Thrifty Consumer Reviews - Page 5

Having reserved a Thrifty car online, I was prepared to pay the $80 for a long weekend in Columbus, OH this past June. After waiting quite awhile in line, I listened to the counter clerk and politely declined any additional insurance coverage, telling him I had my own. I had little reason to suspect he had included it on the rental agreement but read through the box and checked where he told me to. The legal description of what I was checking was very confusing. Basically, this section indicated that it was to be initialed if the renter was or was not getting additional coverage.

I was never asked or told about any additional charges and initialed were told. Unfortunately, I thought that if I was not being told about any options, nor had I requested anything and I had specifically declined insurance that I was simply initialling as instructed for regular business purposes.

My mistake was to trust the clerk to listen and follow instructions. My second mistake was to assume that just because I didn't ask for anything extra, nor was told about anything extra that I could not be charged for anything extra. When I saw that my credit card had been charged $201 when I had agreed online and made a reservation for an $80 charge, I called customer service.

They gave me a complaint number and said I would be hearing from someone. About 2 weeks later, I received a letter stating that "after careful review" I had initialed the form and signed it, so I was responsible for all charges I "agreed" to. The rental agreement included confusing verbiage and the counter clerk intentionally, as it would appear, "signed me up" for just about everything and had me initial with a brief, "this is ordinary" explanation. Obviously, I wouldn't have initialed anything if I had been told it was going to cost extra or be a service I didn't need.

I wish we could get a class action or something against Thrifty. By all accounts, they are knowingly racking up charges left and right for services that are not expected or requested. This needs to stop. I will never rent there again and have told friends and family to steer clear of Thrifty.

CLEARWATER -- I would like to warn all consumers about the misfortune of buying a vehicle from Thrifty car sales in clearwater. My wife and I are both re-married and went through painful financial divorces. We both earn good money and work for respectful employers in the community and have been employed for over 20 years each with the same companies. We made the misfortune of believing the owner of Thrifty in the quality of his vehicles and the reputation of his top notch service mechanic and reliable sales person.

I am not complaining on the vehicle, I knew it needed some repairs. I am complaining about the mistreatment from the owner in retrospect to service schedules, constant rescheduling, unorganization, and horrible management skills. The owner is young and the staff follow suit with laziness as the credential for service. The warranty is honored as long as it is a cheap fix and requires a ten-minute service. Thrifty pushes you to the limit on deception with constant lies from every angle imaginable.

We purchased the vehicle with cash and wanted to rebuild our credit history. I did not expect to have to battle for everything that was promised. Examples of thrifty's excuses to not validate their warranty and show what a poorly managed business they really are regarding time constraint issues and blaming others relating to computer problems, cell phone problems, sickness, funerals, hospital emergencies, front receptionist didn't give me the message, vacation, shop schedule full, and last but not least, hiding from you when you visit or pretending to be on the phone for over 45 minutes.

Do yourself a favor and do not visit or buy from Thrifty car sales in clearwater. Please visit other complaint sites and see if I'm the only one complaining. My wife and I grew tired of the constant battle and took our vehicle to be fixed correctly by another reputable automobile service center. The car is still running, no thanks to thrifty, and it only cost us approximately $700.00 out of pocket. The money is not the point, the care and service expected is not there and thrifty avoids you knowing they are deceiving you. Shame on the owner and take warning.

CLEARATER -- Thrifty Car Sales has angered me so much that I have to warn the public of their tactics. The vehicles are not the best in the world, but all have 72 hour warranties and some manufacture warranties. People that go to Thrifty usually have credit problems and I am in that case. I took the vehicle to my father, who took it to a mechanic who discovered numerous small things wrong with the vehicle. I wrote down everything wrong and presented it to Thrifty. They informed me that they can fix everything and will write down the problems on the contract. Here's where the lies start.

The copy machine was broken (I should have run there), the manager told me to take the vehicle and bring it back for the repairs as the mechanic is booked solid for the next couple weeks. I really needed the vehicle or my instinct was to turn it down until all repairs were fixed. I believed the managers and proceeded. I could not get the car in two weeks after purchase because, what do you know, Thrifty didn't schedule the appointment because of all the computer problems they were experiencing. I made another appointment, meanwhile, the car has gotten worse from the faults and I have to continue to drive it.

I drop the vehicle off and expect it back in the same day. The vehicle was kept for three days and they couldn't fix the problems because the parts were misplaced or shipped somewhere else. Two more weeks I can bring it in. During the two weeks I receive a paycheck and call to speak to someone named Bo. I tell him that the car is leaking so much fluid that I need it fixed or it will have to be towed. Bo tells me to fix it and bring the receipt in.

