Dollar Car Rental - Awful service!

[PaulaK]

Just wanted to post and warn others that booking our premium SUV with Dollar was a HUGE mistake and I know now why Virgin are switching to Alamo. We arrived at the airport and were told to wait while our car was 'brought around'. I said 'where from, why is it not here if you knew we were coming?' and the reply I got was 'we can't do that'. Hmmmmm.....so 15 minutes later we ask where the car is. The girl says she will get a shift manager, alarm bells ring.
She was totally useless and blabbed on about not being able to have a car ready.....blah....blah....blah and then casually drops in to the conversation that someone will be 'returning one soon hopefully'. WHAT?!!! You mean I am stood here until someone returns a Premium 4 x 4?!! They didn't even have any! They fobbed us off with one of only 2 cars available a rubbish old Dodge van with broken central locking. The alternative was a Jeep Liberty we couldn't get our luggage in. They promised to call us when one came back.....we're still waiting 8 days later. We would still be stood at that desk waiting. They blatantly lied to us.

After a huge row and refusing point blank to refund us, we made several phone calls to Dollar and Virgin. We still don't have the car we paid for A WEEK LATER, so they don't have any full stop. One of them said they have had no cars delivered by GM for 8 weeks. If you have a premium SUV booked with Dollar, cancel it if you can. They're a bunch of cowboys. They haven't even bothered to follow up our complaint. Not so much as a phone call. :hissy: Virgin on the other hand have tried to help but are getting nowhere.

[JuniorMickey]

Oh goodness. I'm guessing the lack of delivery from GM has to do with their bankruptcy though

[TimonAndPumba]

:nono: Sounds awful Paula! I'm so sorry you had to go through this.... we have the exact same as you booked for two weeks time, I'm worried now :afraid:

[DisneyGemma]

Oh no Paula :( Its such a shame this is happening on your holiday, I hope this doesnt happen to anyone else.

At least you were onsite and not relying too much on your car like say, someone in Kissimmee or I-Drive or a villa

[Tishypops]

I think most companies have moved over to alamo now
I have had a number of clients with problems with dollar I cant remember the amount of times I have had to call them to sort issues out for people.

[wdwgrandma]

I don't think it matters which dealership it is... We booked a convertible for one of our trips, and there were NONE available when we arrived. It's like "We booked and paid for a convertible and now you don't have any?" And this wasn't Dollar. This was National or Alamo, I don't remember...

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

We have an intermediate suv booked with Dollar through VH for Dec.Our flight doesn't even land until 11.30pm,so its going to be gone midnight by the time we get to the desk.At that time of night i will :tantrum:if they get our car wrong.Sorry you had such a bad time with your car.

[JuniorMickey]

Every time I go to Boston I land somewhere around 11:30-12:30 (I take a late flight out on a Friday night). I always reserve an economy or compact car. They ALWAYS upgrade me because by the time I get in, there are no small cars left.

I book on priceline so I don't pick my company upfront and this has happened with Avis, Budget, Dollar and National. I'm with Avis again next month, I have a compact reserved. It'll be interesting to see what I get

[Bec]

What a nightmare P. My parents had an absolute nightmare with Dollar in November too.

DO you know if we'll get a Dollar or Alamo car in August?

[TimonAndPumba]

I think it's Dollar until Jan 2010 Bec :unsure:

I just called VH and Dollar to make sure we have what we ordered ready for us!!!! I'll be calling before we go too! :fingers: They sort their problems out whilst some of us are still stuck with them :sigh:

[jarretth]

I read something the other day that was talking about similar problems with hire companies around the world. Many vehicles are on short term leases and new supplies are not being delivered from the manufacturers (in Dollar's case I believe they are tied into GM vehicles) as they cut back production or hit financial difficulties.

The other problem which is an issue in European resorts is that with the downturn in business, companies are not replacing cars when their lease expires. This means that they do not have cars sitting around off-peak 'losing' money but also means that cars are harder to hire at peak times and prices in some resorts are almost double those quoted last year due to spply and demand.

