I rent cars from Enterprise about 2 times a month for short trips and consulting work around the Portland Metro area. I consider myself a regular/good customer. I should have known something was wrong with the vendor when after months of repeat business they STILL didn't remember my name. And I did most of my business with the manager of my local Enterprise.

Here's a little ripoff I discovered the hard way. I'm a small business owner, I live hand-to-mouth and work very hard to manage my money down to the penny. It's the only way to survive these days.

I planned a business trip to a nearby city. For the first time ever they wanted to use my Visa/Debit card as a debit card. I asked what the difference was and the manager kind of babbled some nonsense that I couldn't remember, but he finally settled on the fact that their DOS based computer system can only process one way.... bla bla (He clearly was shuffling).

This is the FIRST time in the last 8 months I have ever used one of my cards at the rental place as a debit card.

After travelling to my destination, I was surprised to find that my card didn't work for me at the hotel desk. I had planned this trip down to the dollar so my account balance had JUST ENOUGH to handle all the expenses expected.

I called the bank to find out that Enterprise had TAKEN (not authorized) $200 worth of my money. Twice as much as the rental fee would end up being. Therefore... I couldn't afford my cheap-a*s hotel.

This then caused several other of my small charges to bounce because it took 48 hours for their return of $100 to hit my account. The bank, then hit me with 5 overdrafts at $30 a piece.... things like $4 for coffee became $34 for coffee.

Word from Enterprise: "This is ALWAYS how we have done it, its a policy."

Word from the Bank: "Get Enterprise to admit they made a mistake and we'll cancel the overdrafts."

Results: I'm screwed.

Moral of the story: SAY CREDIT CARD!!! If you rent a car. What happens then, is they AUTHORIZE a charge. Which DOES NOT affect the REAL balance of your accounts. The rental company then gets to take its fees and the bank does not allow an AUTH to cause bouncing charges.

Political Commentary: This country has become a breeding ground for big business practices that screw all the parties involved. Do your part in changing our country back to a place where you KNOW your vendors, they KNOW you, and you have an HONEST EXCHANGE of goods and services without all this contractual crap ruining your day. I'm looking for a locally owned rental car company now and I bet I can't find one.

Torked

Portland, Oregon
U.S.A.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Enterprise Rent-A-Car

6 Updates & Rebuttals

Bow Down

United States of America

Have you ever ran a business?

#2Consumer Comment

Fri, September 02, 2011

Yes being a small business owner I know how tight of a budget and that yes litterally every penny counts, especially when planning out business trips. I choose to use Hertz for that exact reason, they will AUTHORIZE my business debit card which gives them access to the funds however stays pending in my account so that other monies may be invested into the company. Its easy for you to say go get credit this that and the other and your probably not in business anymore, I ask you this, have you ever had the guts to start your own business? I'm guessing no by your negligent response. Most business owners are smart and use cash for traveling expenses NOT CREDIT and even though we may be stretched thin prior to the begining of a show, please realize that car, hotel and gas are not the only expenses you take out if you believe this you are just plain stupid. Take into account, inventories, booth spaces, insurance costs, traveling expenses etc etc and you can look at putting 4-8k into a show before it even starts! And yes every penny counts and authorizing a card is still giving a guarantee of funds to the company. The beauty of OWNING your own business which I'm sure you don't nor ever will by your attitude is after your business venture your the one laughing all the way to the bank, you on the other hand I'm sure work for the man instead of being the MAN.

Mandii

Portland,
Oregon,
U.S.A.

It isn't Enterprise's fault you didn't know the difference between debit and credit

#3Consumer Comment

Wed, June 01, 2005

I have rented plenty of cars in my day and it is common policy EVERYWHERE, not just Enterprise, to charge a deposit. When you bring the car back, the deposit is returned. If you didn't have enough money in your account to cover ALL expenses, you shouldn't have been going on a trip to begin with. I'm sorry you feel you were ripped off, but Enterprise has never been anything but super friendly and professional to me. Debit comes directly out of your checking account, you are "debiting" the money. When you charge a credit card it can take a few days for the bank to process. If you are renting these cars for only a short period of time, it wasn't that you were "saving" money by using your credit card, chances are the charge hadn't shown up yet by the time you returned the car, so you still had access to your funds. So be smarter next time and you won't find yourself in a funk.

Maria

Glendale,
New York,
U.S.A.

