Originally Posted by RustyC
Am not a great fan of Alamo because of practices like not quoting the standard rate when you have a coupon entered on the website (They usually jack it up to negate the coupon value), and the $10.99 late-fee/retroactive charge surprise they pull on you at the time of rental. These are easily avoided if they'd choose to play it straight, and are too reminiscent of worst industry practices. Alamo used to be notorious for telling you one thing over the phone and another at the counter; I guess they can't be as bad about that with people waving printouts at them, but their culture hasn't rid itself of the bad elements. I hope it doesn't bleed over to National.
That is exactly what happened to me during my last rental at Alamo greater than a dozen years ago.
Needless to say, Alamo has missed out on countless dollars by me all of those years. I refuse to rent from Alamo, even if they have the lowest rates.
Ironically (because Alamo and National are now part of the same company), I am an Emerald Club Executive member with National Car Rental and have been completely satisfied with them.
As far as Dollar and Thrifty go (I believe they are part of the same company), watch out with them as they are quite strict about their policies. Rent from them with extreme care, and only if their rates are considerably low enough to justify any aggravation one may suffer with them.
A long time ago, I had rented vehicles regularly from Budget for years. One day, the Los Angeles Airport location tried unsuccessfully to charge me for damage to one of their cars that did not occur during my rental.
I may have rented from Budget for years years ago, but now I have not rented from Budget for years since...