[JasonC]

Jeez that's really bad.... we've tended to use Alamo for the last few years as I have had a number of bad experiences with Dollar, never again:rolleyes:

I really hope it isn't spoiling your holiday too much Paula:(

[Tinker]

:lol: I'm :sorry: Paula that you had such a problem with Dollar . I laugh because I got a mental picture of how MAD you are from your :hissy: smiley . Now, you know how I felt when we arrived at all Star Movies and was told they did not have a room for us . I was seeing RED . And I can only imagine that this is how you are feeling right now .
Marie, got us Thrifty the first and ever time we rented a car in Orlando . Although they were not on spot at the airport , they were there to pick us up on time and we got the car we had ordered . We initially was going to book ourselves with Dollar and she said Nooooo !!! She knew they were a hassle . :shrug:
I agree it probably has something to do with Goverment Motors .

[JuniorMickey]

Do you mean General Motors?

[mary lyn]

We had a similar (though with a better outcome) as you with Dollar.

We were already in Orlando and met our daughter, son in law and their 4 children from their flight. We had returned our small budget car and went with them to pick up the 8 seater SUV. Well because they were off the flight fairly quickly we were only a couple back in the Dollar Express queue, but once seen we were waiting about 45 minutes while they did whatever it takes to finalise the booking that was made with Dollar Express online weeks earlier.

Anyway we eventually went over to the garage, found our car, started packing the boot, to find it was a 7 seater!:wacko: SIL went back to the key pick up and eventually came back with more keys - this time it turned out to be a tatty 6 seater.:confused: Off he went again, and after some research was told there wasn't one as one hadn't been returned. We were to have to settle for a mini bus.

Last minute the key window lady came with a set of keys for what we had booked. They had found one in the VH side!! While we were happy, we had been there for about 1 and 1/4 hours! Never again. We have used Budget very happily for a while now, and would have booked with them but they didn't have any 8 seaters at the time.

[Tinker]

Do you mean General Motors? No, well yeah, but that is what I now call GM Government Motors !:lol: My friend that works there from Michigan calls them that . I thought it was pretty funny and so true these days . :wink:

[Tinker]

It's good to see you though Paula . Are you at least having a good time ? How are the crowds and weather ?

[PaulaK]

It was the first time in maybe 7 or 8 years we had tried Dollar again after a bad experience. We won't ever use them again! :nono: I'm thankful we have a company the size of Virgin fighting our corner. They cannot believe how nonchalant Dollar are about bumping people. They really don't give a monkey's. :shrug: I wish I could sell stuff I didn't have and get away with it.

I didn't get chance to get to DTD for my birthday gift card with all the fuss or we would have missed my birthday dinner. I got a card off Mickey and Co. though and someone had sent us a lovely arrangement through Disney florist. :hug: Watching the shuttle go up from artist point was pretty cool too.

Anyhoo......having a great time apart from the dud wheels. Parks aren't that busy at all, not as bad as last August when we came. Just come up from the pool party at the Poly because I look like a lobster. :sun: It's sooooo hot and we've had hardly any rain, just 2 short showers since we arrived. We'll definitely come these weeks again if we do a Summer trip.

[TimonAndPumba]

I'm glad the rest of the trip is going well Paula :yes:

[DisneyGemma]

Glad youre still having fun Paula :)

[Tinker]

Ooooo, except for the dud wheels . It sounds like a good time to visit . You take care of that sun burn . That will get redder as the night goes on . :hug:
Glad Virgin is fighting for you . Thats too bad you missed your birthday fun card . I'd had gone after dinner and explained . They probably would have done something .
The flowers was a special surprise . :sorry: I :lol: I really didn't think it was funny, I was just picturing you wanting to choke someone . Take Care of that sunburn . Do you have solarcaine , if not they sell it at the Poly . Lucky Duck, you !

[PaulaK]

Debi, the CCTV from my airport rant will probably turn up on America's Funniest Videos soon. :lol:

My luvverly hubby gave me his gift card on his birthday. I bought some Mickey jammies. :D

[Redkop]

Sorry to hear about crap service paula, hope the rest of the bday trip is going well though :D

[Tinker]

Awwww, he's such a lovie dovie . And I'm sure you made up for it . :runaway:
Something my hubby would do .

