Car Hire Warning

[triciacarole]

Last week while waiting for our sandwiches in Earl of Sandwich I got chatting to the man next to me who told me he had lost his hire car keys and had lost over half his day waiting for a locksmith who charged him $275, so please be careful.

[jarretth]

The car I got last year from Budget had a keypad on the drivers door which I believe has been installed to help people out in case of lost keys. Don't know if this is becoming a standard for car hire but seemed like a good idea to me at the time.

[JuniorMickey]

It depends on the model of the car - my dad's Ford Explorer has that, but it wasn't an option on my Dodge Neon

[Johnie]

Did he not call his rental car agency? Or it that what they told him to do?

[triciacarole]

Did he not call his rental car agency? Or it that what they told him to do?

I presumed he did, he seemed pretty sensible. Knowing some of the agencies I have dealt with they have never been helpful.

[Johnie]

That seems like something the car rental should call for but that's me being sensible :rolleyes: :lol: I would think the car rental would have a spare set of keys they could bring out to open the car door. I've never seen anything on the agreement about that though.

[triciacarole]

That seems like something the car rental should call for but that's me being sensible :rolleyes: :lol: I would think the car rental would have a spare set of keys they could bring out to open the car door. I've never seen anything on the agreement about that though.

They are not the most helpful staff though, and if you think of the number of cars they must have and the number of one way interstate rentals that they may have I imagine it would be difficult to keep track of them.

[Johnie]

I notice a vast difference in courtesy when I rent at the airport or off-site. We're renting a minivan at the airport here in Sept to drive down to Disney. I'm going to make sure I ask their policy on a key lock out. I do have AAA so I wouldn't have to pay anything thank goodness.

[OKWTink]

I rented a mini van weekend before last. I returned it on time and to the proper person.

Several days later I had a voice message asking me if I had the keys. No. I gave them to Tiffany, your employee. Sheesh.

I'd look into AAA before paying that much again! That's a huge sum of money!

[MPHARJ]

I would say he was ripped off. A towing company or even some local police do lockouts of vehicles, police for free obviously and towing company's usually about $30. If you can find a hanger and a small wedge or item to use as a wedge you can get in yourself, quite easy actually.

[OKWTink]

Yes, having locked myself out of a car a time or two, a wedge can really make the difference. Snake in a thin wire (the proverbial coat hanger) and either throw the locking mechanism or open the door with the interior handle.

Care to learn how to hotwire a car? The Good Sisters of St. Joseph taught me that one. LOL.

Can that be done in today's cars? Hotwiring I mean? Haven't had to do it but once and that was clear back in 19.. ermmm yeah, way back when.

[Johnie]

I think I read somewhere that today's cars can't be hotwired.

[tajainaz]

Mobile locksmith charges can be ridiculous. A local consumer reporter recently did a piece on vehicles locked with the key inside. The company called gave a service call fee of something around $60 (I don't remember the exact amount) plus labour. They wouldn't specify the labour charges or how they were calculated. In all the cases, the charges were in excess of $250. :eek:

In all cases reported, the locksmith company responding was not part of the company that was called. Apparently, they were contracted. That part of the story was not made clear. :unsure:

[MPHARJ]

Most cars now adays have a mechanism that if tampered with will not allow the vehicle to start, usually located in the ignition so if popped, or wires cut etc.. it will not start. I think that is why we are seeing so many more armed carjackings. It is the only way they can get the vehicles.

[OKWTink]

I thought I'd read something about that somewhere along the line.

Ah well, another useless talent.

[triciacarole]

He wasn't locked out, he had lost the keys, he also mentioned that it was a key with the micro-chip inside so I guess the cost was bumped up having to replace this.

[Lisa1976]

OK, I can't believe Im admitting to doing this, but here goes.

We were shopping at Beltz, i was happily loading all my purchases into the boot of our hire car, shut the boot, got in the car, where are the keys!! Ah, I had locked them in the boot too :(

We called Dollar who were very helpful and about an hour later a locksmith came out, charged us $50 and gave us another key. Apparently it would only work on the boot, but it saved us.

[triciacarole]

OK, I can't believe Im admitting to doing this, but here goes.

We were shopping at Beltz, i was happily loading all my purchases into the boot of our hire car, shut the boot, got in the car, where are the keys!! Ah, I had locked them in the boot too :(

We called Dollar who were very helpful and about an hour later a locksmith came out, charged us $50 and gave us another key. Apparently it would only work on the boot, but it saved us.

Gosh that's good Lisa :)

[Midnight Storm]

Last few times out, my car came with two keys with the factory wire still joining them, first trip out to walmart I test the wire cutters in the tool section and put the spare key safe into DW's bag just in case. You just have to remenber to put both keys back on the Dollar keyring at dropoff

C

[OKWTink]

Yes, losing the key would be a different situation altogether! I still think the cost to replace was exhorbitant though!

Good sandwiches there, huh TC? :yes:

[triciacarole]

Good sandwiches there, huh TC? :yes:

Oh yes, I loved the tuna melt one :D