On my scheduled appointment, I was told by another person, Dan, that they do not honor another business that fixes the warranty item and that all other items needing fixed is now void. Bo states that he never told me to fix the vehicle and the matter goes on and on and on. I fixed the vehicle and it cost me close to $1200 dollars and the snakes at Thrifty did nothing to help me or honor their word. People, if you need a vehicle, no matter what your circumstance is, avoid Thrifty Car Sales in Clearwater, Florida.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT -- Booked through Orbitz.com, medium size car. When I picked this up, I was behind a gentleman who rented a full size car for $10 LESS per day than my mid-size car and was offered an upgrade for $5 more per day. When I asked about the same deal, they said it was not available to me. So I did the paperwork for the 1st Car - signed and ready to go. Was given the keys and began to walk toward the door. The CSR called me back and said he gave me the wrong car. So I do the paperwork for Car B. Sign it and receive the keys. I was surprised that there was no keyless entry - I didn't know they made cars without it anymore.

So I walk to the car, load my bags and put the keys in the ignition. It won't start and the speedometer says "bad key". So I walk back tell him the keys won't work. I wait as he tries it himself; he comes back and says "Oops, wrong keys." So we walk around the lot to find whatever car the keys work in (too bad no keyless entry, we could have just hit the panic button to get the horn to honk).

We finally find the car, I pack my bags in the trunk, put my computer bag in the back seat and notice there is chocolate (hopefully it's just chocolate!) all over the back seat... open the driver's door and see that it's on the driver's seat too! So I walk back to the CSR who has to look himself and verify that there is indeed something disgusting all over the seats.

By now, I'm thinking I'll at least get an upgrade after being given the wrong car, then given the wrong keys, and then given a car with "something" all over the seats. Nope. I get a Sebring... at least has keyless entry. Everything was cool until I tried to return it and saw there was no map nor phone number for the rental location - I finally got to ask a cop where it was located after he pulled me over for doing a U-Turn while trying to find the location. Terrible experience - first and last time I rent from Thrifty.

SEATTLE, MASSACHUSETTS -- I rented a car from Thrifty in Seattle for ten days, returning the car in the same condition as received. As far as I could tell, the car was undamaged when I returned it, but Thrifty had no one available to inspect the car when I returned it (during the work day). I had a plane to catch, so I left the keys at their counter. Several months later, Thrifty billed me for replacement of a chipped or cracked windshield, including loss of use of the vehicle. Their paperwork showed an estimate for windshield replacement dated a week after I returned the car, which is the only clear evidence they provided to me regarding when the damage was noticed.

Thrifty in Seattle will not provide any other information and referred me to a collection agency that will not answer questions beyond offering a choice between payment and legal action. My best guess is that the car was damaged at some point during the seven days between the day when I returned the car and the date of the repair estimate. Since I was the most recent person to have rented the car, they charged me for the damage and for an extended rental until the damage was repaired.

I'm shocked and disappointed. The one time I had a broken car window, I called a repair shop the day the damage occurred, and the shop both provided an estimate and repaired the damage that day. I can't imagine that in a business that makes money from having cars available they would wait a week after observing damage to even get an estimate. I also cannot imagine that a reputable car rental company would charge a customer for damage without a clear indication that the damage occurred during the rental period.

Thrifty's corporate office provided no help, since they say they have no authority over disputes with franchises. The only reason for dealing with a franchise is that the corporate office will enforce standards of honesty and professionalism. Since they failed to do so in the face of a valid customer complaint, I will never rent from Thrifty again. There are plenty of honest and professional car rental companies, and next time I will choose one of them - anyone but Thrifty.

NEW JERSEY -- On 8/12/07 I arrived at Manzanillo airport in Mexico. The Thrifty agent told me that the Orbitz rate of $71.98, under which I have reserved the car through Orbitz was wrong, it should have been $201. Left with no real choice at that airport, I agreed to the increase and signed the rental contract. I picked up a Dodge Stratus with 54,000 Km. It had a loud, clearly audible rumbling noise emanating from the front ends, and it felt excessively spongy and lethargic when it bounced over the many speed bumps on the road in Manzanillo; a strong indication that the shocks and struts were in very poor condition. Also the back seats were broken and sunk in when sat on.

Nevertheless, given that it was Mexico, I assumed that it was nothing out of the ordinary to have a rental car in poor condition and high mileage. Besides, the 45 minutes drive between the airport and my hotel made me decide to just stick with it. During the 7 days, from time to time, the car's lower right front panel would come unattached. I would just push it back in, to its mounting clips on upper panel, until it came off and just hanging loose again. At the end of my trip on 8/20/07, I drove it back to the airport, the AC stopped working, and a foot-long black rubber/plastic flap came off the hanging lower front panel, flapping in the wind and against the right front tire.

Anyway, I was able to make it back to the airport and returned the car. After checking the car upon my report of the problems, the Thrifty manager told me that the oil pump was leaking oil because, she determined, that I must have run over something. She also mentioned dirty muddy water (which was from the rain in the previous several days and the muddy sections of some roads) - and I will be responsible for the repair cost.

I told her that since I was not offered to inspect the oil pump prior to renting, there was no way for me to know what was the condition of the oil pump. For all I know, the car could very well had an oil leak long before I picked up the car, therefore I would not pay for it.

