Advantage Rent-A-Car

At Advantage Rent-A-Car, a reservation was made 10 weeks in advance to secure a minivan that was required due to the number of people and luggage in our party. Upon arriving at the facility and enduring a 40 minute interaction with the attendant, I was informed that they did not have any minivans available and that I would have to go to another rental company to obtain a vehicle. I complained to their customer service and was informed that "sometimes that happens" and blew me off! It appears that their reservation confirmation system isn't worth the paper it is printed on.

Sometime ago, we made a reservation for an Advantage car at the SDJ Los Cabos International airport serving Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico for the dates of March 17 to March 24 (reservation # **). Much to our dismay on our arrival, not only did the Advantage dealer not have the car we had reserved, but they had no cars at all! And, furthermore the dealer really didn't want to talk to us since we were not happy customers. Even worse was that in renting a car from another rental agency at the airport, the cost went from $106.10 to $494, an increase of $388 or 4.7 times! Of course, finding a car also cost the four of us at least a couple of hours and the mission was not helped since it was evening time, quite dark and communications were difficult since none of us were Spanish speaking.

Our unhappiness increased on our return to the States when we are unable to access Advantage via telephone. Two of us at different times were put on hold for at least 30 minutes before giving up. And, for me the website did not work. Customer service was simply not available on several different occasions. So, we are very, very unhappy with Advantage and its parent Company, Hertz Inc. Of course, I would use much stronger terms if I thought they would be effective. We strongly feel that Advantage should take the following steps: Severely admonish the vendor at the SDJ airport for not honoring a reservation and not treating us with any courtesy or sympathy; Refund us $388, the difference between the reservation amount quoted ($106) and the amount we ended up paying ($494). Note that we are not requesting refund for the amount of time and mental anguish suffered in finding another car to rent in a foreign country at night far from our intended designation.

I will contact Advantage Rent-A-Car to see if they will correct the overcharge. My daily rental rate should have been $21 daily and instead I was charged $34.

When I arrived at the Advantage Rental via the pickup bus, I approached the counter to give my information. I was asked for my driver's license and other info necessary to rent a car. The gentleman said, "I see it here." Then he said, "Wait a minute." He went outside, came back in and told me the car I rented did not have a trunk. "Does not have a trunk?" I repeated. I then told him I needed a trunk and had never heard of such.

He went out a few minutes later, returned and said that he found the perfect car for me. I asked what it was. He said "one of the newest Chevrolets. As he proceeded, he told me, "Be sure to bring the car back empty." "Empty," I said. He said something about the gasoline out in the city is far more than he charged me. I was really confused by this whole thing. When he finished with me I ended up putting more than 350.00 dollars on my card. My reservation guaranteed me that I had to pay $216.00 including tax. I am very upset and cannot afford such costs.

I feel I was taken "advantage" of (no pun intended). I chose Advantage over the other choices; none of them were over $350. I want to only pay the $216.00 I was quoted over the website. I need to come and see my grandchildren at another time as well. Please fix this horrible mistake. When I leave on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, I only want to pay the $216.00 I was promised for my car. Of course, the car will be full like I received it. He told me that he charged me for gas in advance. $216.00 tax included should take care of everything. Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter. I have my reservation number and the quote.

Upon arriving at the Advantage Rental counter, I was advised the rate I booked and was promised via my reservation would not be honored. When I asked why, the rude young woman said it's what the computer is putting out and there was nothing she could do about it. I said, "I don't care what the computer puts out. I had in my hand a reservation at a promised price." At this point, I called your corporate office who assured me they are obligated to honor the reservation, however, she would not speak with the girl at the counter and said I would have to handle it!

I went back to the counter and told her she had better honor my quote. She then changed her story and said that I tried to change my reservation and this is why the price went up! It was an obvious scam in progress which I would not tolerate but I am sure many innocent others went along with. I will never, ever nor will anyone from my very large corporation ever rent a vehicle from Advantage again. Any employee of mine who does will be fired on the spot! I will make it my goal in life to ensure all companies know to avoid your firm like the plague! I am proceeding with charges against Advantage for attempted fraud, misrepresentation of fact, failure to honor a written contract.

