Thrifty Rent A Car
Reviews and Complaints

Thrifty accidentally charged me for $250 towing charge and refuses to reimburse because they “verified the charge” eventhough it never happened. They are also very deceitful with their added insurance. Told the rep twice I don’t want any extra insurance since I have coverage with my insurance and through AmEx. She snuck it on there and I accidentally signed for it. Everyone I contact refuses to give me a supervisors number or return my call. Only emails saying all charges were “verified.” I almost feel like these are just bots working for them to just deny any complaints/refunds. I’ll never use them again. Very deceiving on their quoted amounts too, the bill at the end was double when you add up all hidden fees, the intentional ignoring me and adding insurance and then a $250 charge for something that didn’t happen.

prior to traveling I booked a full size car with Thrifty and paid in full. When I got to my destination, and waited an hour in line to get up to the counter, I was given the paperwork and told I would have to wait an hour out in the garage for car to become available.

After waiting some time, a car pulled up and they called my name to get the vehicle. It was a midsized car.

When I returned home after my trip, I emailed and waited for response. No response, I called and they said they would give me a certificate for $50 for my inconvenience. This was not acceptable because I did not know when I would be traveling again. I was then told I would be sent a check for $50. I confirmed the wording saying I can bring to my bank and cash it, right? and they said yes.

Later in the mail I received a customer service certificate (good only at Hertz, the most expensive rental agency) and good only until the end of the year (received late October).

I called back and asked to speak to a manager, I was told one would call me back. No one ever called. Two weeks later I called and was told I could not speak to a manager and there was nothing they could do for me.

I was the unfortunate victim of a scam that was perpetrated through your company. Unfortunately, I've since learned that there are a whole lot of people in my scam boat! And that you are in partnership with them!

I booked a car from an airport with what I "assumed" was Thrifty but found out it was some third party, not in existence anywhere. When I tried to get a refund for turning the car in early, everyone was quick to pass the buck! I'm so sad to have to stop using your service and to strongly dissuade others from doing the same.

The Better Business Bureau had this to say:

"Cartrawler has been accused of partnering with respected car rental companies worldwide to scam customers. The scam works by offering a lower rate for advance purchase, but if the link leads to Cartrawler, the customer is instantly charged and unable to get a refund. Cartrawler is also known as Etrawler, Carocar, and Carngo. Customers have reported being charged for additional insurance upon arrival to pick up the vehicle, and being marked as a no-show to keep their money. Some customers have also reported being denied the terms of their contract upon arrival at the rental company. Cartrawler has been accused of being complicit in the actions of their suppliers."

I have had my attorney file a claim against them and you for this blatant scam, and they indicated that there is an ongoing case.

Again, so sad to see that you would engage in this illegal game.

Shame on you!

Marie Brown

The prices were not what was agreed upon

The receipt didn't match what the salesperson insisted I was charged for when I dropped the car off

There was no place to charge this electric car that I did not rent but was the only thing available.

I tried to stop at several places along the way to charge the car but since none were available, so I was late. The customer service was awful. I reserved a car for 62. total (plus ins) for one day and walked out spending 200 plus the charge.

I was told I would not be charged late then I got there, and they claim I was charged late.

I am talking in circles because I was told they wouldn't help me or refund my late fees.

ANDREW DAVID SUDDONS. [protected]@hotmail.com

Rental confirmation #[protected], Reference : K44723479F9

07 October 2023, 10:00 -21 October 2023, 20:00

Atlanta Airport Hartsfield-Jackson Int ATL, Rental length : 15 Days

Car Group : IFAR, Ford Escape or similar

Air conditioning - Automatic - 5 doors - 5 seat

additional charge of $249.19. I object to this charge. when I arrived at the airport to collect my vehicle it was total chaos. we were told there were no vehicles available and would have to wait FIVE hours for a vehicle. we had just arrived from the UK and had to drive to Savannah so this would have been totally inconvenient.

