Car rental extreme anxiety:( and rant:(

**onenickelmiracle** · 02-17-2012, 10:55 PM

I have a rental car reservation I am picking up tomorrow and am full of anxiety based on my last experience at Enterprise. I had been renting cars, on a false promise from my insurance agent's wife at the office, with the understanding I was told I was covered under my brother's insurance on his car since we both lived in the same household. Well, apparently she was wrong. It all started with an sales agent at Enterprise I had never met before.
He stuck me in an economy Aveo instead of a compact I had requested. I left in the POS and before I got home, he called me telling me I wasn't covered by State Farm and I needed the coverage. I had no time to return to the agency so I verbally agreed and drove to our bus trip pick-up. The car was so,so noisy I couldn't hear the radio over the loud engine noise and it spent a quarter tank in fuel in 20 miles. I wound up using only 100 miles instead of my usual 300 miles since I didn't want to spend $50 going an extra 100 miles. I was basically lied to being told all Aveos were noisy and the credit card will only cover the PAI(personal accident insurance) $3/day and not the CDW(collision damage waiver) of $17/day. I have since found out my Visa covered the CDW and not the PAI. It was a total loss of a trip rental and I have since let the credit card dispute window close. I took video of the noisy engine on the highway which I doubted I could share due to my technological difficulties and they took the original contract back which was my proof.
I plan on taking the personal liability and maybe the PAI tomorrow, but must reject the CDW to be covered by the VISA. I am worried they will demand a higher amount for deposit than I have available on the Visa card. This was another thing this jerk did to me last time was raise the deposit amount from $250 to $300 saying it was standard now. I am so pissed right now and am expecting a battle tomorrow. Once I remove the rental car from the property, I might walk back and use a lot of MFs. How do I deal with them?
I am afraid they will refuse to rent the car to me claiming the CDW coverage was no good and will force me to either pay for it or raise the deposit so high I will not be able to rent. All my previous experiences were great there and I think they fired all the people who were good at customer service.

**KathyLiz** · 02-18-2012, 12:23 AM

Onenickle--

My DH and I have traveled extensively, and I have never had a real good experience with car rentals. The price never seems to be what you were quoted, and they try to scare the you know what out of you if you don't take their insurance, when you have full coverage of your own. When we were in Vegas for the M&G last year, we were told that if the car even got a scratch in the parking lot, we would have to pay. Also, in Branson, MO a couple of years ago, I rented a car over the phone from a major service, and when we got to the AP, only Enterprise had a booth there. The car had been advertised as being rented from the airport. Needless to say, we canceled our rental and was the mercy of Enterprise.

I hope this turns out well for you!

**ygtgxi** · 02-18-2012, 12:39 AM

most premium credit cards covers the CDW, which is for the cosmetic damage, I just found out that some uS states does not provide basic liability insurance, does nevada rental companies have to provide you with basic liability insurance? Can someone help with this?

yea most rental companies put a hold on your card. I think when i rent they usually put a $500 hold on mine, not a big deal as it goes back anyways

**onenickelmiracle** · 02-18-2012, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by KathyLiz

Onenickle--

My DH and I have traveled extensively, and I have never had a real good experience with car rentals. The price never seems to be what you were quoted, and they try to scare the you know what out of you if you don't take their insurance, when you have full coverage of your own. When we were in Vegas for the M&G last year, we were told that if the car even got a scratch in the parking lot, we would have to pay. Also, in Branson, MO a couple of years ago, I rented a car over the phone from a major service, and when we got to the AP, only Enterprise had a booth there. The car had been advertised as being rented from the airport. Needless to say, we canceled our rental and was the mercy of Enterprise.

I hope this turns out well for you!

Thank you for your concern Kathyliz.
The hard part for me is because I do not currently own an automobile, I have no insurance and need to rely on the company and Visa. I am just a nervous wreck right now until I get there tomorrow and also have had too much coffee. It was just real stupid of me to put up with it the last time getting an undrivable car plus for the first time being in an uncomfortable position. I am just going to have to ask for a manager and hope we can work something reasonable or at least be able to rent a car. When bad things happen and I get ripped off, I am just like a lot of people and want to just forget it. I always have worried about being blamed for previous damage. I am also worried I am being set up, because they keep telling me they won't ding me, but worry I will get lax and then they will strike.
I have a printer but I don't have it set up, so I can't print out the policy Visa covers. I better win big at the casino to be able to say it was all worth it. I'm hoping to be able to at least play a while and be able to cover my expenses for traveling.

Enterprise as a whole I have been mainly satisfied with, but this fellow I had problems with was a snake and a liar. I hope he has been fired by now. Anyways, I'm hoping for the best. I like being picked up when I need a rental. As far as airport locations, you certainly pay for the convenience and the location.

I don't need this rental car, but I want it. If it doesn't work out, it will only be a small disappointment. I will still be able to go to one casino on my bus trip, but will have to catch a taxi home late at night equal to the cost of one day's rental car.

