Can car rental companies change the price???

[sjschuster]

I made a reservation for a SUV in Denver for Christmas week with National. The reservation was made in June, 2006 and my total cost was around $400.00+. While viewing my reservation on line tonight, I noticed that the rate is now around $1200.00+. Can they do this? I have my e-mail copy of the original reservation. Is this enough to guarantee the original price? How do I go about getting my original cost? I haven't yet called National, cause I thought I'd ask the forum for their opinions first. Thanks!

 

[BevL]

Well, I'd definitely be on the phone. Never heard of that happening before. I'm sure a bunch of people here will be logging in to view car reservations.

I'm assuming the reservation numbers match? Are you sure you didn't go in and change a pick up time or something? I've been advised that something that simple can basically cancel your original reservation and create a new one, at the new price.

Hope you can get it straightened out - that's a bit of a shocker.

Bev

 

[sjschuster]

I only did a "view" on line, not any modifications. I've also heard that making a change, like adding a day, will void the old rate and required the new rate.

 

[bogey21]

I've also heard that making a change, like adding a day, will void the old rate and required the new rate.

This is true. In most cases any change to a reservation will be considered a new reservation. I do this all the time as rates come down.

GEORGE

 

[dougp26364]

The only time anything like this has ever happened to us was with Thrifty in Las Vegas back in '99. I had booked over the phone for a particular rate. When I arrived to pick up my car, they refused the rate, even though we had the reservation # and told us it would cost more. I told them to stick it, walked over to the Allstate rental counter (I don't believe their in business in Vegas anymore) and rented a car from them for about the same price as Thrifty was trying to hold me up for.

Now, I take my copy of the reservation with me in the event they want to challange me. Since that time, I've had very little problems. Every now and again a small discrepancy on price but it's resolved quickly when I've challenged it and shown them our original reservation paperwork. However, it is a pain to take the time to do that and I'm sure more than a few people just let it slide as not worth the time.

 

[BevL]

Schuster:

Inquiring minds (mine at least) want to know. Have you resolved this at all?

 

[Icc5]

US Rental in Vegas

I made a reservation for a SUV in Denver for Christmas week with National. The reservation was made in June, 2006 and my total cost was around $400.00+. While viewing my reservation on line tonight, I noticed that the rate is now around $1200.00+. Can they do this? I have my e-mail copy of the original reservation. Is this enough to guarantee the original price? How do I go about getting my original cost? I haven't yet called National, cause I thought I'd ask the forum for their opinions first. Thanks!

US tried to charge us more when we got to Vegas. The woman at the counter said all I had was an estimate. Instead of getting mad right there I waited until I got home, wrote an e-mail to their mgmt. and they reversed the extra charges.
Bart

 

[RumpleMom]

Several years ago, we got to the car rental counter and the agent says "oh, yes I have your reservation here" and starts processing the car for about $80.00 more. My husband is starting to sign, when I spoke up and said that price doesn't sound right. I produced my paperwork showing the price from the website that I had agreed to, so we paid the lower price.

It really pays to be organized and take all paperwork with you, and pay attention. No one else looks out for your wallet like you.

 

[sjschuster]

Update

I just called National. It seems that the "corporate" rate that I used (which I use frequently for personal travel) had been "renegotiated" in October by my employer (very large corporation). So, my corporate discount is not longer available per my original reservation. Now, instead of $413 for the week, they want the current rate of $1400+. Any advice, except to avoid "corporate" rates in the future? (I don't think asking my employeer to pay the difference is an option here). Question regarding this rental?

1. Can I just show up at the counter with a copy of my reservation and demand the lower price, but since they won't be able to locate the corporate discount, will this likely be a futile effort?

I have another question regarding changing reservations. It so happens that I have a second reservation that I never canceled with Avis that aligned with my original travel plans. This reservation is for pick-up at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, December 22. However, my actual travel plans are to arrive at 7:50 a.m. on Saturday, December 23. Questions regarding this reservation since it is also for $413 for the week. It's obvious that I'm trying to avoid paying $1400 for the week and keep within my original $400 budget.

