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Old 02-15-2018, 04:47 AM   #1
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$1000 Car Rental Deposit

I rented a car in Miami through a no name company represented on one of the big internet travel companies, Expedia I think.
The rate for a mid size car was $2 + about $10 in taxes for the one day rental.

When I got to the rental company which was off airport but had a shuttle bus the company wanted a $1000 deposit on my credit card which they said they would return 2-3 days after I returned the rental car. I told them there was nothing like that in the booking agreement. They said FL law requires that.

So I said OK. Got to the car and noticed some scratches on it. I reported it and the counter guy gave me a pre-printed paper with diagrams of the car and said note them on the paper. I return to the counter with the paper and he said keep it we don't need a copy. I asked to talk to a manager. He came out and I said I want a copy signed by you of the paper with the scratches. He said we don't do that and I will be here when you return the car and I will remember the scratches.

Stupidly I took the car but took several pictures of the scratches. I returned the car later that day and the guy who received the car said all was well and he e-mailed me my receipt.

3 days later and my CC shows no deposit return. I called the rental car company and after acknowledging I rented a car put me on hold for about a minute. She came back on line and said she returned my deposit and followed up with an e-mail. 2 days after this call my CC company shows the deposit returned.

This good deal was not worth the stress. I'll never do this again.
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Old 02-15-2018, 05:06 AM   #2
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When I got to the rental company which was off airport but had a shuttle bus the company wanted a $1000 deposit on my credit card which they said they would return 2-3 days after I returned the rental car. I told them there was nothing like that in the booking agreement. They said FL law requires that.
Should have walked at that statement. Besides being false, it makes no sense that a government entity would require a business to collect a minimum deposit. Maybe you should name this "no-name" car rental for everyone's benefit.
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Old 02-15-2018, 05:10 AM   #3
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Well I can't say for certain that this is a false statement. I agree though it sounds fishy.

I was not scammed so I really have no complaint. However I don't think they would have returned my deposit unless I had called them.
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Old 02-15-2018, 05:52 AM   #4
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Timjet
Then why not name them.
If you are just ranting, what's the point?
Naming them would maybe change their behavior, or at least warn others.
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Old 02-15-2018, 06:31 AM   #5
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Timjet
Then why not name them.
If you are just ranting, what's the point?
Naming them would maybe change their behavior, or at least warn others.
Dan
What he said.^^^^^

Why are folks hesitant to name a company that does something questionable?
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Old 02-15-2018, 06:48 AM   #6
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Executive Car Rental
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Old 02-15-2018, 07:06 AM   #7
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Well I can't say for certain that this is a false statement. I agree though it sounds fishy.

I was not scammed so I really have no complaint. However I don't think they would have returned my deposit unless I had called them.
Tim, if the rental company is telling customers that Florida State requires XXX and it does not, then the rental company is probably violating the law. Also, telling people that they won't sign the damage paperwork is at best poor business practice, and at worst fraudulent if they latter try and claim damages.

Personally, I would make a complaint to the Florida office of the Attorney General, who handles Consumer Affairs. At the very least, they will send the company a letter asking for their side of the story which would put them on notice if they are engaging in unethical or illegal business practices.

Believe me, no reputable business wants to receive a letter from the State AG's office!
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Old 02-15-2018, 07:39 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by timjet View Post
I rented a car in Miami through a no name company represented on one of the big internet travel companies, Expedia I think.
The rate for a mid size car was $2 + about $10 in taxes for the one day rental.
With all due respect maybe your first mistake was in assuming that there was a legitimate business model under which a company could rent you a car for $2/day. Was this company "represented on one of the big internet travel companies" or did you just click on an ad that was displayed when you were using that site? Ads that appear on websites are not endorsements of the companies they display.
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Old 02-15-2018, 09:20 AM   #9
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Tim, if the rental company is telling customers that Florida State requires XXX and it does not, then the rental company is probably violating the law. Also, telling people that they won't sign the damage paperwork is at best poor business practice, and at worst fraudulent if they latter try and claim damages.
Well, it could then descend into a he said she said situation if I try to take it to the state AG and claim they said I was required by state law. However the fact that they did get a $1000 deposit is verifiable by my CC statement. If challenged they would probably say "$1000 deposit is our policy we never said state law requires it".

