Complain about a product or service

Dollar Rent A Car

Dollar Rent A Car •Rate Disputes •Damage Disputes •No Car Available •Surprise Fees/Taxes

Renting a car is one of those transactions that should be fairly straightforward. But if often turns out to be anything but ... and Dollar customers seem to have more than their share of problems, as the complaints in this section show.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints:

Marie of Austin TX (10/01/08)
Several days after retuning the rental car I received a letter from this company's Vice-President quoted as follows: After your return of out unit 7583, a Dodge Caliber, upon inspection the vehicle was found to have damage to the driver's door handle (attempted break in). As you did not accept the Collision Damage Waiver nor was this damage noted on the Ready rag that you signed, you will be hearing from Khoury-Alternative Claims shortly regarding the repair/replacement costs.

There was no damage to the vehicle at time of return. The vehicle is either not damaged or it was damaged after I return it and prior to their inspection or someone at Dollar Rent A Car damaged it and they are trying to get me to pay for it. In any case, I have no intention of paying for any damage that was not there at the time I returned the vehicle.

Michael of New Rochelle, NY September 22, 2008

Michael of New Rochelle NY (09/22/08)
Rented a car from Dollar 9/5/08. The Agent did a quick walk around the car with me a noted minor scratches on the car. When I returned the car they did another quick walk around and stated the car was fine. As I was walking toward the airport a representative from Dollar chased me down and said that I the very bottum of the windshield had been chipped while I had the vehicle. I stated it was there when I rented. They stated since I did not note it on the inspection I was liable.

I know this very small chip in the windshield was there when I rented. All they keep saying is that you signed a contract and you didn't note that it was chipped so you owe.

No I have wasted at least over an hour of the phone several times with Dollar bloodhounds who are trying to collect 75 dollars from me. This is total [lie] and I will not pay for something I did not do.

Philip of Montreal, OTHER September 18, 2008

Philip of Montreal, Canada (09/18/08)
I made a reservation with Dollar Rent a Car for Frankfurt Airport. Upon arriving at the airport I had to wait 30 minutes before the driver came to pick me up since they are at an off airport location. When the driver finally arrived he put me on the phone with someone from Dollar rent a car who told me they had no more cars left.

They said I had reserved for 10:00 AM, but I only arived around 5:30 PM (because my plane was delayed!). So they rented my car out.

I was left having to rent an extremely expense car from another company, seems there was a trade show in town and all reasonably priced cars were gone.

I will never rent from Dollar Rent a Car again!

Extra cost of about 200 US as well as 1 hour of time after a long plane ride.

Becky of Saint Pauls, NC September 11, 2008

Becky of Saint Pauls NC (09/11/08)
I had to go to Durham NC to Duke hospital for testing for breast cancer. I had to rent a car to go so I found Dollar rentacar online. I paid the 37. plus change for one day and a 100.00 deposit. When I rented it she said that the previous renter did not clean the car out and she had not had time to, BUT, if I did not clean it I would have to pay a 100.00 fee. So I cleaned the ashes from the back seat ashtray, The papers and drink bottles from the floor and under the seats.

I get the car back, way cleaner than when I got it, I had over a 1/4 tank more in gas than when I picked it up to make sure I was not fined for that either. She (Dollar employee) said she smelled cigarette smoke IN the car, well nobody smoked in the car but my boyfriend did smoke one in front of the employee, at the back of the car while unloading our luggage, and she knew that. She was going to fine me 300.00 for that but knocked it down to the 100.00 deposit. I was very upset, and called the main office.

That was over 2 weeks ago and I have not gotten one call from them. I finally called them and they informed me the investigation is over and I will not be getting my 100.00 back. That was a one sided investigation, they one listened to her side. Never called, wrote or emailed me. They will get you and you money. I wish I had paid the extra 10.00 Enterprise was going to charge me, they have always treated me fairly. Not Dollar. I am going to dispute it with my credit card company and tell everyone on God's green earth what they did to me.

I live on 637.00 a month, imasgine what someone stealing 100.00 of that did. I have to pay rent, lights, meds, and transportation with that. Losing that much in a month hurts....bad.

Melissa of Anchorage, AK September 9, 2008

Melissa of Anchorage AK (09/09/08)
This is in regards to a vehicle rental from the Dollar Rental car LAX location that was confirmed online as a one-way drop off to their Lancaster, California location. The total confirmation price was 114.87. When we picked up the vehicle the rental agent gave us a hard time about the drop fee that was associated with the one-way rental. The online system gave us a drop-fee included in the confirmation of 24.99 and he was trying to charge us more. He didn't understand that where we were going was only an hour and 20 minutes from LAX. He kept insisting we were driving too far, which was ridiculous and after a long trip and an even longer wait for assistance his rudeness was not appreciated and unnecessary. He went to his manager who finally told him to do as the confirmation said.

So, we picked up the car Thursday evening and returned it to the location indicated on our paperwork in Lancaster, CA on Saturday the 30th of August (one day early). When we arrived at the location we were told that they don't have the ability to check in the car electronically as they are not 'linked' to the Dollar system. Why would we be able to return the car there if they don't have the capability?? So the Dollar representative HAND WROTE (!) on my receipt that we returned the car on 8/30. Then he called the LAX Dollar location while we were sitting there to tell them the car was checked in.

At this point I was disturbed by the lack of professionalism and sophistication in Dollar Rental Car systems and I had a very bad feeling about the whole situation. We got back to our home and checked our credit card statement to discover that Dollar charged us 454.00 for a two-day rental!!!

I called customer service and after much run-around and holding on the phone (time I really don't have to waste!!) it was determined that they charged a 200+ drop fee for the one-way drop. This is unacceptable and ridiculous, and not at all what I agreed to for charges. Dollar can not just randomly charge my credit card!

It was also determined that they didn't check our car back in on their systems until the 3rd of September when we returned it on the 30th. Also unacceptable. I am very disturbed by this whole situation as not only was I over charged but it hasn't been solved as all they could do is open a case # - no resolution for my time and efforts. Dollar wasting my time and stealing my money doesn't sit well with me. They have permanently lost my business (we travel 4-5 times a year), but in addition I will report this same complaint to every web site out there that takes complaints of this nature. Extremely unprofessional and the lack of customer care is astounding.

John of Lakewood, NJ August 21, 2008

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