1. Can I leave this reservation alone and just show up on Saturday a.m. instead of Friday night and expect Avis to honor the reservation?
2. Can I have someone else (relatives that live in Denver) pick up this car on Friday night in my name, showing their driver's license at the desk?
3. Can I change the name on the reservation to this local relative without changing the rate and then they can pick up the car on Friday night?
4. I could possibly change my flight plans and leave on Friday night and pay the change fee for the flight change. Then I'll get the lower rate. I'd fly out the rest of my family on Saturday as planned, so I'd only have to pay on change fee.

Thanks for any help or advice that anyone can provide!!!! And please beware of the "corporate" rate for personal travel.

 

[Dave M]

1. You can show up and insist that they honor the original rate, but since your corporate program has changed, I don't like your chances.

Related to Avis....
1. (#2) No. You'll be a no-show. However, try calling and stating that the airline has changed your flights and you will likely not be able to arrive until the morning of the 23rd. Ask if they can change the pick-up time by those eight hours and leave everything else the same. Be sure you have checked on what Avis rates would be if you made a new reservation today. Then you will know what your options are while on the phone.

2. No. It's your reservation. You have to pick up the car. Your corporate rate plan (and Avis) won't allow someone else to pick up your car.

3. No. Avis will treat it as a new reservation. Also, you would likely be moving from a corporate rate plan to a personal rate structure.

4. Do this only if it will be less expensive than what you determine your other options to be.

 

[BevL]

You might be able to get Avis to allow someone else to pick up the car, if they won't change it for a flight change. We were successful with Alamo in Maui last year when my niece's flight was seriously delayed, like half a day. The car ressie was in her name. She phoned from the airport, explained the situation and was able to have it changed so that I could pick it up. We had to go in the next day and get it straightened out, I believe, but it might be worth a call.

Bev

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

1. You can show up and insist that they honor the original rate, but since your corporate program has changed, I don't like your chances.

Related to Avis....
1. (#2) No. You'll be a no-show. However, try calling and stating that the airline has changed your flights and you will likely not be able to arrive until the morning of the 23rd. Ask if they can change the pick-up time by those eight hours and leave everything else the same. Be sure you have checked on what Avis rates would be if you made a new reservation today. Then you will know what your options are while on the phone.

...

Before contacting Avis (or any other company) I would also get a Hotwire quote.

 

[sjschuster]

I've got the solution!!!!

While surfing the other "corporate" discounts, of which I have since found out that Enterprise has replaced National, I came up with my solution.

First, the going rate for SUVs in Denver for Christmas week is about $1400 for nearly all companies, if they aren't already sold out.

Second, I looked at the offsite locations. Granted, I'll have to have my dad or brother pick us up at the airport on Saturday morning and return us the next weekend, however, I reserved a SUV (same class as before - Trailblazer or similar) at Enterprise in Denver (not the airport) for a whopping $331. The pickup will be easy, as it's on my way to my brother's home from the airport. The return will be a little more difficult, as the branch is closed on Sunday so we'll have to return it on Saturday.

So, I guess I'm set. Thanks for all of the advice and support. I've learned to watch those corporate discounts and probably make redundant reservations with two or more companies in the future.

Thanks again.

 

[isisdave]

I'm glad that worked out. I was going to suggest you solve the Friday-Saturday problem by reserving any old car or cars from any old company for one day. Or hire a limo. Considering you'd save $1000, a lot of options seem reasonable.

I just discovered my local Avis non-airport location is now open Sundays, whereas Hertz and Enterprise aren't. Great!

