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I am looking for a liitle information about a car rental problem that my husband and I are having now. We rented a car from a company, (I won’t say the name) and we had the car for 3 days and then it broke down on the 4th day, surprisingly after we left the car rental place to extend our car rental dates.
My husband thought the transmission slipped and that was the problem because we could not get the car in gear, it just sounded like it was in neutral with the engine revving up. We managed to almost get home, but had to pull off on the side of our little, busy road on the way home. I called the car rental company and told them what had happened, they asked some questions and said they would send someone with another car for us. A short time later they showed up with a different rental car for us and apologized and we were on our way home.Unfortunately for us, the very next day, coming back home we hit a rock in the road (with our replacement rental car, as luck would have it. The road to our condo is all torn up and there is lots of traffic and bicycles, fast drivers.) My husband had to swerve off to the side of the road because a big truck was coming in the opposite direction and with the road all torn up, there is really no place to go but off to the side of the dirt. I heard the rock hit and we did not think too much of it until after we got home and decided to take the car and go get dinner. We noticed the big oil leak and I thought, uh-oh, this is going to cost us because I know the insurance only covers damages to other vehicles, not ours. We called the car rental company again and they came and got the second car and told us we could not get another. I kind of figured that would happen even thought we still had 3 more days left on our rental contract.
I got back home to the states yesterday and called my credit card company and I was informed that they had blocked the charges from the car rental company. Apparently, one hour after we called and told them about the first car we had problems with the engine they tried to place charges on my card about 7 times. Charges ranging from $2000, $1000, $700, $500.
When they picked up the second car that we did cause the damage to from the rock, they attempted to charge $2500, $1500, they tried 6 times. As of now no charges have gone through to my credit card until I tell them it is okay to do so. My credit card company suspected fraud so they blocked all charges to the card.
I am not sure what to do now because I am not going to pay any extra money for the first car that had the engine problems. Now, the second car, yes, obviously we will have to pay those damages although I am not sure that we won’t be grossly overcharged for that. My credit card does not cover anything unless the car is on a paved road, so it will be out of pocket for us. Our US car insurance does not cover international rentals, either.
Any suggestions on how we can resolve this? My husband is still in CR for a couple more weeks and he will also try to get this resolved. I am really afraid we will have to end up paying for both vehicles and there may be nothing we can do about it. Yikes, we don’t have that kind of money…all of the charges amount to $7000 for a Toyota Yaris.
Sorry to hear about the problems you’re having! I guess it’s a two part problem, and I have to say the way the car rental company tried to improperly/illegally charge your credit card for the first car exchange (not your fault) really makes the second problem (kind of your fault) a no brainer. Cancel the credit card NOW and ask for a detailed bill from the rental agency for the rental and the damages to the second car. I’d be in no rush to pay these folks since it seems they are NOT on the up and up! You know in good faith that you owe them for the rental and the damages, but seeing how they tried to skin you I’d drag my feet and let them CLEARLY document the charges before you do anything!
The damages sound like a cracked oil pan, the charges they tried to place on your card are well above the cost for the parts and the repair in CR. Please let us know the company, I’d like to avoid them if possible.
Edited on Mar 30, 2008 17:01
Thankfully, my credit card company blocked the charges so there have been no charges applied to my credit card for the car rental or the other charges they tried to apply.
Yes, I am totally willing to pay for the damage that we caused to the second car because it was our fault, but definitely not the first car. Especially since they tried to apply the charges for the first car an hour after we called in to have them bring us another car. That is the part that upsets me. I am sure we will get this cleared up and I have no intention of paying anything until I have in writing from them, what the charges are for. I know they will be inflated charges because it is a car rental company, they would do the same thing in the states if there was damage to a rental car. Yikes….
My husband is still in CR and I told him we had better get it straightened out in case they won’t let him leave the country….you never know….I will tell you the name of the company, and I am sure it will be deleted from my blog if I am not allowed to say, so I will put it at the end.
It was Budget car rental near the Liberia Airport.
