Thrifty Car Rental - Albany, New York Airport Thrifty provided rental with PlatePass activated after I'd declined...and charged me 11 days! Albany New York
I reserved car online.
When I picked up the car, I did not agree to the use of the PlatePass device. In fact, when asked if I wanted to use it, I specifically declined. I knew I would be incurring the expense of one toll during my trip. When I declined, the representative checked the box marked "decline" on his paperwork.
When I learned, within an hour of renting the car, that the device was active (at the only toll station I would encounter on my travels...with a 30-cent toll), I called the office from which I’d rented the vehicle to report the error.
I was given instructions on how to deactivate the tolling device (which I should have been given when I declined its use at the time I made the rental). I then deactivated the device. (Since I’d refused it at the counter, the device should have been deactivated before I took the car.)
When I asked that the representative make note and fix the contract, I was told I would be able to correct the contract when I returned my vehicle.
When I returned the vehicle, I was told they couldn’t do anything, that I could correct the issue when I received an invoice.
When I received the invoice from Thrifty Processing Services, I responded in writing explaining what had happened.
Shirtly thereafter, I received a letter invoice from American Traffic Solution (ATS).
On receipt of the ATS letter, I called American Express to dispute the charge. I provided all documents and correspondence...several times.
I specifically declined use of the tolling device. The device was set to the active position when I got the car, not by me. It should not have been.I was not informed that it was active and, that because I'd declined its use, I must deactivate it. Therefore, this was a mistake or, at worst, a deceptive practice by Thrifty. And, given all the things I was told about resolving the problem by Thrifty representatives, I very much believe that this was deception to the point of fraud.
The reps had to know what they were telling me was not correct. And I end up being charged for eleven days of use of a device I declined. This for a single toll on the first day of my rental, within an hour of my renting the vehicle. This could have easily been avoided…and should have been:
I could have…indeed should have…been informed that the device was active and, since I’d declined its use, that I needed to deactivate it, with instructions on how to do so.
I could have returned to the Albany Airport, turned in the car and re-rented it with the tolling device in the deactivated mode.
When I called to report the error and then when I turned the car in, I shouldn’t have been told I could rectify the error at a later time. I’m sure the representatives knew it would not be an easy thing.