I’ve rented a lot of cars over the years, but I’ve never seen what I’m seeing today. Prices are high due to low inventories, and in some cases, no cars are available at any price. The strategies I’ve used in the past to save money have been upended by unanticipated consumer demand. The rental car industry sold off large numbers of vehicles during the pandemic to stay afloat, and those same companies are now having trouble ramping up with new cars due to manufacturing delays. This shortage in some popular destinations could last through the summer. Read more
Summer Travel = Rental Car Rigamarole
Posted on May 25, 2021 by Chris Bjorklund
Posted in: Automotive, Auto Tips, Consumers, Personal Stories, Savvy Tips
Tags: consumer tips, vacation, consumer advice, summer, rental cars, travel
Holidays, Distractions and Managing Your Receipts
Posted on November 19, 2019 by Chris Bjorklund
At the end of a recent road trip, my husband and I turned in our rental car without taking a close look at the final bill. Yes, we were distracted because we were running late and didn’t want to miss our flight. The attendant handed me a printed receipt and I stuffed it into my handbag.
A couple of days later, I cleaned out my purse and read the receipt more carefully. I found an unexpected $50 charge on top of the expected $50 drop-off fee. I had extended my rental by a few days and remembered being quoted a different total. Fortunately, the rental car agency responded quickly, reviewed the records and agreed they had made a mistake. Read more
Posted in: Consumers, Customer Service, Personal Stories, Savvy Tips
Tags: consumer advice, customer service, rental cars, travel, receipts, holiday spending, consumer tips
Fight Back? Hail, Yes!
Posted on July 25, 2019 by Chris Bjorklund
I recently received an unexpected voicemail from a company representing a rental car agency. The caller said he was following up with me to collect on a damage claim for a vehicle I had rented at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona for my niece’s wedding in February. He said I hadn’t reported roof damage upon returning it and was responsible for $749.13 in parts and labor for repairs.
At first, I thought this had to be a scam call and wasn’t going to respond. But my husband convinced me to call back, ask more questions and request photos of the damage. The representative promptly sent an itemized list of repairs and pictures showing a half-dozen roof dents. Read more
Posted in: Consumers, Personal Stories, Savvy Tips
Tags: consumer tips, consumer advice, customer service, credit cards, rental cars, hail, storm damage