The assistant said the only vehicle available was a pick up truck. I had ordered a Toyota RAV 4 as this is the kind of vehicle I drive in the UK. She said that she could give me a discount so I would not face any additional charges, but now I find you have charged me $249.19. Totally unfair and unreasonable. i didn't want such a big vehicle. it was difficult to drive for me in the USA. I didn't require a pick up truck and only accepted it because Thrifty had mis-manged the availability of vehicles and could not honour my original reservation

Please be fair and refund this charge

ANDREW SUDDONS

[protected]@hotmail.com

I rented a vehicle from Thrifty at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on 10/18/2023.

When I rented the vehicle I told the clerk that I wanted to use my personal auto insurance on the rental. Days later I looked at the rental information and saw that he charged me Loss Damage and premium road service. I admit that I did not read the fine print and regret that I did not catch these charges prior to renting the vehicle. I am a senior citizen and have some cognitive issues and do not think as well as I used to. For what it is worth, My wife also heard me specifically say to the clerk that I want to use my own auto insurance. Two wrongs created this situation. Hoping you can do something for me. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. By the way there is absolutely no damage to the vehicle and the car will be returned tomorrow, 10-24-23)

John Chesniak

[protected]@sbcglobal.net

[protected]

I made a reservation in July for a rental car in October with Thrifty Car Rental.. When I arrived October 6th in the evening I was told by Thrifty staff that Corporate had closed them because there were no cars and we would need to go to another company. I made a reservation 3 months in advance to have a car available when I arrived, not to need to reserve from somewhere else at arrival. Not only did it take me 2.5 additional hours to complete another reservation at a different agency but it cost me almost 2x the cost of the Thrifty reservation. My original reservation had been for approx $370 and I ended up being charged at the second car company over $750. I had no choice as this was the only company with available cars that evening and I NEEDED a car to drive another hour to a hotel and wedding. It is not acceptable to 1) not have a car available when one was reserved. Better management of stock of available cars seems essential and customers should not be put at a disadvantage when this doesn't happen by others 2) when a reservation cannot be honored, at a minimum Thrifty and staff need to assist customers in obtaining another reservation at another company with the same rate and agreed upon cost to that customer. There is nothing acceptable about a staff simply stating they are closed and no additional assistance is available. Customers are clearly not valued at Thrifty. While I received a refund for money already paid to Thrifty for the non-existent rental, additional compensation from Thrifty seems only appropriate due to the additional time and expense and situation I was unacceptably put in. I contacted Thrifty two times prior to receiving a response to my complaint and their offer was a $20 voucher, which is laughable in terms of financial compensation or any attempt to recognize inconvenience to customers or the unacceptable business decisions this company is making. When I responded that a $20 voucher was unacceptable in terms of amends, I received only an email response stated they appreciated my contacting them and hope they are able to serve me again soon. These business practices are unacceptable for a company attempting to create a customer loyalty. Given the number of other car rental agencies that exist you would think Thrifty would want to ensure customers continue to choose them versus guaranteeing that we will look elsewhere in the future by their lack of customer service. I will no longer rent from Thrifty and will widely share with those I know to choose elsewhere.

I had booked a rental car from Thrifty at FLL Airport (09/12 - 9/26/2023) using my rewards points on my credit card, upon arrival at the desk at FLL, the agent found our rental. Asked if we wanted insurance, which I declined and stated that we had our own which covered rentals. He then said, oh then you will need liabilty insurance, because it's now a law. To that I asked, when did that change? with no answer from the agent, I said is that something new? to which he answered yes and proceeded to add the charge of $ 222.32, plus the gas purchase (which we did want). We got the car and proceeded to leave, we paid for a full tank of gas, and we received under 3/4 of a tank. The car was dirty, french fires under the seat, not to mention scratches and dents all over the car. Which I took pictures of the day after so as to have it on record that we did not cause them. When I looked up the law requiring you to have to purchase liability insurance - I found that there is no such law in Florida. So the agent flat out lied to us. I think it was becuase we "paid" for the rental with rewards points.

