When booking a lease car for a business trip or vacation, most travelers are looking for the most low-cost option they can find. Between daily charges for the fomite itself, taxes and fees, and add-ons like collision coverage and indebtedness insurance, renting a cable car can get expensive, fast. unfortunately, going with the best upfront hand can sometimes cost you more in hidden fees and sneaky dealings. When it comes to lease cost, Payless Car Rentals ( owned by Avis ) much offers the cheapest daily rental rates. however, consumers may want to think doubly earlier opting for Payless ’ low advertised prices. In accession to the batch of negative reviews and media of Payless, I have first-hand experience that confirms the party ’ sulfur poor reputation is well-deserved. I rented a vehicle from Payless for a recent stumble. After I checked my credit menu affirmation, I discovered that Payless charged my card an supernumerary $ 79.16 on clear of the price I consented to and signed for in the lease agreement. An inquiry to Payless ’ customer serve earphone argumentation was less than helpful in resolving this discrepancy. The hustler on the line could not or would not tell me the cause for extra charges. She had to “ create a ticket, ” which she said would be addressed by customer care within the adjacent 72 hours. I went approximately a day and a half without a answer when I called back. The operator I spoke with told me the initial individual I gave my data to had entered my electronic mail address falsely in the system, though I repeated and verified the address ’ second spelling multiple times during the first gear call. The reason for the extra charges, however, was even more torment than the check return call from customer wish. It turns out that either the desk agent at Payless, or person who processed the reservation on the spinal column end, added full damage coverage to the rental without my consent. I only opted for the “ auxiliary indebtedness insurance, ” which cost $ 15.77 per day, for a sum cost of $ 47.31. I did not select the loss damage release ( $ 33.00 per day ), personal accident and effects coverage ( $ 6.95 per day ), or hand brake illness plan ( $ 4.99 per day ), which was indicated as such on the rental agreement I signed and received upon picking up my lease. I did not request these services and I was not notified of the extra charge over the agreed upon cost. These costs were besides not included on the credit tease acknowledge I signed when I returned the fomite. Had I not happened to check my recognition card affirmation when I did, I may have never noticed the unauthorized addition in the charge.

Unfortunately, the process got even more frustrating after my second call. Five days after that predict, which was a full week after my initial contact, I had not received a response. Payless never sent me any of the promised emails related to my write out, despite representatives ’ statements that they had done so. I had to log in to the web site with my ticket number in order to see the customer care department ’ second responses. incredibly, Payless refused to refund me the extra $ 79, stating that they believed I had agreed to the extra charges despite my possession of a receipt which proved otherwise. On the earphone, after I learned this news, the agent on the pipeline refused to let me speak to his supervisor. After a final call with a promise to report on this issue publicly, a Payless representative once again refused to elevate the call. My experience with Payless is not unique, unfortunately. Payless has a one-star ( out of five ) rate on Consumer Affairs, with 196 one-star reviews and only two five-star reviews and four with two stars. The company received the Better Business Bureau ’ sulfur ( BBB ) lowest “ F ” evaluation, and the BBB issued a countrywide warning about the company in May. Competitor Hertz received an “ A+ ” from the BBB, and both Alamo and Thrifty have “ B ” scores. Payless parent company Avis got an “ F ” from the BBB equally well, as did Enterprise. A number of plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Payless and its parent company in September 2016, for the same kind of unauthorized add-ons that happened to me.

Here is the Better Business Bureau ’ s wax description of the issues with Payless :

BBB has identified a blueprint of complaints. Consumers claim that the occupation misrepresents its sales and services. specifically, consumers allege that quoted prices for vehicle reservations are sometimes not even available or billed at a different price at a belated time. additionally, consumers claim that this business is not forthcoming with extra fees and services at the clock time of the contract. Customer ’ s claim that services they declined ; such as fuel service, road side aid, and policy, appear on their bills when they return their vehicles. Customers allege that customer service representatives are often unable to remedy their situation, transferring them from one department to another. Complainants besides allege the overall miss of communication and unwillingness to return calls. BBB has reached out to this business, but the business has failed to respond.

What can consumers do to avoid being burned by a bad lease ? Be careful of springing for the lowest available price – inquiry the company to make indisputable they have a good reputation. Consumers may besides want to contact the rental means directly to inquire about the price of extra services such as policy, as these costs are frequently not presented up-front on the rental web site. last, always be sure to double check the credit or debit calling card statement after the rental is concluded, and request and keep all original paperwork and receipts, to ensure that you are charged only what you agreed to pay. Copyright for Image : Photographer, Stock Photo, License Summary .

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