I recently reserved a car through the Advantage Rent a Car in Salt Lake City. The next day when I got to their airport counter, the clerk looked up my reservation then looked me in the face and said that there were no cars available in the car class that I had reserved. After quoting me several "upgrade" prices that I was not willing to pay, she offered me a price $20.00 over the price that I had originally reserved a car for. So I agreed. She then proceeded to finish my reservation. She folded the 3 part contract (so conveniently) the price was hidden. Since I had trusted the agent and price that she had quoted me and that it was a busy counter, I had to get going I didn't unfold the contract.

When I realized that the price on the ticket was not right, I was already several hundred miles away so I thought that when I returned the car, I would discuss it with them. I have called and talked to two managers at the Salt Lake Agency (both rude and unwilling) to help me. I was also told by the manager that there were several cars available for when I had reserved and he questioned the agent and she said that she didn't tell me otherwise. I asked the agent why the car I had reserved was not available not once but twice and her response was not to worry that she would get me a car.

I have made numerous phone calls and left numerous messages with higher ups and have gotten nowhere. This was a classic bait and switch. I had reserved a car for a price I could afford and ended having to pay more than twice as much. I am wondering if the counter agents get a bonus if they upgrade customers. It's been several weeks now and am still pursuing this but I'm getting no satisfaction. It appears that the Advantage motto should be: We take advantage of our customers. I would recommend when anyone rents a car from Advantage that they record the conversation.

I was picked up by Advantage Rent-A-Car (Matheson Blvd location) at Toronto airport although my reservation was with another company. Advantage explained that they were "helping out" the other company, which had no cars left for the period Dec. 22-Jan 2. Since the price was the same and the cars were similar, this was not a problem. I returned the car at 4:30PM on Monday, Jan. 2 only to find the office closed, with a drop box for returns. There was no notice anywhere in the office nor verbal warning that this office would be closed on Jan. 2 as they had declared a holiday.

As a result, I had to search around for a phone (I did not have a cell phone with me). I finally found a gas station which telephoned a taxi company to take us to the airport. The cost was $25.00. When I phoned Advantage for reimbursement, I was told I should have known the office would be closed and no refund for the taxi fare would be sent. Basically, I was told I was a fool who had caused my own problem and not bother them with it. I would recommend you not use a company with this level of contemptible service.

My wife rented a car in Salt Lake City and declined any insurance since American Express will cover damages as long as you use their card for the rental. When the car was returned they claimed damages to the front end even though the vehicle was not involved in any accident and or incident that would cause any damages. She felt like they used this technique as a way to get customers back for not using their high rates of insurance. They sent the invoice to us and we forwarded it to American Express where they processed it and paid for their so called damages.

Then we received another bill for loss of use and which American Express would be willing to pay if they can provide documentation showing that they could not rent the car out due to these damages. When their agency who handles all their damage recovery claimed they sent my wife an e-mail claiming that she owe them more money, I forwarded the information from American Express indicating that they needed to provide proof for loss of income.

The agency called me back and indicated that the contract specifically stated that they did not need to provide any proof for loss of use and she was liable based on their word. My recommendation is that a company like this needs to go out of business since I believe that they are scamming the public for not buying their high price insurance. I would not recommend to anyone that they use them for car rental. There are so many other good companies out there that value your business.

I will probably end up paying for their loss of business even though they probably rented the car out to the next renter after a quick wash (they might be too cheap to even wash their cars). I would hope to see a class action suit against them since they would probably be liabable for charging a customer without showing actual proof of loss of income.

On August 1,2011, I went to the Advantage Car Rentals at Albuquerque Airport at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon, to pick up a car that I reserved. I used my Visa debit card to pay a fee of $192 and a $200 deposit.

I was asked by the attendant if it was okay to put the card through. However, for some reason, the total was over $520 and the card was declined because it went over my credit line per day on my debit card. I asked the attendant why it was over the quoted amount. She explained that there was an additional service charge. I then asked her to take off the additional charges so that I could rent the car. She explained that she cannot redo the contract using the same card because of a company policy.

I told her that my mother just had a mini stroke in Michigan and that I needed the car that day and for her to make a correction. She then stated that it was also against their policy to redo a reservation within 48 hours on the same card. I tried not to cry and she finally suggested that I talk to the manager and that he maybe able to help. I told the manager the situation and he looked at the attendant and asked if she told me the price before she put the card through. She said she did. I told him she told me a different price, different from what was charged when she scanned the card. I said I could have told her that anything more than $500 would not go through the same day.

