frank_10b
Nov 6, 07, 7:36 am
Even if you are part of their rental program they wont wave it? What is up with this? I will never rent from Dollar again.
Dollar - Fee Wavers. What is up with new early return and $10.99 a day late return fee?
View Full Version : Fee Wavers. What is up with new early return and $10.99 a day late return fee?
jackal
Nov 7, 07, 4:29 am
What fees are you talking about? I've never heard of them.
Maybe they're some new deal at corporate locations, but our franchise hasn't been instructed to charge any fees like this.
I personally don't like early/late penalty fees (Alamo's the worst, though--on top of penalty fees, according to Christopher Elliott, they recalculate your fare to the highest walkup bucket if you make any changes, and so returning early can result in a higher total cost than sticking to your original dates), but I see why--pushing fleet utility to the maximum without leaving cars sitting or running out of cars can be a challenge with the unknowns of early and late returns (nevermind the 15% no-show factor). This may be an attempt to try to reduce the factor of those variables. Still, early/late returns are such a small percentage of rentals that I don't think the potential lost business is worth implementing them. Best thing to do is to write to customer service or President Gary Paxton's office and express your displeasure at them.
As for not waiving the fees when you're a Dollar Express member--Dollar Express is a free program. Anyone, their grandma, and their dog can all sign up (well, as long as the dog has a valid driver's license). It's an express program and a rewards program, not a premium service program. It may eventually evolve into that, but as long as it's free and open enrollment, it's silly to expect that it is equivalent to 1K, EXP, Platinum Medallion, etc. As an AS and UA GM, I don't expect any special treatment from those airlines just because I belong to their free and open mileage programs.
Maybe they're some new deal at corporate locations, but our franchise hasn't been instructed to charge any fees like this.
I personally don't like early/late penalty fees (Alamo's the worst, though--on top of penalty fees, according to Christopher Elliott, they recalculate your fare to the highest walkup bucket if you make any changes, and so returning early can result in a higher total cost than sticking to your original dates), but I see why--pushing fleet utility to the maximum without leaving cars sitting or running out of cars can be a challenge with the unknowns of early and late returns (nevermind the 15% no-show factor). This may be an attempt to try to reduce the factor of those variables. Still, early/late returns are such a small percentage of rentals that I don't think the potential lost business is worth implementing them. Best thing to do is to write to customer service or President Gary Paxton's office and express your displeasure at them.
As for not waiving the fees when you're a Dollar Express member--Dollar Express is a free program. Anyone, their grandma, and their dog can all sign up (well, as long as the dog has a valid driver's license). It's an express program and a rewards program, not a premium service program. It may eventually evolve into that, but as long as it's free and open enrollment, it's silly to expect that it is equivalent to 1K, EXP, Platinum Medallion, etc. As an AS and UA GM, I don't expect any special treatment from those airlines just because I belong to their free and open mileage programs.
frank_10b
Nov 7, 07, 7:32 am
It was just started last month, I had this trouble in the NYC area. Renting from Newark and returning to NYC location. Are these corporate. I was told by the staff member that they use to wave them but now they are required to charge the fee. Really, 10.99 a day for keeping the car longer? I returned that sucker and got a nicer one from Avis.
I was told by one rep. on the phone that the fee was waved for express members, but they refused to do it at the counter.
I was told by one rep. on the phone that the fee was waved for express members, but they refused to do it at the counter.
Jay71
Dec 21, 07, 7:27 pm
When I rented in Vegas the person at the Express counter by the lot specifically pointed this fee out to me and made me initial it on the agreement so I don't think they'll waive it for Express members.
I've never returned a car a day early or late before (but I've only done a handful of rentals) so the change isn't likely going to significantly impact my decision to rent with Dollar.
I've never returned a car a day early or late before (but I've only done a handful of rentals) so the change isn't likely going to significantly impact my decision to rent with Dollar.