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Don't Believe Hotwire's Low Price Guarantee, Nor Their Price Match Policy
Car Rental - Complaint
Review by drushea on 2013-02-28
Rating: 
THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME WHEN I ASKED, FLORIDA -- Hot wire does not back up their advertisements!
We were in Kauai, Hi and needed a car for 2 days. My daughter contacted Hot Wire as she has used them many times before and the lowest price guarantee was offered, my daughter accepted and put it on her credit card. The next day I checked directly with Alamo and got the exact time/day/car type guaranteed price of half what Hotwire was charging my daughter for their "Lowest price". She called first and was given the company line.. "It was the lowest price that Hertz had when we checked".. I called and got the same line, plus, because we weren't in the "more than 48 hours" cancellation time slot, they refused. I asked to speak to a supervisor and I got Miguel (he wouldn't say where he was located ... It's against company policy).. I'm in Hawaii.. where is he??? I quoted the Alamo price (half of the "guaranteed low price").. asked him to price match.. company policy, can't do.. not outside of the 48 hour cancellation period.. I explained same pickup drop off time, same economy car, etc. he wouldn't budge... I asked if the call was being recorded, he said it was.. We had a more detailed discussion about company policy, company reputation and my feelings about his answers.. it made no difference... we had to cancel the Ala, mo reservation (which they were very pleasant about) and use the Hotwire reservation or be fully charged for it... and considering contacting the credit card company and registering a complaint and ask them to not pay.
Needless to say, we won't be using Hotwire again and I strongly urge anyone else to do the same... once they get your money (twice as much as they should have) they won't consider anything except keeping it!!! Greedy SOBs. customer relations stink !
Tom Wallon Jackxonville, Fl.
We were in Kauai, Hi and needed a car for 2 days. My daughter contacted Hot Wire as she has used them many times before and the lowest price guarantee was offered, my daughter accepted and put it on her credit card. The next day I checked directly with Alamo and got the exact time/day/car type guaranteed price of half what Hotwire was charging my daughter for their "Lowest price". She called first and was given the company line.. "It was the lowest price that Hertz had when we checked".. I called and got the same line, plus, because we weren't in the "more than 48 hours" cancellation time slot, they refused. I asked to speak to a supervisor and I got Miguel (he wouldn't say where he was located ... It's against company policy).. I'm in Hawaii.. where is he??? I quoted the Alamo price (half of the "guaranteed low price").. asked him to price match.. company policy, can't do.. not outside of the 48 hour cancellation period.. I explained same pickup drop off time, same economy car, etc. he wouldn't budge... I asked if the call was being recorded, he said it was.. We had a more detailed discussion about company policy, company reputation and my feelings about his answers.. it made no difference... we had to cancel the Ala, mo reservation (which they were very pleasant about) and use the Hotwire reservation or be fully charged for it... and considering contacting the credit card company and registering a complaint and ask them to not pay.
Needless to say, we won't be using Hotwire again and I strongly urge anyone else to do the same... once they get your money (twice as much as they should have) they won't consider anything except keeping it!!! Greedy SOBs. customer relations stink !
Tom Wallon Jackxonville, Fl.
Comments:
Posted by Old Timer on 2013-02-28:
Classic reason for staying far away from all these 3rd party sites. Better prices, better service to just deal direct.
Posted by trmn8r on 2013-02-28:
People will continue to use these sites, because of the premise that they will save money.
Personally, it is simply not worth the aggravation. IMO, if shopping is done with care, the customer will get a decent quote because of competition. Adding a third party logically adds another party that needs to make a profit.
Personally, it is simply not worth the aggravation. IMO, if shopping is done with care, the customer will get a decent quote because of competition. Adding a third party logically adds another party that needs to make a profit.
Posted by BobSF on 2013-03-01:
I check with the rental companies first then with the 3rd party vendors.
Posted by bhskittykatt on 2013-03-02:
I'm confused...was the Hotwire reservation for an Alamo car, or a Hertz car? You say you found a cheaper rental directly through Alamo, but the person you called mentioned Hertz.
Either way, this is why it's always best to book direct with the rental company.
Either way, this is why it's always best to book direct with the rental company.
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