Hmmm, I had a similar problem with a highly recommended hotel in Jaco, they tried to charge me three separate times. They looked at me strangely when I demanded a receipt after I checked in and paid in full, but I soon found out, via email, that Mastercard had canceled the transactions. I was so happy I had pre-registered my charge card for security reasons, and MC came through. I checked out quickly thereafter and got a tirade from the front desk. Now, you may be thinking that I should have at least paid them for one night’s stay, even if I didn’t stay, but before you think it unfair, remember that law enforcement is primitive, even for locals, and you and I would be singing a different tune if we paid cash. That said, forget about honor among thieves, and keep your money. These people know they can’t go to the police, or they’d be shut down! As far as I’m concerned, they’ve already written you and your husband off, and thanks for the name of the company, it’s now on my no-fly list. For what it’s worth, I’ve gone with Expedia’s preferred listed Eurocar three times, and never a problem!
I’ll through in a good word for Dollar rental car. No problems in 4 or 5 years with them. A few times there were even some minor damage to the car and never a charge. And once when I returned the car I noticed they charged me for the extra insurance which I did not want. I spoke with the manager and it was removed and I was given a 10% overall discount!
John, your description of the events at the Jaco hotel has me confused. You say that Master Card cancelled all transactions. Does that include the first time the hotel tried to bill you? That would be a valid charge. If that billing was refused by M.C., then I can understand why the hotel would try to run the transaction through again, perhaps even three more times. If that is the case, then you really do owe them for the night’s stay even if you did not stay. I wasn’t sure from your posting whether you stayed or not.
As for the primitive law enforcement argument, that’s no reason to not pay the bill, If someone provides a service to me, I consider it a matter of honor to pay him for that service, whether or not the police will back him up. It has nothing to do with no “honor among thieves.” It’s a matter of my sense of honor to myself.
If the hotel is highly recommended, it can probably absorb the loss without much difficulty. Some shoestring operations might feel the pinch a little more.
editer
Edited on Apr 07, 2008 06:42
No, all three of the hotel’s billings went through, which prompted MC to suspend my card. I didn’t suspect until I tried to charge my dinner. I can understand your confusion, though, but I know from theft. I was the lead witness in a $36 million dollar corruption scam at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki, that was quietly swept under the table by the military club system. I’ve also worked for the Hyatt Regencies in SF and Waikiki, so I know from good, honest service. “Honor among thieves” refers to the lack thereof, and believe me, everyone in that scam, from a 2-star general down to the entire management staff were nice people with great personalities. That doesn’t make them respectable.
As I said in the posting, I left without staying, after I demanded they reverse the charges. They ignored me. The primitive reference was a quote from the front desk of the last hotel I stayed at in San Jose, which my good Tico friends recommended. That hotel owner warned me the driver he had hired to get me around was notorious for overcharging, and yes, they argued about it in front of me, a lot! BTW, I understand Spanish (since I live in the Mission SF), and I know “Dumb American” when I hear it.
I’ve been to Jaco enough times to know what the boys are selling on the bridge, where the hookers hang out, and I’ve watched the police look on. I’ve been taken for a ride by Ticos who, after I failed to empty my wallet, left me at a warehouse party, where no one would call me a taxi. Being attractive, and able to pass as a Tico, I was able to talk a nice couple into giving me a lift back.
Some shoestring operations might feel the pinch, but I’m not about to let them pinch me first. I hope you understand.
Cheers!
Hey Lotus,
Thanks for the recommendation. Dollar is who I rely on in California, they are always courteous and quick to please. I go with Eurocar in CR because they provide Expedia with the best rates, and always seem to have my favorite car, the Rav4 (I love mine), available. My first trip to CR, my host/guide had a very good deal with Hertz, but Eurocar was able to beat it by over $100/week. I’ll consider Dollar next time…not that I’ve ever needed extra insurance, my driving record is spotless, even after 38 years on the road.John no problemo! I am going to check out expedia I always thought you did better dealing direct. With flights I do use them as well as Kayak but then go to the airlines site. Seems that even if the price is only a little better there is a much better choice of flights. My girlfriend just used expedia to book a car/flight/hotel to Florida though and got a great price much better than going direct to the source so to speak.
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