 

[JoeWilly]

We had a bad experience several years ago with Thrifty too. When we went to get the car, they charged us double what we were quoted. They said my quote was for one week and we needed the car for two weeks. I had a notebook with me with quotes from several other companies, so I know I didn't make a mistake on the quoted price.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the quote in writing, it was just a verbal quote with a confirmation number. I would have told them to stick it but they had us by the ..... It was a 4th of July weekend and everyone was out of cars! I tried to resolve it on Monday when corporate opened, but they wouldn't budge. I also tried to get help from the credit card company because I signed the estimate with a clause subject to review. That didn't work either. Lesson learned, I always get the quote in writing now and have that with us.

 

[BevL]

That's sure one benefit of the computer age, isn't it? In the "old" days, it was pretty easy to claim that you made the mistake. Not so easy when you have actual paperwork from the company verifying your side of things.

Bev

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

We had a bad experience several years ago with Thrifty too. When we went to get the car, they charged us double what we were quoted. They said my quote was for one week and we needed the car for two weeks. I had a notebook with me with quotes from several other companies, so I know I didn't make a mistake on the quoted price.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the quote in writing, it was just a verbal quote with a confirmation number. I would have told them to stick it but they had us by the ..... It was a 4th of July weekend and everyone was out of cars! I tried to resolve it on Monday when corporate opened, but they wouldn't budge. I also tried to get help from the credit card company because I signed the estimate with a clause subject to review. That didn't work either. Lesson learned, I always get the quote in writing now and have that with us.

Almost all of the time when I rent, I do it on-line, and I printout and bring along the confirmation e-mail. The only time I rent by phone is if I'm renting from Budget out of SLC, Pocatello, or Idaho Falls, and that's because I can usually get a much better rate by calling the airport location directly instead of using the national call-in or the website.

Other than that, I can't even remember the last time I made a reservation over the phone. Has to have been at least six years.

 

[dougp26364]

Other than that, I can't even remember the last time I made a reservation over the phone. Has to have been at least six years.

1999 or pre-computer for us when using the phone. After our Thrifty experience, I don't trust not having something in writing. At least I have something showing what they quoted us to fight with. Either with the CC company or with consumer fraud for the state they located in.

 

[Sheryl]

About a year ago, I found a great weekly rate for a car in Orlando via some third party website. The rental company I believe was Alamo; we showed up with the printed confirmation in hand ... and had to pay more than double the confirmed rate because they insisted we needed proper ID. As American citizens traveling in our own country, we're used to using our driver's licenses. The desk insisted on passports only, or no deal. That was a requirement by the British travel agency I'd booked through (which was printed on the confirmation, in VERY fine print). They got us on a technicality; I still feel that's just not right! And the booking agency got to keep my initial $50 deposit. Hiss.

 

[bogey21]

In today's world I always carry the email car rental confirm; my Passport (even in the US); and my original car insurance policy. Why the car insurance policy? Because some of the car rental companies try to tell you that if you can't prove you have insurance, you must purchase their CDW. To date I have not had a problem but have been asked to see the confirm and the insurance policy. Never been asked for the Passport though.

GEORGE

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

In today's world I always carry the email car rental confirm; my Passport (even in the US); and my original car insurance policy. Why the car insurance policy? Because some of the car rental companies try to tell you that if you can't prove you have insurance, you must purchase their CDW. To date I have not had a problem but have been asked to see the confirm and the insurance policy. Never been asked for the Passport though.

GEORGE

I use my passport as ID as much as I can when traveling. I don't see a need to unnecessarily expose my driver's license information.

 

[Dianne]

thrifty car rental

I booked my car rental for Fort Lauderdale about 5 months prior to going last year to get a really great rate. When I went to pick up the car we were late getting in plus exhausted etc, was advised that the rate was incorrect and I just figured I would pay it just so I could go.

I called Thrifty following my trip with my original reservation number etc and they reimbursed with no questions asked and apologized profusely.

I noticed this year the rental rates are significantly different from when I booked a couple months ago and will watch carefully to make sure I get the reserved rate. Give them a call.