The last thing you want to deal with is a nasty expensive surpriseupon returning home from what you thought was a carefully planned outaffordable vacation finalized only after thoroughly reviewing your cheap traveloptions, including cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages.
The following are some of the ways rental car companiesimprove their margins at the expense of their customers, according toChristopher Elliott:
Carrental companies have been known to indulge in sign here ploys whereby theyask customers whether they would like an upgrade without mentioning the cost,only to have those customers stunned later by substantially higher rentalcharges. Customers can only protect themselvesby carefully reading any paperwork prior to signing it.
Frequentlycar rental employees try to upsell customers on pricey insurance policies thatmay or may not be needed and may or may not cover the customers. Some car rental companies have started employinga new tactic by refusing to rent cars if customers do not purchase theirinsurance. People who own a car often already have car insurance that coversrentals. Customers should always checkwith their car insurance companies prior to renting a car to confirm whetherthey are covered, and if not, with their credit card companies, which ofteninclude car rental insurance for free.
Shamingthe customer is yet another ploy to try to get people to agree to buying theirprepaid fuel options. Rental employeeshave been known to make claims that their companys rate are X percent lowerthan can be purchased anywhere else. Such employee claims sometimes prove to be totally inaccurate.
Rentalagencies have started offering select vehicles at very attractive prices onlyto inform customers later that they are out of that class of vehicle. They then offer a lesser vehicle for the sameprice or offer to upgrade the vehicle for a fee. The only way to combat such tactics is tobrace for a fight and demand that you are treated fairly.
The following are tips on how to resist car rental tacticsto charge you more than you initially agreed to pay:
Signup for a car rental companys frequent renter program which often allowscustomers to state their rental preferences before arriving. This in turn makes customers less vulnerableto upgrade, downgrade, and option games.
Insteadof trying to fend off a salesperson upsell techniques, try to rent your carusing automated check-in kiosks. Be verycareful to what you are agreeing on each screen and never hurry through theoptions. One wrong click could result inyour rental costing far more than budgeted.
Carrya copy of your car insurance or evidence of insurance through your travelinsurance policy or credit card. Withoutsuch documentation, a car rental representative may pressure you to purchaseinsurance and even deny you keys to a car.
www.cheapfares.com