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With all due respect maybe your first mistake was in assuming that there was a legitimate business model under which a company could rent you a car for $2/day. Was this company "represented on one of the big internet travel companies" or did you just click on an ad that was displayed when you were using that site? Ads that appear on websites are not endorsements of the companies they display.
Your first sentence is right on. I don't remember how Expedia got involved but I don't think it was me clicking on an ad. I believe Expedia advertised the price and I clicked on that advertised offer but again thru Expedia. Incidentally, the name of the rental car company advertising that price was not disclosed until I made the reservation, but again thru Expedia.

Bottom line is you get what you pay for. In my case I did get the rental car, a late model Camery for $2/day + $8 taxes which was outlined in the rental agreement when I first rented the car on line. What was not disclosed was the $1000 deposit. What also was very shaky was the way they handled the scratches on the car when I picked it up.

All's well that ends well (which it did) but not worth the stress of them holding my $1000 hostage.
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Old 02-15-2018, 09:33 AM   #10
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On 1-12-18 I crashed my own car and needed to get a rental to go to work while my car was in the shop.I made a car reservation on line and bought their insurance, when I went to pick up the car they forced me to use my own car I insurance and never give me back the money I paid for their Insurance also ask me for $2000 deposit,after negotiating Mauricio ask me for a 5 star reviews to reduce the deposit to $ 500 before any service was rendered. I drove the car for 6 days to go to work and back about 250 miles total.when I returned the car no one informed me of any extra mile driven.After a few days I noticed that I did not received my $500 deposit back. After several calls they claim that I have driven 1040 miles and that they were not refunding my $500 deposit.This place was total scam from the beginning, beware of doing any business with then.
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I should chalk it up to you get what you pay for. I would call Executive car rental a no frills car rental service. The rate was great $20 for 3.5 days but they actually charged my card $300 when I took the rental which included a $250 …MoreI should chalk it up to you get what you pay for. I would call Executive car rental a no frills car rental service. The rate was great $20 for 3.5 days but they actually charged my card $300 when I took the rental which included a $250 deposit. I was handed the keys and left to find the vehicle parked somewhere near the business but not given a specific direction or location, just look for a white VW Jetta. Then when I looked over the vehicle there was some sort of soil on the passenger front seat. I ask to have someone come out and look at it. After 15 min I went back inside and asked if someone was going to come out and look at it. A sales person came out He wrote it as existing damage on my copy and walked away. Then when I returned the vehicle I was told I would see the refund on my card in one to two business days. 4 days later I had to call in to get them to refund the $250 And the woman on the phone said I would have my refund in 7 business days
I guess the "state required deposit" can change on a whim.
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Old 02-15-2018, 09:46 AM   #11
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This is a reasonably standard practice world wide even with large well known rental firms.

This was just a hold on your credit card, if you don't have a credit card but just a debit card they often take a similar size (or more $1000 is pretty small) payment (not just a hold, a payment) which gets refunded often days later.

I suspect the OP just misheard and it was FL law that *allowed* it not *required* it.
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Old 02-15-2018, 09:51 AM   #12
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Believe me, no reputable business wants to receive a letter from the State AG's office!
True. In my case it was a free TV offer. The dealer lied to the BBB and they took the dealers word even after I wrote them a letter. However the AG's office agreed with me, wrote the dealer a letter and I got my free TV.
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Old 02-15-2018, 10:09 AM   #13
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This is a reasonably standard practice world wide even with large well known rental firms.
...

I suspect the OP just misheard and it was FL law that *allowed* it not *required* it.
Not a standard practice here in USA unless that's changed since I last rented a car in November.

I did not mishear. Executive car rental has all sorts of special circumstances for rentals to FL residents. I suspect if you're from CA, MI, NY, or any other state you will get their special circumstances.
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Old 02-15-2018, 10:23 AM   #14
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Not a standard practice here in USA unless that's changed since I last rented a car in November.
Sounds like the US just catching up with rest of the world, you'll be using litres and kilograms before long!
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