We called Thrifty customer service, to no avail - they said I had to wait until the end of the rental and call the billing department to request a refund. Which I said to them - yes, but they can say "the rental is over now, so we will not refund your money". To which they said you'll have to call billing.

Then we stoped by the local Thrifty Car Rental at Naples Airport. They said that they could not issue the refund becuase we did not rent the car there, that we would have to ask the manager at FLL when we dropped the car off. So when we droped off the car at the end of the rental, I asked to speak to a manager. I told him what happened, and to no avail - he refused to give us a refeund - even thouhg his agent lied to us about there being a law. He siad "well the rental is over now, and you just want your money back becuase nothing happened." He also said we should have refused the insurance, to which I said I did, but he added it to our rental anyway.

I have tried to contact Thrifty several times though phone and contact form of their website. I even filled out a survey I received, to which they said someone from thrifty would contact me - but again silence. Today I called customer service again, only to be disconnected before I could even talk to a person.

If this is not resolved with a refiund of the insurance, I will never rent from Thrifty again.

On August 15, 2023 I rented a car for pick up at the BWI airport on October 7 to October 10. Upon arrival to the rental car hub I was informed they had no cars available and it would be a 3 to 6 hour wait. I attempted other car rentals to find out no one had cars available. The reason given was customer were not returning cars. I found this hard to believe since this is at the airport and only people flying would be renting there and their itineraries are set. No attempt was made prior to our arrival to get one for the reservation from one of your locations off site of the airport. I was there for a memorial and had my parents remains with me and was on a tight schedule. This was unacceptable. I finally located a car rental, not through one of your sister companies. However it cost me more than my reservation with you. I am very disappointed and have research all companies related to you and will no longer use for my rental needs when traveling.

Dear Federal Trade Commission,

We had reserved a car rental with Thrifty car rental at LAX, to be picked September 1. After a 12+ hour flight we were exhausted and took a shuttle bus to the Thrifty LAX site; upon arrival there were hundreds of people outside the location, lined up down the side of the building and hundreds more inside the building. People were being held back from the building by security and they were angry, frustrated and confused. We were told that we would have to wait five hours to receive our car rental. My husband and I were exhausted - we did not want to wait five hours – that is absolutely ridiculous. We inquired about cancelling the reservation, and we were told we could not cancel without penalty and would be charged the full rental for the vehicle. We were told to go outside in the line with the other people - and was enforced by several security guards. It was a nightmar! Because we could not cancel, we were forced to stand in line for 3 hours to get to the counter, where we were met by an employee who was absolutely frustrated, rude and rushed us through the check-in process to sign a 7 page rental agreement under duress and out of pure exhaustion and there were hundreds of frustrated customers behind us. Unbeknownst to us we were signed up for unnecessary insurance packages for an extra 370.48 USD, and when we asked why our credit card was charged extra, we were told it was the deposit on the vehicle (the person was distracted by the chaos) We were immediately sent away from the counter to join several hundred other people waiting on their car rental which was another two hours. There were elderly people, disabled people and families with children all sitting on the dirty floor – angry, tired and frustrated. The experience was inhumane and we were treated like criminals in a detention center. When people asked for updates, we were ignored or security sent us away. My husband and I sat on their dirty floor for hours. When we finally received a vehicle, it was not the vehicle we reserved, and it had not been cleaned on the inside or outside and was dirty.

We have since filed a formal complaint with Thrift, and after about four email exchanges they refuse to address or even take serious our complaint. They only respond with patronizing and pre-scripted replies and refuse to come to any mutually agreeable conclusion. They refuse to take any responsibility for the horrific experience or our dispute about the additional charges.

The customer service with Thrifty Car Rental has been very frustrating and upsetting as we are simply disregarded.

