My recent travel experience through Priceline has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. After trying to navigate through the non-user friendly Priceline phone system if you want to speak to a real person, I finally got through, and spoke with two Priceline representatives and they refused to honor a refund, or a credit for a parking voucher I was unable to use. Priceline did not put the full name of the name of the garage, so I was unable to find it, and my GPS did not lead me to it either (the GPS mishap is not their fault, but because the name was not clear, it added to the stress of trying to find it).
Because I had not been there before, I sought out a different parking garage (which ended up being $20 less expensive than the Priceline voucher, go figure, not the lowest price guarantee), because I did not want to drive around looking for it, and potentially miss my flight traveling by myself, with my two young children. Priceline refused to refund $61.25, or even give me credit for a future use at the parking garage, which I would have gladly accepted. They refused any kind of credit, which I feel is very poor customer service, and I have disputed this charge with my credit card company.
Additionally, I had an issue with the rental car company through Priceline. I was charged a total of $334.00 through Priceline when I booked it. I used Hertz, and at the end of my trip I was charged an additional $349.00 from Hertz in car seats, taxes, gas, and insurance. This $349.00 is in addition to the $334.00 Priceline charged me. Mind you, I understand I have to pay additional for the insurance, and the car seats ($120 for car seats, which is a complete rip off). Hertz did not even have the courtesy to install the car seats. I had to sweat at the Orlando airport, and put them in by myself, in an unfamiliar vehicle, while trying to watch my kids in a busy parking lot, and attempt to keep them in the car. Hertz also ended up charging me $9.29 per gallon, when I returned the car 2/3 full!
When I originally rented the car, they had said if I did not return it full, then it would cost me around $ 3.75/gallon. I cant remember the exact price, but it was under $4.00/gallon, and the Hertz representative even pointed to a sign behind him at the counter, showing me the $3.75 per gallon. I was also charged over $50 in taxes from Hertz. Priceline charged me $100.34 in taxes. I am wondering why I am paying over $150 in rental car taxes from the two companies? I called Hertz, and they did take off half for the car seats, and a portion of the gas, after much complaining but they said I would need to talk to Priceline about the high taxes I paid.
So far, Priceline is refusing to refund anything, not surprisingly after my experience with the parking voucher. All in all, Hertz somewhat redeemed themselves by crediting a portion of the ridiculous charges but still, I will look into other rental companies before using them again in the future. However, I will never use Priceline again. Their customer service is despicable, and they are very inflexible, and do not have the customer's satisfaction in mind.
