Dollar rental car: return car early results in daily rate vs weekly rate
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 35
Dollar rental car: return car early results in daily rate vs weekly rate
Learned the hard way that dollar will automatically switch you without explanation to the daily rate if you return the car early on a weekly rate. Seems kind of scummy to me...
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,360
Did your contract specify a minimum-keep requirement for the weekly rate? If so, did you satisfy that requirement, but still have your rate changed to the daily rate?
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,660
Did you rent direct with a corporate location or it ended up being a franchisee at a small airport? I've had that problem with the franchisee but not a corporate location.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 35
Did you rent direct from Dollar for a corporate location or through a third party travel agent of some sort? I've had that problem with the latter but not with a direct rental at a company store.
Did you rent direct with a corporate location or it ended up being a franchisee at a small airport? I've had that problem with the franchisee but not a corporate location.
Did you rent direct with a corporate location or it ended up being a franchisee at a small airport? I've had that problem with the franchisee but not a corporate location.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,360
#6
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 1,170
"scummy"?
But "scummy" practice when you contract for one pricing period, and then unilaterally switch it to another expecting the rental company to honor it? On this one, I don't think the word applies... jmho
#7
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 585
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,660
Why I Asked and the Word I Would Use Is "Surprising"
Back when I traveled many business trips of uncertain length I'd book the maximum expected length and hope I got done early. With virtually no exception booking direct on the company website for a company location with a loyalty program number resulted in being charged the lesser of the weekly or daily rates even when recalculated to the actual rental period.
Not the same deal if booked through a third party travel agency as I previously had done; in fact it got to the point there were often early drop fees and I asked for an explanation. Duly noted they viewed booking channels differently and I then only booked direct.
Would not have felt shafted if they charged the original rate for a shortened rental and a very limited number of times it was. But usually the price went down. Either way it's a data point for next rental.
Not the same deal if booked through a third party travel agency as I previously had done; in fact it got to the point there were often early drop fees and I asked for an explanation. Duly noted they viewed booking channels differently and I then only booked direct.
Would not have felt shafted if they charged the original rate for a shortened rental and a very limited number of times it was. But usually the price went down. Either way it's a data point for next rental.
Last edited by jayer; Oct 6, 2016 at 11:54 am
#10
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 98
enterprise is best if trip is unspecific time. It is automatic calculated though daily rate is slightly higher. It did not charge extra penalty. Herz used to be worst. Return earlier will result total cost higher than that weekly cost. I do not know what herz practice now since I avoid them a long time.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 39
I imagine the switch feels "scummy" because the agency has their property back to re-rent early; they can get a double-rental off the same time period.
Why should it cost more to keep the car for less time?
I do see, however, the easy potential for abuse. I guess. But unless a patron's record shows this sort of trickery I can't understand why enabling the company to turn a bigger profit should cost the OP.
Why should it cost more to keep the car for less time?
I do see, however, the easy potential for abuse. I guess. But unless a patron's record shows this sort of trickery I can't understand why enabling the company to turn a bigger profit should cost the OP.