Upgrade Scam
 

Just thought I'd share my experience at the LAS airport location. Had reserved a full-size car at a base rate of $20 a day. At the counter was told I could be upgraded to a luxury car. The script went something like "normally a luxury car goes for $50 a day, but I'll just make it $30." Confused, I asked "what do you mean?" The rep replied "your base rate is $20 a day, but I'll just make it $30." The emphasis both times being "I'll just make it." Thinking, $10 to upgrade isn't bad I agreed, only to find out when I returned the car they had tacked a $30 "upgrade fee" on top of the $20 rate. I have to give it to them, this one is clever, and it's my fault for not catching it on the contract. Very sleazy though, I wish Dollar weren't so cheap so I could avoid them...

What is so sleazy about it?

They did ask you.

From all of my dealings with Dollar, they make me initial here and there and sign at the bottom along with the date. I go thru the important parts such as rate and so on to make sure they didn't put down something I don't want before signing.

If you object, you should have said something for them to fix it.

I agree it is rather cunning. If the rate was $50 and you were charged $50, why would the person say that "normally a luxury car... but I'll make it...".

However there are 2 sides to every story - probably a mis-communication.

Cheers

you were definetely deceived into thinking that you were getting it for $30, and i would definetely contact dollar customer service to have the extra charge taken off. if you realized before you rturned it, when you returned it, you could have probably kicked up a fuss with the branch manager. usually tey don't like the bad publicity, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER CUSTOMERS PRESENT!

The check-in person launched into what sounded like a very practiced routine. I'm sure they get a nice little commission when they upsell like this. It is really sad that a corporation has to resort to "three card monty" to make money...And I don't know what contract said because they took from me when I returned the car.

I woke up at 5am that day so I wasn't very alert at that hour. I can expense the charge so it's no big deal. But $40 (with tax) to upgrade to a luxery car is hardly a deal...

its not a deal at all, its regular walk up rate (as you yourself mentioned, that the representative said to you that that was the regular rate, and then charged you for it!). and once again, if you have the time, you should call dollar customer service (national number) and put in a serious claim. i happen to know that they are capable of putting a credit back on your credit card, as a friend of mine once rented in new york with a corporate number, and they refused to take off the $50 underage fee (he was 23 at the time), so my friend said fine (he needed the car) and after the rental, he contacted the national customer service number, and explained that he rented with a corporate number and they charged him the underage fee, and they refunded him right away the extra charges.

I agree. I think they lead you to believe you were getting the upgrade for $30 total, not $30 more a day. You do have to check what you sign AND when you return the car.

"what is so sleazy about it"???
That is absurd. Of course its sleazy...they are leading you to believe one thing and charging another...yes he should have checked the rate, but usually when someone is selling something and representing a company you believe they are negotiating a cheaper price when they offer things in that manner. It is sleazy....YES, but you are right it is the buyers responsibility to check what they are buying or in this case renting.

Written contracts overrides verbal agreements.

Do NOT sign something without double checking first.

my sister got caught in their trap too. I had warned her to not buy into the insurance or prepaid fuel but forgot to tell her about the upgrade scam...

They told her an upgrade from compact to mid size would be $50 extra (on top of a $60+tax 3 day rental), and on her bill it said "UPGRADE $50.00" right before the subtotal. . Plus unfortunately she didn't realize that the $50 upgrade fee would turn into $70+ after the extra taxes etc.

Since they didn't change the daily rate to blend in the upgrade fee, and instead listed it as a separate line item, that tells me that it goes into a special account that each dollar location tracks and awards their counter agents big commissions for upselling. At the end of the month if their upsell account reaches a few thousand dollars that's just GRAVY on top of the rentals.

The last time they tried to pull this on me (in Orlando) I held firm saying I would be more than happy with my compact car that I reserved. When I turned down the upgrade 3x they said they don't have any compacts so I'd HAVE to pay the upgrade. I said I'll wait here in the front of the line until someone turns in a larger car since I know they get back at least 30 cars back an hour. They gave me a Pacifica and I immediately asked for a credit to help pay for the higher cost of fuel (terrible mileage). they put a $15 gas credit on my account.

OK..that is fine. But still SLEEZY business practice!

Do NOT sign something without double checking first.

Easier said than done - especially when Las Vegas is waiting.... ;)

Jeez, I suppose you guys have never been snookered. I admit it was my fault for not catching it. My objection is to the deliberate deceit employed. Honestly, I expect this behavior from a street hustler, not Dollar.

A hard sell to buy the gas/insurance is one thing, but systematic deceit is just wrong!

I have had sales folks who try to slip added charges without even asking me first not at Dollar but elsewhere.

Now, that to me, is deceitful and is definitely a scam.

But, none of them have been successful, so far.