Hertz - PC at YUL - Take SUV or Downgraded

I picked up my car at YUL yesterday afternoon and was given a choice of taking either a mini-van http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif or a SUV (and I hate SUV's) or a downgrade to a mid-size.

My folio was on the back rack waiting for me but no car in it either. I was booked into a Full Size and they had none available. The lady at the counter told me this was normal for those picking up in the afternoon. WHAT! They get the list in the morning and can see that a PC is coming in and they don't hold at least the reservation they booked for their arrival.

Being a new PC what do you suggest is the best course of action (besides renting Avis at this location - I'm PS with Avis). I thankfully got a Seabring not a Cavalier. It's not like I'm driving a lot of miles this week so I'm not too upset.

Is this common for PC? Should I just chalk it up to experience and suck it up? I just figure if I wanted a full size or mid size I would have rented smaller. They wouldn't upgrade me to the one Jag (which I guess could have been rented) in the lot and just about every other stall was empty.

Oh yes, the same lady also said that if I showed up around 10:00pm or so then I would stand a very good chance of getting a Jag or similar as they are very low on cars by then http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

When this has happened to me at YYZ (which has to have some of the worst service in the system), i've called the desk and the reduced my rate to the lowest rate available, and then comped some other discount (customer retention discount or something like that) of 25% off the rental.

WRT the 10pm/jag question, it does happen. I often picked up late at YYZ and every 2nd or 3rd rental I would get a LS, S-type or even a mini once.

geez, and i was disappointed with my C->YC "upgrade" at LGA this week. at least they put it in the spot right behind the big board.....

I've had this problem with the Dreaded Grand Marquis in the past. My response has been to book mid-size: I've gotten a Taurus almost every time.

I also got an SUV one time when I had booked economy because I actually wanted a smallish car. Had to go through the motions of walking inside and switching, which was no problem.

I try not to ever complain too loudly about being overupgraded. I've generally very appreciative of the PC program.

So here's what happened:

When I dropped off the car today they had billed me for a compact. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

After going back to the terminal I wanted to let the station manager know what happened (can't fix what you don't know about) in a very calm and polite manner. They gave me a $35 off voucher good for any Hertz location, valid for one year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

So I'm still disappointed with the attitude of the counter staff who assign cars but Hertz did look after me in the end.

Nice save Hertz http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I had a similar adventure at YYZ. I had reserver the cheapest car possible (I think compact and intermediate were the same price.) I got there and in my stall was sitting a Jeep. Uggh. I checked my contract and stall number - yep a jeep. So I started to walk back to the booth, and noticed a plethora of SUVs sitting out there. So I just took it, and drove it 4-wheel drive through the ice storm...

due to the weather my flight got rebooked to early the next morning - when I went to return, there was nobody there, so I dropped it off in the express return. After a week+, there was still no charge on my credit card or any bill. I went to the counter and asked for a copy of the receipt. He asked me if I bought fuel, and how much was in it, what time I returned it, and then printed out a receipt... I wonder if I would have even been charged if I hadn't asked!