Additional info. about authorizations

#4UPDATE EX-employee responds

Sat, March 06, 2004

First, I want to say that Michael (ex-employee from Oregon)stated that Enterprise doesn't like to use debit cards because it takes a long time to reverse the unused portion of the authorization..Thing is that Torked stated the Enterprise rep. told him he should use his card as a debit instead of a credit card. I understand Michael's point- either way the authorization of funds for the rental would be held against Torked's account, which means those funds wouldn't be available for use. I worked in the NY JFK Airport office for almost 2 years. Let me just say that Enterprise Rent-A-Car follows every guideline in regards to credit card charges and authorizations. The reason for this is that every employee that writes up a contract for a renter signs his/her name and employee id to that contract. So, if a problem arises that employee is responsible. The process for my NY Airport office was to take an authorization of at least $250 + what the estimated rental charges would be. I don't know if this is still NY Enterprise policy, but I do remeber that debit cards weren't accepted. I don't know why this employee told you to use your card as a debit card. This seems very odd. I am sure you received a copy of your rental so why not contact that office and speak to the employee that wrote your contract, maybe he/she can give you a better explanation. Lastly, I agree with Michael...I don't think that holding $200 of your funds is too much considering you are driving a vehicle that is worth $10,000-30,000. You have a major asset that belongs to Enterprise in your possession- $200 isn't too much to hold against your account. As to the information from your bank, I would call them back ASAP. They have definately misinformed you. 'Word from the Bank: "Get Enterprise to admit they made a mistake and we'll cancel the overdrafts."' Enterprise didn't make a mistake but your bank did. Call them back and ask them what the difference between an authorization and a charge is, then ask them is you would be able to use funds that were being held by an authorization.If they say you wouldn't be able to use funds that were held as authorizations, let them know that they are the ones that made the mistake. Tell them that a bank rep. misinformed you and led you to believe that authorizations on your account would still be available funds for you. Complain and they will reverse the overdraft fees. Believe me I worked for both Enterprise and Dime Savings Bank, I know what goes on inside these places. If you have a valid claim someone will attempt to help you. Finally, if your bank refuses to help you--change banks. Also, Enterprise can offer you some type of compensation for their employees mistake. You say that the rep. at the Enterprise counter persuaded you to use your card as a debit card even though you wanted to use it as a credit card, let them know you were not satisfied with your rental that time. I know they will try to please you to the best of there abilities. PS- If U were a frequent renter then the employees of that office should have remembered who you were. Let them know that. I know that I still remember my frequent renters and that was almost 3 years ago. Good Luck!

Michael

Portland,
Oregon,
U.S.A.

WHAT AN AUTHORIZATION REALLY MEANS!

#5UPDATE EX-employee responds

Thu, March 04, 2004

I felt like I needed to explain what really happens when an authorization is taken on a credit card and/or a debit card. I used to work in the accounting department at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. I don't know what kind of information your bank is giving you, but if an authorization is taking against your account (regardless if it is a credit or debit card), you do not have access to those funds until the authorization is used, and the balance is realized, or the authorization is reversed. On top of that, the reason we don't like to take authorizations on debit cards is because it takes a very long time to reverse the unused portion of an authorization. If we charge the card for the entire deposit, when we refund the difference, it happens almost instantly. Just felt like I needed to educate you on the difference. You weren't taken advantage of. You were renting a multi-thousand dollar car, and you needed to put down a deposit...$200 isn't much, considering the asset you have in your possession.

Torked

Portland,
Oregon,
U.S.A.

they now remember my name and I don't have problems

#6Author of original report

Thu, December 11, 2003

Nice objective response, however useless information. 10 months later I'm still in business. Also, I've been using Budget Rent-A-Car almost exclusively and its been working like a charm. I recently had to ask Enterprise to come and get me to bring me a car (because all the rental places close to downtown were booked). The regional manager picked me up and delivered me to my local Enterprise rental place. I didn't know he was the manager while we were riding along and had a lot of frank discussions about my experiences. After I was dropped off, they now remember my name and I don't have problems. However, I still need to watch my budget. And if you need credit to stay in business then you really don't have a good business model. Cash Rules!

Clifford

Livonia,
Michigan,
U.S.A.

your Debit card is NOT a credit card

#7Consumer Comment

Thu, December 11, 2003

get some credit dude, ...Listen, your Debit card is NOT a credit card. That card is tied to your checking, not a line of credit issued by a bank. Enterprise cannot , nor can anyone else, simply authorize a debit card. The only way to issue a deposit or anything with your master money checking card, is for that company to "debit" the money from your account. Stop being such a cheap a*s. If you didnt have 300 dollars in your checking, i wouldn't worry, it's not like your business is going to be around that much longer.

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