I reserved a car on a saturday afternoon for 2 hrs. I'm usually doing this maybe twice a month. Shopping in bulk. My reservation was for 2 hrs, 7pm to 9pm. When I got the busy parking garage about 5 mins before my time starts at 7pm, the attendants were busy with others, it was only 2 of them.
I swiped my zip card at 7:18pm. I figured it would be ok, I have a short list this time. As I was shopping I realized that maybe I would need some more time so I extended my reservation another 30 mins to 9:30pm. Well I still ended up being 11 mins late. Remember though, I waited for the attendants for 18 mins to bring me my car.
I always check my statement after a couple of days because sometimes zipcar has a habit of double dipping.
What was suppose to be $45 including the extra 30 mins turns out to be $103! For a $103 I can rent a car for 2 days!! The charged me $50 late fee another $7.50. I was so pissed. Like seriously. I called customer service and the rep I talked to was nice but she said she couldn't do anything but escalate my issue. I asked her, seriously, $103 for a 2½ hr car rental.
And zipcar records show that I didn't swipe my card til 7:18pm. I explained about waiting, she couldn't do anything. I thinking they could pass on the late fee considering the busy garage. So some guy from the NY office emailed me and explained the late fees and I said I understood but can you seriously tell me you're ok with charging me $103 for a 2½ hr rental.
The guy informed me that they waived a one time late fee last year and he couldn't extend it again. This was during Hurricane Sandy and I couldn't get back into the city if I wanted to, roads were closed, down.
He refused to acknowledge that I didn't get the car on time. I told him If he wasn't going to do anything about this ridiculous charge don't bother with another response. Needless to say, I didn't hear back from him. I have been totally disgusted with them. It's like screw you, we got your money and it's nothing you can do about it..This was late August, I haven't reserved a car since then.
Lorenzo D. Magnificent
Phoenix,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, November 17, 2013
I am not familiar with Zip Car. If their charges are made to one of your credit cards, dispute the charge using the procedure stated on the back of the monthly statement. Phone calls normally are not a part of the dispute process.
Remember that anyone who answers a customer service number is not likely to have any authority to make a decision. Avoid them when you have a dispute as I have had situations where the people on the phone insisted that the printed dispute procedure was wrong and that no one ever picks up the mail in that PO box!
If Zip Car issues its own credit card, see if there is a dispute process given on the back of the statement. I believe that federal law requires it but I am not sure if a Zip Card would qualify.