We seek your assistance in the current matter where we feel we are being ignored, patronized and manipulated.

We await your kind reply and your help.

Sincerely,

Michel and Amanda Arnold

Lelystad, The Netherlands

[protected]@akbklussenbedrijf. nl / +31 (0) 6 [protected]

amanda. [protected]@gmail.com / +31 (0) 6 [protected]

reservation number: [protected]

today, about an hour ago I returned the car I had rented at Basel airport on Friday. At the check they told me they smelled smoke in the car, but I didn't smoke in the car! My partner who doesn't smoke says she doesn't smell anything in the car. I might have smoked outside the car with the door open and maybe the wind let in a little ash which in my opinion wasn't ash! They asked me €150, almost what I paid for the car for 3 days! Absurd! I was so careful not to smoke in the car and the car in general only to then have to pay this amount for something I didn't do. Something like this seems really impossible to me...

I await your feedback and hope that the situation can be resolved.

Best regards.

Giuseppe Capo.

In March 2013 we rented a car at Ft Meyers airport for family vacation in Naples. We would be in Naples for 3 days planning to use the car to get to Marco, etc. woke up the first morning in Naples and flat tire, further inspection(impossible in dark airport parking garage) showed all 4 tires were different and when changed the flat

one had been previously fixed with fix-a-flat and the other back tire was dangerously in bad shape. Thrifty charged us for the tire change (so we had a donut -35 mpr, recommended limited use, also no backup if another tire would blow out) AND the only option they offered was for us to drive the car back to the airport(1hr) to exchange for a useable vehicle. In the middle of our vacation. We opted to leave the car parked and enjoy 3 days in Naples without using the rental. We returned the car and exchanged for our last two days in Ft Meyers expecting to be refunded for the first 3 days. They refused knowing the car was not safely drivable during the initial rental period. Will never rent again.

I booked trifty car hire to go to family wedding online I visted trifty branch I was giving a blue bmw all seemed ok I drove away and after 10 miles a low air pressure loght came I visited the service and put air in to the tyres and continued with my journey after 30 or 40 miles driving on the m1 north the light came again I s stopped and put in air in and same agian after 10 mile but the time the tyre whent flat I was on the moterway then when I inspected the tyre I noticed that the air pressure valve was hanging out so I have taken pictures of the wheel defect that caused all the problems I call bmw assistance and they changed the wheel and said to me to take ot to sytner in sheffield and I did so I also paid extra access I explained this to the trifty office but was told my refund will put into the bank the after 5 days no money got refunded but extra money got taken from my account 2 more time I have been unfairly treated by this company last I spoke to the staff at trifty she said they was going give a full refund.

I contacted customer service about 2 weeks ago now and complained about unauthorized additional charge on my rental car reservation. The rep said she will elevate it to headquarters for further action and I should hear back within 7-10 days. I haven't received anything up to this date.

The charge was in the amount of $228.99 of which itemized below:

Loss Dmg Wvr $174.95

Concession Recovery Fee $19.44

Tax $34.60

I did not agree or approve this product. My spouse made the reservation online through a third party (Priceline) and I told the counter rep I did not want anything just the basic (and I was referring whatever in the reservation my wife made).

This is another unsatisfactory service in addition to the frustration I experienced picking up the car at the airport. When I get there, I was told that there are no cars available and I had to stay overnight at the airport without sleep just to be the first one in line in the morning. I'm aware the reservation was through the third party but what is the point of reserving and having paid the reservation and ended up not getting it on the day that it is scheduled and expected to be available?

Reservation info:

Rental REcord # [protected]

Pickup date: 08Sep23

Return date: 12Sep23

Michael McCormick

1st September 2023 at MCO airport desk.

I had a pre-paid voucher and gave the details to the check in desk. The guy decided to search on my surname and then proceeded to create a new rental without my knowledge. I reminded him I had a pre-paid voucher with all the services I needed.

I was asked to sign on the epad and present my credit card as a guarantee of any extras, which I did.