[Tishypops]

awww how sweet
I am glad that you are still able to enjoy your trip while you are there
Virgin will sort it for you and kick dollars *** lol

[Tenor Drummer]

I agree it must have been upsetting not to get the vehicle you had ordered and paid for....:sorry: but this MAY have been out of the rental company's hands at this point. However, if that was the case, they should have been honest with you up front, offered another vehicle but at a reduced price or something

Where I work, the older vehicles were "retired" to auction (it's a cyclical thing) with the new ones due to arrive...however the GM plant was shut down for a period to save money and there are dealers, rental companies and company fleets awaiting the arrival of ordered vehicles which haven't "materialized"....(yet - but hopefully soon?). This is especially true for SUVs and trucks.

I've never dealt with Dollar Car Rental, but have done business while on company travel with others a few times....I think I only got what was actually ordered on one occasion - it had "just" been turned in and was still dirty, needed to be refuelled, and had what appeared to be the leftovers of a Caramilk bar on the steering wheel - I had to take it as/is or go without....:drive:. Talk about "sticking" with a company....

[Vikki]

This is the first time we're getting a car from the airport, although we're having a pretty low grade one, so with any luck we should be ok :fingers: Don't fancy the prospect of having to wait around too long with a tired toddler!

[Tishypops]

yea we didnt fancy that either.
Luckily for me mum parents took them on their transfer I arranged for them and I picked the car up then went to meet them at my parents hotel.
Was a lot of messing around but worked really well for us

[jarretth]

This is the first time we're getting a car from the airport, although we're having a pretty low grade one, so with any luck we should be ok :fingers: Don't fancy the prospect of having to wait around too long with a tired toddler!

Vikki - don't worry. They should have plenty of the more popular cars (compact and intermediate) as they have a high turnover. If they don't have the one you want then they should upgrade you. The bigger, less popular and/or more specialist vehicles are where problems are more likely to occur (sorry Paula:().

[Vikki]

We've booked an 'economy' which I assume is a compact, so at least we can'r end up with anything smaller :lol: Think we might need to use the back seat for cases though as I doubt the boot will be big enough :lol:

[JuniorMickey]

Economy is smaller than a compact

[renkadima]

Debi, the CCTV from my airport rant will probably turn up on America's Funniest Videos soon. :lol:



And here it is.... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ7lI6Ic9cw

[MandyG]

how awful Paula - hope you guys manage to get a refund

xx

[Debbie2]

Glad to hear you're having a good time, despite the car fiasco.

Hope Virgin manage to sort them out for you :)

[Vikki]

Economy is smaller than a compact

Just had a look, and we should be getting this (http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flydrive/cars/), looks fine to me :lol:

[tweenie123]

What a bummer about the car - I would have been as mad as anything!
Glad you're having a good time despite the car fiasco. Only two short showers!!! That's a bit different from the torrential downpours of last summer but I expect it's all waiting for when we get there in a couple of weeks!

Hope the rest of the holiday continues to be great!

[JuniorMickey]

Just a warning Vikki - at times an economy has two doors

[babybelle]

Thats a real bummer Paula!

I will be phoning Virgin in Dec to ensure we get our car ok as we have booked a premium SUV too

[Vikki]

Just a warning Vikki - at times an economy has two doors
Ah well, if it does, it does :) We'll be in Florida so I doubt that will concern us :lol:

[psdjmem]

Look at the car we got when we used them ....

[PaulaK]

My rant was way worse and that car's positively luxurious compared to our van. :lol:

We're heading home tomorrow and still they have had no car returned for us to switch to (doubt they have any!) and not so much as a phone call. :nono:

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

Customer service,i don't think so.:grrr:

[TimonAndPumba]

We're heading home tomorrow and still they have had no car returned for us to switch to (doubt they have any!) and not so much as a phone call. :nono:

That is ridiculous! :nono: I can't believe they didn't even call to update you!!!! It'll be interesting to see what they say when you return the car… and also what the VH rep says!!!

I've called 8 people between VH and Dollar - all ensuring me that a "Premium SUV" will be awaiting us next week - keep your fingers crossed for us! :unsure:

[PaulaK]

We returned the heap yesterday. They charged us $78 for a tank of fuel on a van that cost $40 to fill. Went to the return desk inside and got it refunded as the girl on arrival said it would be free for having to wait so long (whoopeee doo!). A new desk had appeared for Virgin Holidays and it states Alamo on the VA website so hopefully they have switched to Alamo as of now. Good luck if not, Dollar are liars!! We would still be stood at that desk now waiting for our car to 'be brought around'. The people this end don't have a clue how bad it is out there. Our van was filthy, had dents in, a dud battery in the keyfob and no central locking when you used the key! Given we were the first 747 in, don't know how those arriving after us got on getting cars.