She had since charged $1,425.23 on my credit card which I have filed a dispute with my credit card company. So there you have it - Thrifty at Manzanillo airport used deceptive, low rates at Orbitz to lure renters, then charged the higher, normal rate once they showed up. Provided a beat-up junk that had numerous pre-existing mechanical problems through years of traveling the bumpy roads of Manzanillo. And, if something goes wrong as hoped and expected, then charge the renter for the repair costs.

Sounds like a classical third world fraud to cheat the tourists.

Before traveling to Vancouver, I reserved a mid-sized vehicle with Thrifty. I was promised a Chrysler Sebring, or similar vehicle. When I arrived at the airport, there were no mid-sized vehicles available. The agent looked at my luggage and told me I should get an upgrade. I told him I would be fine with a mid-size. He told me that the only vehicle available was a Chrysler PT cruiser. He was aware that my luggage would not fit in it, and I had little choice. I told him that I would take the PT cruiser, and have my wife stay with the rest of my luggage until I came back.

He lied to me and told me that the hotel would be at least an hour each way with current traffic, and would not be practical. It turned out to be a 20 minute trip. According to Thrifty's website, the Sebring is a mid-size and the PT Cruiser is in the specialty vehicle class. Chrysler's website lists the Sebring with 47.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The PT Cruiser has 21.2. They are not the same class, according to Thrify's website, and could not reasonably be considered comparable vehicles. I was supposed to get a free upgrade, according to their own policy, since there were no available vehicles in the same class.

Had I reserved a full sized car instead, it would have been an additional $22 at the time. I was told that the best they could do was $80 more. I did not need more than a mid-size, but they gave me no choice. I was told that at that time, it was not likely that any other rental agency would have anything either. Although I did not check, I have no reason to believe he was telling the truth. I contacted Thrifty using their website ("Complaints and difficulties- If your rental experience was unsatisfactory, we want to address your concerns.") but I never heard back from them.

SAN JOSE -- We rented a Toyota Yaris starting July 3rd and returning July 10th, 2006 in San Jose, Costa Rica. We requested a full tank since we didn't want to deal with the hassle of filling it up to a subjective mark. In retrospect, it seems as if we knew what was coming next.

Unfortunately, we had to accept a tank with 7/8 of a tank. Right before we returned the car, we filled it up trying our best to fill it up to the estimated 7/8. The bitter surprise was when the counter lady told us it was 6/8 and therefore she was going to charge us for gas (at several times the regular price at the pump). Unable to speak with a supervisor because he/she was unavailable, we engaged in a heated discussion with the counter lady who totally refused to listen to our arguments.

After speaking to another customer standing by us who very kindly explained to us that Thrifty in Costa Rica is “known for its total lack of customer service”, we took her advice and decided to take the car to the pump since we had arrived early. Another bitter surprise: we weren't allowed to take the car our even though the rental time wasn't due yet!! After another heated discussion, we were finally allowed and so we did.

As if this wasn't enough reason to be upset to Thrifty, we had rented a Suzuki Terios from June 19th to July 3rd, 2006. The lady at the counter (a different one) didn't check the second page of our reservation and was charging us the taxes that she thought hadn't been charged already. Again, we explained to her that we had paid everything and that we preferred to discuss it with the supervisor. She announced that she could call her, but that she was letting us know in advance that the supervisor was not going to help us!!

Finally, she realized there was a second page in our reservation and saw that the taxes had already been paid. No apology, no nothing!! We learned our lesson: Thrifty Car Rental…NEVER AGAIN! We will go back and stick to Budget since we have done plenty of times without any issues.

BOSTON, LOGAN AIRPORT, MASSACHUSETTS -- We reserved a car from Thrifty on a recent trip to Boston. When we went to pick it up, the guy at the counter added additional charges to the contract, after we'd already said we didn't want them. When I pointed out that the contract was wrong, he asked for my credit card back to fix it, then sent me outside to examine the car. When we got to the hotel, we realized he had not returned my card. They would not answer their phone (we tried every number we could, even the roadside assistance) and we had to drive back to the airport.

Once there, the agent repeatedly denied having my card, and only superficially looked for it. That is, until the manager finally appeared, at which point, my card magically materialized... the agent saying said he found it on the floor. I am positive the agent pocketed it. Two other complaints: the car they gave us was dirty, hadn't been cleaned. And the wait at the airport was long, because they are farther away than other rental car companies and run a smaller van and a smaller fleet. DO NOT RENT FROM THIS COMPANY!!!

HOBBY AIRPORT HOUSTON, TEXAS -- I reserve a premium full size vehicle from Thrifty online to be pick up when I arrived in Houston, at Hobby airport. I also call them to confirm that they would have one not leaving anything to chance and they said they did. Well when I arrived they had only a Dodge Challenger which had been in an accident and they pretended they didn't know it, and gave me a Chevy SUV Captiva which was too small. No GPS or good radio. I reserve a premium car and got some trash for my money and they gone tell me that the Chevy SUV was equal to a premium. It was too damn small for someone over 6 feet. Very disappointed and feel cheated!