Complaint Review: Phoenix Car Rental - Scottsdale Arizona

THIS COMPANY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.  DO NOT **REPEAT** DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE DIRT AND TOTALLY RIPPED OFF.

I rented a car from Phoenix Car Rental April 9th for two weeks.  I didn't do my homework and look up reviews, which would have told me this company is big trouble, and IN big trouble.

 I needed a rental due to my car being totaled, being on crutches for months and needed something reasonable for a few weeks while I looked for a new vehicle to buy. 

On April 9th I gave them $550 in cash, which covered the $250 deposit and two weeks at $16.95 per day.  I went back in April 23rd to extend the rental for four days and exchange the car, as the original one had oil light go on after a few days.  Not to mention the cigarette burns in the seats and the center console that was falling apart.  When I called to tell them about the oil light, Dennis Saban the owner, told me that was "no big deal."  Also, the AC and turn signals only worked 50% of the time.  The car had 259K miles on the odometer.  When I left I didn't realize when the guy took my card he ran another $250 deposit.  I discovered this Sunday, April 26th, and called first thing in the morning April 27th.  Also, while I had the second car, another minivan, it started acting up as I pulled into work one day.  It kept trying to go into neutral.  I was at work five min. when one of the security guard's came to tell me liquid was pouring out of the car.  It turned out to be transmission fluid, I called Phoenix Car Rental, and they brought a Monte Carlo with about 160K miles on it.  I'm guessing on this one, but I don't think it was quite 200K miles.  The low tire pressure light went on in this one after about two days. 

On Monday, April 27th, I called to ask if I could bring the car back and was told it was paid for through Thursday 30th.  I told them they ran two deposits for one rental and they told me i had to come in to discuss it.  I also asked if I would get my full deposits back, since the cars were brought back exactly as the day I rented them, and was told I would get something  back, but had to come in to talk with them.    I brought the car back April 27th, driving to that seedy location on an empty gas tank, figuring once I got my deposits back I would take a taxi home.  

They not only refused to give me any money back, but told me I owed them $41.  The total was $841 on a yellow invoice they gave me, with the name PCR Leasing, and the charges and totals made no sense whatsoever.  How does $16.95 a day for 18 days translate to $841.00 dollars.  How did my $500 in deposits get inserted into the total owered?  It was all very shady and they were downright nasty to me. 

I told them I was going to call the police and went outside.  I'm still hobbling on crutches a little bit from when my car got totaled in Dec., and was leaning against their building outside while waiting for the police.  I'm 56 and not in very good health from breast cancer and a subsequent mastectomy.  Dennis Saban, the owner, came out and told me to "get off his property."  I indicated I wasn't in very good health or quite mobile, and he said "take your crutches and get off my property."  

I sat at a bus stop and waited for the police.  I also called a friend to pick me up, as I was a long way from home, had no money on me thinking I was getting $500 back, and on crutches.  The police never came, but did call me on my way home.  They advised me this was quite common with this company, they were out there a couple times per week, and the best thing to do would be to contact the AG's office, which I did a few hours ago.

I am now in contact with the AG's office and have spent a bit of time answering questions for them.  I've also been contacted by one of the local TV stations, one of a few I contacted who have consumer advocacy divisions.  I will not let this rest.  How these people are still in business is beyond me.  They are criminals and a blight on the city of Phoenix.