[Bec]

We returned the heap yesterday. They charged us $78 for a tank of fuel on a van that cost $40 to fill. Went to the return desk inside and got it refunded as the girl on arrival said it would be free for having to wait so long (whoopeee doo!). A new desk had appeared for Virgin Holidays and it states Alamo on the VA website so hopefully they have switched to Alamo as of now. Good luck if not, Dollar are liars!! We would still be stood at that desk now waiting for our car to 'be brought around'. The people this end don't have a clue how bad it is out there. Our van was filthy, had dents in, a dud battery in the keyfob and no central locking when you used the key! Given we were the first 747 in, don't know how those arriving after us got on getting cars.

What a fiasco! Last thing you need on arrival.

I shall let you know what Alamo thru Dollar experience is like in August.

[jarretth]

A new desk had appeared for Virgin Holidays and it states Alamo on the VA website so hopefully they have switched to Alamo as of now.

VA have announced Alamo as their new partner but someone posted elsewhere to confirm that VH don't switch over until January

[TimonAndPumba]

A new desk had appeared for Virgin Holidays and it states Alamo on the VA website so hopefully they have switched to Alamo as of now.

VA have announced Alamo as their new partner but someone posted elsewhere to confirm that VH don't switch over until January

We booked back in January and our VA travel docs say to head over to Dollar to pick up our car.... maybe newer bookings are for Alamo :shrug:

[PaulaK]

We've booked with Budget for Oct. We figured they can't get any worse than Dollar or Alamo so we saved some money. :hehe:

Still waiting for an SUV to become available :hehe: or compensation sorted, no-one's phoned us yet! :nono: VA are supposed to call tomorrow, so we'll see.

[PaulaK]

I've split all car seat posts in to their own thread. They can be found here. (http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72151)

[Vikki]

Ah I wondered about that, didn't think I'd started a thread about car seats :lol:

[PaulaK]

Just heard back from VA who have been very helpful. We got £80 refund for the change of vehicle, £50 compo and I received a chunk of miles for ruining my birthday which I think is very good of them. I am so glad we hadn't booked direct with Dollar and we'll never use them again anywhere, despite us having good service from them in Vegas.

The VA contract with Dollar finishes Dec 31st.

[DisneyGemma]

I'm glad you got some type of compensation for all the trouble you went through :)

[Bec]

Just heard back from VA who have been very helpful. We got £80 refund for the change of vehicle, £50 compo and I received a chunk of miles for ruining my birthday which I think is very good of them. I am so glad we hadn't booked direct with Dollar and we'll never use them again anywhere, despite us having good service from them in Vegas.

The VA contract with Dollar finishes Dec 31st.

Good. You deserve nothing less hun.

[Tishypops]

This is why I book package holidays instead of seperate because I like that I have the backing of another company

[lisaw]

Glad you got some compensation Paula - wish me luck with them on Monday!:rolleyes:

[Vikki]

......and us for Saturday!

[PaulaK]

I'm sure you'll all be fine. :fingers: Wonder how T&P got on? I hope some butts got kicked after the complaints and they sorted it out.

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I'm hoping we don't have too many probs when we go,as it will be right near the end of the contract (Dec 15th).By then they might not have much to offer.:shrug:

[Tishypops]

or they may be thinking that they are loosing a major contract so they need to impress as many of the general public as they can to get some loyalty :wink:

[JasonC]

I have just bookd our car for next year with Alamo, never going to give dollar another go after reading all this

[Rakhi Chowdhary]

Sounds awful Paula!!!:afraid:

[ALLTIGGEREDOUT]

I got an Email back from VH today saying that i shouldn't have any problems getting the car we have booked on 15th Dec.We'll see.:wink:

[Tishypops]

hmmmm well hopefully they are right,but I would see if a a rep would come over to the desk with you then at least if you do have any problems they are there to back you up