Instead of looking for a solution to the problem, after I explained that my mom had a stoke and I needed to get home as soon as possible, the manager did not hesitate to tell me I had to wait the next day to rent a car.

I left the airport at almost 4pm trying to find another rental company that had a car available. With no success, I left the airport devastated. I called the Advantage Car Rentals reservations, customer service and billing department to resolve the problem. I asked them all for the number to the corporate office and they all stated that the customer service office was the only one that could help me and that there is no corporate office. I called the evening manager and explained the situation and asked what time they were closing that night so I could come down there to come up with a solution and he told me 12 midnight as it was 11:45pm. Later, I discovered that they closed at 1:00am. I eventually renewed the reservation for the next day that evening. I went to pick up the car the next day and booked it for a week.

Now, I have the vehicle and I need an extension for another week due to an emergency. However, they are asking for another deposit for the week's extension because it is their policy. But you see, a few weeks before I did the same thing, I went to Advantage Car Rentals and rented a car for a week for business purposes and told them that I was not sure if I needed it for two weeks or just one. The attendant suggested that I start out with a week and then extend it later if I need more time. I called in by the end of the week and extended on the Nissan Versa and the process was done without an additional deposit of $200. So now I am wondering why the rules changed? Why do I have to pay another deposit?

After talking to customer service several times this week, no one could help me again. They all just kept saying that it is the policy and that I would have to pay the additional charges. Everyone refused to give me a number to put in a complaint and to get further help that the customer service department. Even when I talked to the day manager at Albuquerque Airport, he just said that the customer service number is the only number available for additional help, complaints or solutions to problems. Then each time I ask both the manager's name they would only give me Rich and Joe, they refused to give me their full names.

I still have not resolved the problem because everyone I talked to told me to talk to a manager at the Albuquerque Airport location. But they refused to help every time I approach them.

I finally went online after I talked to many friends who witnessed the incident while sitting on the bench waiting for me who though that the disrespect was racially motivated. I was finally given the number to the headquarter this evening, August 8, which I intend to call first thing in the morning. But even trying to get help from a live online Hertz representative was difficult. I am very stressed over this incident and the situation with my 85-year old mother in Michigan.

I am upset about the poor customer service I received from Advantage Car Rental in Albuquerque Airport and in their toll free numbers. They have made my already difficult situation here in Michigan worst. I hope t resolve this problem tomorrow morning with the headquarters. My experiences with Advantage Car rental has been disastrous and disappointing.

Respectfully,

Donna **

I rented a car from Advantage in Orlando. Because of my work schedule, I had to change the reservation twice. The first time, I added a day and confirmed that the price was still 25.95 per day. The second time, I was taking the extra day off. The service person on the phone did not tell me that the price went up almost 50% because of that change!! It was still the weekend for the weekend rate!! I trusted them to honor the quoted price so I did not review all the charges with a fine tooth comb and signed the estimate - I WILL NEVER BE TRUSTING AGAIN!! I did notice when we dropped off the car and mentioned it to the man checking it in, but I didn't have my original quote readily available and he was in a hurry and we had to make a flight, so I thought I could deal with it later with customer service. WRONG - they were no help at all even though they did not give me the quoted price. DO NOT TRUST ADVANTAGE!!

I rented a car from carrental.com, which booked the car from Advantage Rent-a-Car with confirmation #E82949787C8 for both companies. I was quoted a price $552.66 for a compact car, listed on confirmation receipt from carrental.com as total estimated charges. Then again on Advantage Rent-a-Car confirmation receipt as total approximate charges of $552.66. This was for a four week rental. When I went to pick up the car, I was quoted a price of $597.72, plus they gave me an economy car, not a compact for this price.

My complaining to this salesperson (Alma ***) was useless. I made attempts to contact customer service by phone, which was more useless as they put me on hold then hung up on me. I contacted carrental.com, they told me there is nothing that their customer service department can do about it until a final invoice is issued. Of course when I received the final invoice and contacted them, they washed there hands about it and said Hertz Rent a Car, who owns Advantage Rent-a-Car, was notified and they are handling the complaint.

