Originally Posted by
mitchell
Thrifty SEA should have TOLD ME it was going to charge $250. I could have given them a different card, or just given cash.
Knowing the TSD software as I do, truthfully, the rental agent may not have even realized he/she was charging the $250, unless he/she paid extra careful attention to the screen before printing, and I confess that I don't because I'm so fast and it's all such a habit for me). Unless it was a debit card (which it doesn't sound like), it was probably an honest mistake. But I realize the hassle it caused you, and I don't dispute that.
Thus I always use low-limit credit cards for hotels, cars, and other risky tranasctions whenever possible. Stores should realize that we aren't always using $20,000-100,000 limit cards. Sometimes we are using $500-1,000 limit cards and unexpectedly charging items (rather than just placing a hold) and seriously screw someone up.
That's why we place holds and why some locations don't accept debit cards--because a lot of people max their cards out while on vacation and then come back owing money for an extra day, a tank of gas or even damage. Without that hold, we're out in the cold.
Anyway, I'm sorry that happened to you and hope things go easier in the future. I've seen two or three complaints around here about the SEA location--which is funny, because our franchise owner knows the [former] owner personally and says he's a nice guy and that they run a good operatio there. Oh well, it's all water under the bridge now...