FYI: 3x overcharge due to "rate not valid"
Aug 2, 2015, 12:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: DL, AA, UA
Posts: 560
FYI: 3x overcharge due to "rate not valid"
Had two rentals for Hawaii in July - 4 days in HNL, 7 days in ITO/KOA. Reservations made in May. Quoted rates were $162 and $267 respectively. But I was charged $338 and $605. After 45 minutes (!) on the phone with a billing clerk, I got a refund of the overages.
The clerk said the problem was that the code I booked under is "no longer valid", so the system automatically pulled in rack rates (!!!!).
Lesson: check your receipts very carefully. Or use a different vendor.
The clerk said the problem was that the code I booked under is "no longer valid", so the system automatically pulled in rack rates (!!!!).
Lesson: check your receipts very carefully. Or use a different vendor.
Aug 2, 2015, 1:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Paradise
Posts: 1,617
Which code would that be?
Always a good idea to have printouts and deal with any issues on site upon returning the car. With that said, never had a problem with pricing. Whatever the site told me upon booking is always what am charged.
Always a good idea to have printouts and deal with any issues on site upon returning the car. With that said, never had a problem with pricing. Whatever the site told me upon booking is always what am charged.
Aug 2, 2015, 2:11 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: DL, AA, UA
Posts: 560
See, that's just it. I didn't book with any special "codes" - just my standard contract rate. As near as I can tell, this was a systems error on their side. The point is, after 25 years of using National with no problem, now I have to start checking the rates after every rental.
Aug 2, 2015, 2:37 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Aug 2, 2015, 2:43 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: DL, AA, UA
Posts: 560
Aug 2, 2015, 3:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
Never heard this one before. I use all kinds of codes, even some that are supposedly "expired", and they've never changed the rate after I get the confirmation.
Aug 2, 2015, 5:59 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Aug 5, 2015, 10:37 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
One bad experience with "defaulting to rack rates" has led me to always ask the booth clerk to verify the rental total before I leave the lot. Much better to solve the problem early...