Beware Dollar Car Hire Orlando Sandford fraud

[Deleted User]

Booked a Dollar Car Hire vehicle through Auto-Europe and on arrival at Orlando Sandford told the agent I would be availing of Auto-Europe's return vehicle full of fuel option and that I would not require any extras whatsoever.

Didn't have a chance to see contract before signing hand-held device but agent assured me the $165 charged to my CC was in case vehicle wasn't returned full and/or was damaged.

Returned vehicle full 10 days later only to be told the charge had already gone through for prep-paid fuel and Roadsafe roadside assistance.

Neither of these were included in the Auto-Europe contract and the agent failed to disclose they'd been added - i.e. she lied through her teeth

Caused a scene at the airport and a different agent agreed there had obviously been something dodgy going on and said would refund the entire amount.

Of couse Dollar never did - the refund receipt that agent gave me was merely confirmation of the original $165 that had gone through.

Complained to Dollar Customer Services in the US about their agents being dishonest on two occasions.Dollar said the Roadsafe part of the bill would be refunded but not the pre-paid fuel even though the vehicle was returned full of fuel

Threatened legal action and finally got that refunded.

The long and the short of it is don't believe the lying scumbags even when they're promising you stuff to your face. Dollar treat their customers appallingly and try to shiv them in whatever way they can

It's obvious as well that they attempt to prey on UK visitors to Orlando believing many haven't been to the States before and are gullible about car hire scams.

Avoid them like the plague and if not film the selling agent with your smart phone - it's amazing how quickly the Customer Services people folded when I told them I had and would be quite happy to show it in court.

Even though I hadn't

Rant over.

Backbiter

Not a good experience. I've used Dollar in Florida and Vegas on several occasions (using the prepaid fuel option) and I've never had any trouble at all.

[Deleted User]

Backbiter wrote: »

Not a good experience. I've used Dollar in Florida and Vegas on several occasions (using the prepaid fuel option) and I've never had any trouble at all.

I'm sure Dollar experiences in Florida vary but the more I think about my experiences I'm convinced it's because of the location.

Orlando Sanford is a small airport, used mainly by charter airlines such as Monarch.Their clientele will not be savvy American business or tourists customers but Europeans.

Most passengers looking for car hire will use European booking agencies who often have very different booking conditions from the ones American car hir companies offer.

Tired after a long flight and often with equally tired kids in tow the temptation for renters is simply to sign what's put in front of them and get on their way as quickly as possible.

Easy pickings for the agents who obviously are paid commision on whatever extras they can " sell. "

Dollar do offer a return vehicle fuel option - if you look at the small print it asks for a fuel receipt from a petrol station within 10 miles of the depot but clearly there's more in it for the agent to fabricate a pre-paid fuel option where the customer doesn't request one.

Dollar's customer service department said they will pass on my complaint to the local management to investigate - the chances of that happening are virtually non-existent.

The lesson to be learned is to check all paperwork and take nothing at face value from smiley agents who smell a fast buck.

abacab

A few years back we hired a car from dollar at the main Orlando airport.
During our holiday we parked on Daytona beach and enjoyed our day in the sea.
Went back to the car to retrieve something and slipped the key (transponder type)into my trunks pocket.
Jumped back into the sea,coming out a bit later felt the key in my pocket!
Of course the car wouldnt start,so called dollar who arranged for recovery and informed it would cost several hundred dollars to put right.
Breakdown retrieved car as the sea lapped towards it.
Back at Daytona airport another car was supplied with full tank(other was getting empty) and we were on our way.
Never paid a penny extra as everything was prepaid in the uk and dollar hadnt taken our credit card details.

[Deleted User]

Update : Received an email from Dollar Customer Services reporting that my case " along with other complaints with similar scenarios " has been passed on to the management of the Florida locations.

In other words, the agents at Orlando Sanford Dollar have been trying the scam on a wholesale basis.