true of every major car rental agency.
As for damages and insurance, here's how it works.There are two areas of liabilty for the consumer: the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle, and the cost of compensating the agency for revenue they lose while the vehicle is being repaired. Most full coverage policies (the one for the car you own) include rental car coverage as far as collision goes, but they will not cover you for the lost revenue part. Most gold and platinum credit cards also include rental car insurance. All you need to do to activate this insurance is to use that card to reserve and pay for the vehicle. Many cards do include the lost revenue coverage, but not all of them. If you have the collision insurance, most people reccomend NOT paying the extra money for the lost revenue insurance. Unless you're a bad driver, the likelihood that you will need it is so small that it doesn't justify the cost.
Any questions?
Tim
Grand Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Coming to the defense of Hotwire, and a little advice on rental car insurance
#5Consumer Comment
Sun, March 23, 2003
I know this report is rather old, but as an extremely satisfied customer I feel it necessary to chime in. I have used Hotwire's services many times and not only has every experience been good, but some have ben exceptional. For example, last year I was able to book a room at the Venetian, a five star hotel in Las vegas, for 119$ a night on a high occupancy weekend. The room ended up being 1300 square feet andy luxurious (2 bathrooms, one with a hot tub!). I defy you to find a better deal anywhere!
Now, just like any other frequent traveller, I have had my share of bad experiences. But, like in the situation of the original post, none were the fault of Hotwire. When you rent a car through Hotwire you are making a reservation, guarunteed by the fact that you prepay. Its just like any other reservation you would make with any other third agent company. The company providing the actual service is not the one that made the reservation. If you are unhappy with the service you recieve, your blame is misfocused if you point it at the reservation company.
All rental cars come with a contract, which are usually similar from one agency to the next. They ALL require a full tank of gas upon return, whether you do it for market rate, or they do it for about double that. This is true of every major car rental agency.
As for damages and insurance, here's how it works.There are two areas of liabilty for the consumer: the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle, and the cost of compensating the agency for revenue they lose while the vehicle is being repaired. Most full coverage policies (the one for the car you own) include rental car coverage as far as collision goes, but they will not cover you for the lost revenue part. Most gold and platinum credit cards also include rental car insurance. All you need to do to activate this insurance is to use that card to reserve and pay for the vehicle. Many cards do include the lost revenue coverage, but not all of them. If you have the collision insurance, most people reccomend NOT paying the extra money for the lost revenue insurance. Unless you're a bad driver, the likelihood that you will need it is so small that it doesn't justify the cost.
Any questions?
KIM
GILBERT,Arizona,
READ YOUR CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN!!
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, June 14, 2002
I read the complaint about hotwire and I have to give my 2 cents worth. I used to work in the rental car industry for several years and have rented cars under Hotwire, Priceline, etc..
The contract you sign CLEARLY states what the charges are if you do not fill the tank, damage the car, etc.. These are not rules established by Hotwire but by any car rental agency. I'm inclined to believe this is your first rental as you seem suprised at the charges. When you rent the car, you are offered the prepaid gas option or fill the tank yourself. If you do NOT fill the tank and did not take the prepaid tank option, you will be charged a higher than normal charge. The tank is full you pick up the car and you are expected to either fill it up, or prepay the tank. ALL car rental companies charge a high fee when you don't replace the fuel you used.
As far as rental car damage, as per the contract you signed and I'm sure the rental agent informed you of this by trying to sell you the collison waiver, if you decline the waiver you are responsible for ANY and all damage to the car regardless of fault. Again this is standardized in the industry and usually has nothing to do with what rate you are on, unless you are on a corporate rate which many times includes the collision waiver. For most leisure travelers this means you should make sure your home car insurance covers the rental vehicle, or by the waiver.
Read your car rental contract better next time.