The paperwork was printed, folded and handed over with directions to my car, which was perfect.

On checking my credit card account later I saw the 1000$+ hold on my card. I checked the paperwork and realising what they had done contacted them via the web site as nobody was answering phones, presumably due to it being labor day weeekend.

I lodged a request to cancel the agreement and all the unwanted insurances. A day later all disappeared on my credit card and I assumed the error was corrected but I received no reply to my web form submission.

On my return to England I find I have been billed in full for the rental despite having a pre-paid agreement in place

Details are

RENTAL CAR CONFIRMATION

RESERVATION SUMMARY

Booking Status: BOOKING CONFIRMED (PRE-PAID)

Booking Reference #: ZKAAON

Driver: John Sz*****

PRICING SUMMARY

Base Rate (14 days) $453.79



Fees & Taxes $183.14

Ap Concession Fee Recovery: $63.03

Customer Facility Charge: $24.50

County Sales Tax: $3.73

Florida Surcharge: $28.28

State Sales Tax: $44.77

Veh License Fee: $18.83

Total Paid $149



LOCATION

PICK-UP Fri, Sep 01, 2023, 06:00 PM

THRIFTY 1 Airport Boulevard ORLANDO, FL, [protected]

DROP-OFF Fri, Sep 15, 2023, 03:00 PM

THRIFTY 1 Airport Boulevard ORLANDO, FL, [protected]

SUPPLIER & VEHICLE

Standard - Mitsubishi Galant or similar

Make and model are not guaranteed

Booking Confirmation #: K5594471209-

Hi Thrifty Blue Chip Customer Service.

I am a long-term Thrifty Blue Chip Member...Old : B8VD08 / New: [protected] ... and rent from you all of time. In most cases you give me great service. But for my below Friday, September 8, 2023 5:00pm rental reservation you did a horrible job.

My wife and I were flying to BWI for a dinner that night. We had our rental reservation we made weeks ago. You sent us a confirmation e-mail the week before our rental reminding / confirming my car reservation.

When we got to your BWI Thrifty rental car counter, there was much turmoil. People everywhere waiting for cars from Thrifty and a black lady yelling at everyone that it might take 2 hours or 3 hours or longer to get a car...she did not know.

We tried other rental counters, but they had no last second cars available. They said if we had a reservation, they would have given us a car.

I told your Thrifty black lady and the other black man at the counter that I was a Blue Chip member (there was no Blue Chip lane), and she told me they had no cars and I would have to sit on the floor and wait 2-4 hours to get a car. I asked her why they did not tell us that before we got there...we could have made other car plans...she told me that was not her job and go call Thrifty.

Which I did, and then proceeded to talk some your people in other countries for over a hour with no help. I asked to talk to a Manager and then they put me on hold for 20 minutes. Then they said in broken English no Managers were available.

I then asked if someone from your USA Blur Chip Customer Service department could I talk to. They said no...they did not know how to transfer me to that desk. Then they took my name/phone information and told me someone would call me back. But, no one ever did.

I then meantime I had a rent a UBER for $69.96 to get to Annapolis for our dinner that night. I ended getting another rental car company in Annapolis for the rest of my trip.

I AM NOT VERY HAPPY with how I as treated.

-You should have told me before I went to BWI that you had no cars...that would given me the opportunity to make other rental plans.

-You should have a Manager on call to help people on problems like this...you had none on Friday evening.

-If you promise some one was going to call me, your better to do that...but you didn't, so know I am writing this e-mail instead of talking to you or your overseas operations.

You do not treat good customers like this.

I am seeking compensation for this.

Sincerely,

John Genter

Thrifty Blue Chip Member # [protected]

[protected]

From: [protected]@rentals.thrifty.com

To: [protected]@aol.com

Sent: 9/8/2023 4:52:46 PM Central Daylight Time

Subject: Thrifty Rental Agreement



View Online

Here’s your Rental Agreement

Thrifty CAR RENTAL ®

MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE.



