I rented a car from Alaska Car Rental. When I got in the car, I noticed the gas gauge was between 3/4 and full. I drove the car about 20 miles in the city of Ketchikan. When I filled up the tank, it took approximately 6 gallons of fuel for a cost of over $20.00. When I returned the car, I told the counter clerk about the situation, and she informed me she was not authorized to credit me any money for the gas.
I asked to talk to the manager who also informed me that she would not credit me for the gas. When I insisted, she accused me of falsifying the odometer reading. I asked her to look at the car to verify it, but she would not. I explained to her that I had only driven 20 miles and used only 1 to 1.5 gallons of fuel. But she said that I was lying about the amount of gas I put in.
I had a receipt dated for the same day, just 15 minutes prior to returning the car. She said she would only credit me $10. I asked, "Why not the whole amount?" She became insistent and unreasonable again, accusing me of either making false statements or recording the wrong odometer readings. I became made and hung up on her.
After several months, I cooled off and tried to rent a car from Alaska Car Rental again. They informed me that they would not rent a car to me because of the prior incident. When I explained to them that I was mad because I was being accused of being called a liar, she said she did not want to re-live the moment again and that I would never be able to rent a car from them again.
I was a customer for 20 years dating back to 1990, and they treated me like this when I had true odometer records, both checking the car out and upon return. And I had a valid gas receipt. They left me no options. They are the only car rental business in town. I frequently travel to Ketchikan for business, and now, there is no one to rent a car from. I felt as though I was treated unfairly when I returned my car in, and now when I'm trying to rent a car, they will not do business with me.
15 years ago, I was also accused of burning a cigarette hole in a front seat cushion. They charged it on my Visa, without my knowledge. It was over $300 for the damages. Only when I called and complained and told them that I am not a smoker, never have smoked, and never had any passengers in the car, did they relented and credited my Visa card. Because they are the only car rental place in Ketchikan, I continued to use them. Even after this last incident, I elected to use them, because there are no other choices other than taxis.
These people are predatory, unfair, and unreasonable, unwilling to check into facts, and unwilling to check documents. Instead they bully, berate, and cheat honest customers out of money and services at their will.