I am just too hyper right now for a clear and concise entry here and apologize.

**Deb** · 02-18-2012, 12:46 AM

Sounds to me like you shouldn't be renting cars

Bummer, good luck with everything.

**ygtgxi** · 02-18-2012, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by onenickelmiracle

Thank you for your concern Kathyliz.
The hard part for me is because I do not currently own an automobile, I have no insurance and need to rely on the company and Visa. I am just a nervous wreck right now until I get there tomorrow and also have had too much coffee. It was just real stupid of me to put up with it the last time getting an undrivable car plus for the first time being in an uncomfortable position. I am just going to have to ask for a manager and hope we can work something reasonable or at least be able to rent a car. When bad things happen and I get ripped off, I am just like a lot of people and want to just forget it. I always have worried about being blamed for previous damage. I am also worried I am being set up, because they keep telling me they won't ding me, but worry I will get lax and then they will strike.
I have a printer but I don't have it set up, so I can't print out the policy Visa covers. I better win big at the casino to be able to say it was all worth it. I'm hoping to be able to at least play a while and be able to cover my expenses for traveling.

Enterprise as a whole I have been mainly satisfied with, but this fellow I had problems with was a snake and a liar. I hope he has been fired by now. Anyways, I'm hoping for the best. I like being picked up when I need a rental. As far as airport locations, you certainly pay for the convenience and the location.

I don't need this rental car, but I want it. If it doesn't work out, it will only be a small disappointment. I will still be able to go to one casino on my bus trip, but will have to catch a taxi home late at night equal to the cost of one day's rental car.

I am just too hyper right now for a clear and concise entry here and apologize.

FYI, you can get visa to fax over coverage to that rental agency right away or get them to mail the book out to you. Rental car places people are also on commision, most stuff they make you take, they make extra $$$

**Yadarra** · 02-18-2012, 01:04 AM

Enterprise isn't really a rental car company...they are more like a multi level marketing firm selling two year or more old used cars, hella beat up rentals with a bazillion miles on them...don't ask, but I ended up with one when I was young and poor...and when they offer to pick you up, good luck getting BACK to your house.

Stick with serious firms like Hertz, IMO.
Even if you HAVE real insurance, it likely won't pay...my uncle had a drunken rental RV sideswipe his rental and it took him three years and several THOUSAND dollars in legal bills to settle it...and he had comprehensive coverage. Don't play with fire...make sure you get full coverage before you try it again.

And why are you even going back to them?

**onenickelmiracle** · 02-18-2012, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by Deb

Sounds to me like you shouldn't be renting cars

Bummer, good luck with everything.

Deb, it kind of gets confusing me commenting here sometimes, because I cannot see what I've written after I've written so much. I just really should have had the charges dismissed last time, because the car was so loud it gave me a headache. Plus, the noise was because the engine was not running right burning gas big time. I think it was in an accident before I rented it and I found a business card in the back from the collision repair center across the street. Short story, I let myself be ripped off and wimped out. The fact I rented it for the weekend didn't help or I would have returned it for another and would have been happy.

**onenickelmiracle** · 02-18-2012, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Yadarra

Enterprise isn't really a rental car company...they are more like a multi level marketing firm selling two year or more old used cars, hella beat up rentals with a bazillion miles on them...don't ask, but I ended up with one when I was young and poor...and when they offer to pick you up, good luck getting BACK to your house.

Stick with serious firms like Hertz, IMO.
Even if you HAVE real insurance, it likely won't pay...my uncle had a drunken rental RV sideswipe his rental and it took him three years and several THOUSAND dollars in legal bills to settle it...and he had comprehensive coverage. Don't play with fire...make sure you get full coverage before you try it again.

And why are you even going back to them?

I am going back to them because I have unfinished business and it is the closest and best price without traveling 15 miles. I can walk there if I need to on the old railroad bike path without having to ask for a ride in case they cant help me. I don't doubt fleet vehicles can be a total waste of money. I have never driven one with over 25,000 miles which actually drives right. They seem to rev too high when I step on it. I have gotten offered rides home every time, but I usually walk across the street to get a deal on yummy chicken wings for 15c each on Mondays and have my bro get me later. If I was able to get a deal from Hertz around here, I would take them up. I come from a GM family and after my dad died, I found out Ford really makes some really good cars. I might call them tomorrow or in the future.

**Edward212** · 04-12-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Deb

Sounds to me like you shouldn't be renting cars

Bummer, good luck with everything.

Well, you cannot judge any industry by a few incidents. There are thousands of car rental companies around providing better services with reasonable rates. Different firms from various regions have entirely contrasting policies. But smart businesses are much quick in changing their policies and making them acceptable for their clients. It's a dynamic world, so don't get bothered by one company. Look out for the other, I'm sure you'll get better luck next time.