Here’s your Thrifty Rental Car Agreement



VIEW RENTAL RECORD

571508486R

Rental Record# [protected]

JOHN GENTER

***INCOMPLETE RR***

Rental Rate* 2 @ $ 46.00 per day T $ 92.00

@ $ 46.00 ex day T $

*Includes Unlimited Miles

Additional Products

Frequent Flyer Surcharge WN [protected] T $ 3.00

Fuel Responsibility Starting Level 100 %

You agree to replace fuel used or pay a refuelling charge of

$ 5.36 per gallon OR $ .298 per mile driven.

Service Charges/Taxes

CONCESSION FEE RECOVERY 11.11 % T $ 10.34

CFC & TFC T $ 12.00

VEHICLE LICENSE COST RECOVERY T $ 1.12

Tax 11.500% On Est. Taxable Ttl $ 118.46 $ 13.63

ADJUSTMENTS

TOTAL ESTIMATED CHARGE $ 132.09

Credit Card Authorization Amount $ 332.00

Rented by Thrifty, Inc.

LocNum: MDBAL18 / 0075218

Miles Out: 0

Plan: SBIZ

Class: F

Rental Location: BALTIMORE INTL AIRPORT

Rental Time: 09 / 08 / 23 at 5 : 49 PM

Return Location: BALTIMORE INTL AIRPORT

Return Time: 09 / 10 / 23 at 4 : 00 PM

Click for Rental Extensions/Changes or

Emergency Road Service

This estimate assumes you will rent and return at the locations and times indicated, and that you will not exceed any mileage limitations. Rental Rate subject to increase if You return Car more than 24 hours before or 24 hours after scheduled Return Time. Late returns may be subject to extra hour and/or extra day charges.

Charges indicated as **** will be calculated at return.

Taxable charges are preceded by a "T".

On August 18th 2023 I had a reservation for a rental car, it was to be picked up at Abbotsford airport, then dropped off at Calgary international airport on August 30th. I had been planning this trip for 2 years, my plan was to have the rental and start out in Vancouver then slowly make my way to Calgary over the 12 days. I had all of my Airbnb's and this rental car booked and paid for months in advance.

Before I booked this reservation with thrifty, I called them directly to make sure I could do so without a credit card. They told me I would have to leave a $500 deposit with my debit card, and it would be fine. I get to the Thrifty booth on August 18th after a 5 hour flight from London ON, where they refused to give me my rental car because I did not have a credit card. I pleaded with them and explained that I called thrifty prior to booking to make sure I could get a rental and they told me they have a strict policy that requires a credit card. I was left stranded at the airport across the country in a place I am unfamiliar with and no family or friends to help me. It was very traumatizing. I ended up having to pay $90 for an uber to northern Vancouver which was very stressful having all of our luggage and ourselves crammed in there. My partner broke his ankle, he was in a cast and was using crutches as well as a knee scooter. This wouldn't have been an issue if we had our car like we were supposed to.

When I called thrifty to have my refund issued the person I was speaking to was also confused why they did not give me the rental. She told me that they do have a debit card policy and I should have been able to get it. It was very frustrating hearing two different things from different people. I had to cancel 2 of my Airbnb's and book an additional flight for my partner and I from Abbotsford to Calgary on the 26th. As you can see this has cost me a lot of money and turmoil which will leave me no choice but to go to the Better Business Bureau and talk to a lawyer unless I am compensated for the money and time lost.

Jaylene Cornelius- Deleary

Confirmation number- #K49033776C

We rented a car through Expedia for a Thrifty vehicle. We received confirmation of payment through Expedia and were told that a $60 charge would need to be paid at time of rental at counter. Thrifty wound us charging us for the entire rental. Documentation attached.

Car rented on Expedia and paid for on 07/26/2023

Car Rented from Tampa International on 07/28/2023