The first car they gave me had two front bald tires and a bent rim. I didn't notice till three days after the rental, when I took the car on the highway and passed 50 miles an hour. When I called to complain and return car for exchange, I was told by Alma *** that she had no other cars that were economy cars and that I would have to wait till one came in. I could go on and on about the wait and these people and the second car they gave me.

I called Expedia to confirm a rental car from Advantage. The Expedia confirmed that I can pick up a car on August 17, 2010. The Expedia had already secured the car with my debit card on August 15 or 16. When I arrived at Advantage at about between 09:00 AM - 10:15 AM, the young African-American male is behind the first counter at the right. He motioned for me and my brother to come to the counter so he can help us.

He asked me for my name; I think the itinerary number. I also had an email printout of the confirmation for the rental car from Expedia, but he did not need it. He was looking on the screen, so I assumed that he had the information from Expedia on it. All of a sudden, he stated that the computer would not accept the debit card, because something about Equifax sent him a message stating that they are unable to approve their request. I have the slip of paper that he claimed was sent through the computer which denied their request for payment.

On the slip of paper, there is a telephone number (1-800-685-1111). The man stated that I will need to call the number and clear it up. The number was only a continuous recording and no human answering. While I am standing there, he is telling my brother that my credit is bad and that I will need to produce a credit card for the purchase.

I then called my bank and spoke to Colleen (Bank of the West manager) at 1-800-488-2265, ext. 44189. Colleen checked for the transaction, and she stated that the man has never swiped the card. Colleen stated that there is nothing wrong with your account and the money is there. The young African-American man stated Equifax is preventing him from swiping the debit card, because of bad credit. By the way, my credit is excellent. The man refused to run my debit card account for payment. I was in tears.

The reason why I traveled to Denver is an emergency bereavement (my sister passed away), and we are stuck at the airport Advantage. I did not have another card with me, and they did not care. Also, while we are at the counter trying to get things straightened out, an African-American woman came through the door and sided with the man. They both have an attitude problem. She was telling me that I have credit problems as well.

I then went to the first desk on the left side. There is a Caucasian white man there. The African woman goes over and stands by him. He is standing there letting her further humiliate me by saying "You have bad credit." He would not help me. I went back to sit down and made some phone calls. Then the Caucasian woman on the left next to the man was available. So I went over to her and explained what was going on. I told her that no one will swipe my debit card. She simply took the card and swiped the card, gave me the paperwork, then told me what stall the car is in.

I wasted an hour or two at that office. This definitely added to my stress and frustration, since I was in the city for the funeral of my sister. I never want to go back there, I hate them for treating dirty. Those people do not know me, or do they? I want to know why they treated me that way. I am an older woman who has never treated another human being that way.

My sister was sick and in a nursing home in May 2010 when I traveled to Denver. The Expedia worked with me to make all my accommodations for airlines, hotel, and car rental with budget. I had an excellent experience and was expecting the same this time, but it did not happen. I am still grieving for my sister. The reason why I am making this complaint is because I do not want this to happen to any other individual who is traveling for one last goodbye to a friend or relative. I think that they will get a slap on the hand and told not to do it again. What they both did to us they will do it again.

I rented and returned a car from Advantage Rent A Car from June 7 to 12, 2010. Upon returning, the employee inspected the car and gave me a receipt of $146.31. I asked him if this was the final bill. He said yes. Later, I was surprised that they billed me $294.31. When asked, their billing said I was being billed $148.00 for windshield damages. I mentioned that when I returned the car, the employee had issued me a bill of $146.31 and said it was the final bill.

Furthermore, they have a Damage Collection Form which their employee needs to identify any damage and get my signature acknowledging the damage and authorizing any repairs. This was not done by the employee. As per their contract, once the customer returns the car and it is accepted and inspected, it ends all the terms of the contract. I believe their charge for the windshield is fraudulent.

My credit card company Bank of America has refused to give me credit. The Mastercard Insurance that insures car rentals up to $500000, when they contacted Advantage Rent A Car, the company refused to provide any photos of the damage or any paperwork to MasterCard. I am thinking of suing them in small claims court. Is it possible for you to help me on this? I lost $148.00. I also have emotional loss and other financial loss for taking off from work to talk to Advantage Rent A Car and driving to Denver Airport to talk in person.